Chicago-area athletes acquire real estate loan app in bid to boost underserved communities

March 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM EDT

A Chicago-based nonprofit with ties to local athletes is stepping up its commitment revitalize disinvested communities through the purchase of a cutting-edge financial technology company that simplifies the loan application process for residential, small business and commercial real estate investor clients.

Former NFL player Walter Mendenhall, in partnership with WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd and her older brother Jarryd Loyd, has acquired Helpwithmyloan with the intention of using the platform to offer opportunities to underserved youth and small businesses. The acquisition was done through Mendenhall’s social enterprise, Male Mogul Initiative.

“This partnership came together in a truly full-circle moment. Jarryd Loyd, my former high school basketball teammate at Niles West, introduced the opportunity through his work as a family office manager, and his sister, Jewell Loyd, a WNBA All-Star with the Las Vegas Aces,” said Walter Mendenhall, founder and CEO of Male Mogul Initiative.

“Our shared vision for economic empowerment and community transformation made this a natural fit. By investing in HWML, we are creating pathways for young people to become commercial and business loan officers while ensuring that small business owners have greater access to capital. This is more than a business move – it’s a mission to build lasting wealth where it’s needed most.”

This deal is part of Male Mogul Enterprise’s expansion plans to explore innovative strategies to meet the evolving needs of its community wealth-building initiatives. MMI will move HWML’s headquarters from Pasadena, Calif., to Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, with plans to establish an office in Englewood, one of Chicago’s poorest communities, by 2026.

Initially, 45% of employees will be based in Chicago, including eight participants from the Male Mogul Initiative.

Mendenhall grew up in the Chicagoland area and played football for Niles West High School. He was a running back for the University of Illinois and Illinois State before joining the NFL, where he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts. Upon retiring from the NFL, Mendenhall taught history at a private Chicago high school before starting Male Mogul Initiative.

“We invested in Helpwithmyloan to equip the next generation of loan officers with the skills and resources to help individuals and businesses access capital — a critical step toward economic mobility and sustainable community development. This reflects Male Mogul Initiative’s philosophy that young people can shape and facilitate community revitalization,” Mendenhall said in a press release announcing the acquisition.

Helpwithmyloan is the only AI-based brokerage using optical character recognition technology to underwrite loans and cut the financial analysis time by 80%, while successfully matching clients with a lender at a 95% success rate – double the industry standard, Mendenhall said.

Male Mogul Enterprises, the nonprofit arm of MMI, will be the majority owner in the venture. The two additional investors:

Jarryd Loyd, the majority owner of Loyd & Co., has over 14 years of fund management experience and a professional basketball career spanning five countries, Jarryd brings a wealth of expertise in financial services and strategic growth.
Jewell Loyd joins as an investor, partner and brand ambassador. With her strategic expertise and robust industry connections, Jewell Loyd will play an integral role in elevating the initiative, enhancing brand presence, and forging lasting relationships with key stakeholders.

“Today, we embark on a journey to redefine what it means to be a leader in our industry,” said Jarryd Loyd. “The Male Mogul Initiative is not just about innovation; it’s about setting a new standard for excellence and creating a legacy of transformative leadership. With the exceptional partnership of Jewell Loyd, we are poised to make a significant impact in our communities.”

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Chicago-area athletes acquire real estate loan app in bid to boost underserved communities

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