Sources of Funding
Small Business Lenders
Accompany Capital
Accompany Capital helps New Yorkers start and grow small businesses through low-cost small business loans, as well as classes, workshops, and extensive one-on-one consulting and mentoring. We have provided women-owned businesses with $15,480,230 to date, helping launch first businesses as well as helping to expand and grow already established women-owned small and micro-businesses.
If you’re interested in learning more about Accompany Capital loans, please contact Tsetan Dekyi, tdekyi@accompanycapital.org (845) 241-3691 or Maria Paulino, mpaulino@accompanycapital.org
Ascendus
Ascendus, formerly Accion East, empowers low- to moderate-income (LMI) business owners with access to capital and financial education. Offers loans ranging from $500 to $250,000.
https://www.ascendus.org/products/
Brooklyn Cooperative
The Brooklyn Cooperative business loan product offers a wide spectrum of financing for your business. Whether you need a loan to purchase inventory, update your equipment, pay accounts receivable, or manage your debt, their lending team will treat your application with care and personal attention. Brooklyn Cooperative offers loans ranging from $500 to $50,000.
https://www.brooklyn.coop/borrow-from-us/small-business-loans/
Grameen America
Grameen America is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial minority women with low incomes build businesses to enable financial mobility. It assists by providing Loans, Credit, Training and Networking, Financial education and peer support, and opportunity to build assets.
It provides microloans (ranging from $2,000 to $15,000), financial training and support to female entrepreneurs. Members attend weekly meetings with Grameen America field officers to make repayments and receive training.
https://www.grameenamerica.org/program
IFund Women
IFundWomen provides a platform for women-led businesses to access capital through online fundraising, access to small business grants, expert coaching, professional creative production, a collaborative entrepreneur community, and access to industry connections critical to launching and growing businesses.
Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union
LES People’s FCU offers a wide range of loan products from $2,500 to $250,000 for entrepreneurs operating retail businesses, restaurants, service and wholesale businesses, e-commerce, light manufacturers, Certified Minority-Owned Businesses (MBE), Self-Employed etc.
https://www.lespeoples.org/small-business-loans
Pursuit
Formerly known as New York Business Development Corporation, The 504 Company and Excelsior Growth Fund, has offered innovative lending solutions to help business owners in NY, NJ and PA follow their dreams. Offers over 15 small business loan programs with loan amounts of up to $5.5 million.
https://pursuitlending.com/about-us/
TruFund
TruFund offers small business loans ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for working capital, inventory, equipment, expansion, and other business needs.
It provides financing through structured programs, such as the US DOT Short-term Loan Program and the SBA Community Advantage Program, targeted at MWBE and DBE businesses. Additionally, it also has more complex financial and investment structures through its New Markets Tax Credit program.
Women’s Enterprise Action Loan Fund (WEALF)
WEALF helps female entrepreneurs realize their dreams and become financially self-sufficient, credit worthy business owners. WEALF provides interest-free loans that range up to $10,000 with 1-On-1 mentoring.
Crowdfunding Platforms
Kiva
Kiva crowdfunds loans for borrowers who are either financially excluded or creating social impact in their communities.
Mainvest
Mainvest is an investment platform that connects brick & mortar businesses with investors. Investors provide funds to small businesses that are looking to launch or expand. Businesses agree to share revenue with investors until a return is reached, rather than owing interest.
Pipeline Angels
Pipeline Angels is changing the face of angel investing and creating capital for trans women, cis women, nonbinary, two-spirit, agender, and gender-nonconforming founders.
https://pipelineangels.com/about-pipeline-angels/
SeedInvest
SeedInvest is an equity crowdfunding platform that connects startups with investors online.
https://www.seedinvest.com/
WEnyc
WE FUND Crowd, is a new City-led crowdfunding initiative to help women entrepreneurs access affordable capital. Part of the City’s WE NYC initiative, the first WE Fund Crowd offering is a partnership with the nonprofit crowdfunding platform Kiva. Through this program, the WE NYC contributes the first 10% of crowdfunded loans secured by New York City based women entrepreneurs.
https://we.nyc/we-master/we-master-money-funding/
Federal government, economic development, accelerator grants
There are a few small-business grants for women entrepreneurs. These are essentially free financing, as opposed to business credit cards or small-business loans that you must pay back. However, the competition for small-business grants is fierce, and it takes considerable time and effort to win them. But if you’re up for the challenge, the payoff can be worth it and can help take you to the next level.
This is a comprehensive list that includes a helpful guide to finding and applying for grants.
https://bench.co/blog/operations/small-business-grants-for-women/
Here are some additional links to lists of grants to check out. These include a mix of government, non-profit and accelerator grants.
https://www.gsa.gov/small-business
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/small-business-grants-for-women
https://www.fundingcircle.com/us/resources/resources-for-female-entrepreneurs/
https://www.nav.com/blog/9-best-small-business-grants-for-women-34414/