WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence

WBENC LIFT Entrepreneur Financial Readiness | April 2025

Building on the success of the past two years, three Entrepreneur Financial Readiness sessions will take place this April as part of Financial Literacy Month and with the support of our partners at Bridge, KeyBank Key4Women, and Pitney Bowes Financial Services.

This dedicated programming will focus on financial management as an essential business strategy and provide insights on identifying the right capital sources, building effective finance teams, and cultivating key external relationships to fuel your entrepreneurial journey.

To give you a preview of the valuable topics we’ll be covering, we’ve put together an article that outlines the key areas of focus in this series. From identifying the right capital sources to outlining key internal and external relationships to cultivate, this overview will help you understand how each lesson can support your financial journey!

Read the Article Now & Register for All 3 Sessions!

Upcoming Events

April 2025 | Virtual on Wednesdays from 2:00-3:30 PM ET

April 2 | Identify the Right Capital Sources
April 16 | Build an Effective Finance Team
April 23 | Cultivate Key External Relationships

May 13, 2025 | 9am-12pm ET
In-Person | Atlanta, GA

WBENC LIFT in the Community – Atlanta, GA | Essential Capital Journey Insights for Entrepreneurs

May 21-22, 2025 | In-Person | New York, NY

WBC Women’s Captial Summit

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About WBENC LIFT

WBENC LIFT delivers the financial and scalability readiness programs and access to capital resources women entrepreneurs and small businesses need to thrive.

Founded with a mission of supporting women owned businesses throughout their entrepreneurial journey, the LIFT Financial Center of Excellence works in collaboration with WBENC Corporate Members and partners to deliver programs and resources aligned with the LIFT Model (Learn, Interconnect, Fuel, Thrive).

Along with stand-alone LIFT programs and resources that provide education, coaching, networking and funding resources, the LIFT Financial Center of Excellence supports other WBENC programs with the financial education and funding opportunities women-owned and small businesses need to thrive.

Capital Connections

Bridge Business Loan Marketplace

Interconnect

Bridge business loan marketplace is a digital platform that connects small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with 75+ lenders with one loan request. Bridge, formerly Bridge built by Citi, works with lenders who offer working capital lines of credit, growth capital, PO financing, term loans and more. Compare options from community banks, national banks and CDFI lenders who can offer funding to grow your business with loans up to $10 Million.

Learn More & Apply

S.P.U.R. Pathways: Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach – A Catalyst for Underrepresented Business Growth

Interconnect

S.P.U.R. Pathways: Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach, is a multiyear, multifaceted funding program to advance entrepreneurial growth, close wealth gaps, and shatter systemic barriers faced by underrepresented/underserved businesses. This innovative effort, created in partnership with Momentus Capital, advances a long-standing Macy’s, Inc. commitment to underrepresented/underserved businesses and aims to galvanize the retail industry to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Learn More & Apply Now

Educational Opportunities

Chase for Business Curated Coaching

Thrive

Chase for Business Curated Coaching for Entrepreneurs allows WBEs to meet with expert entrepreneurial consultants for FREE*, on your schedule, with educational resources curated for your business. You’ll walk away with actionable insights, a personalized game plan, and the strategic tools you need to grow your business on your terms.

*as coaching sessions are available

WBENC LIFT in the Community, Brought to you by Fifth Third Bank

Learn / Thrive

LIFT in the Community, brought to you by Fifth Third Bank, is an in-person program to address financial readiness for women-owned and small businesses by delivering programming focused on financial literacy for business owners, capital readiness and connections, and networking opportunities that help women-owned and small businesses develop skills, knowledge, and networks to compete and grow.

Learn More

Latina Growth Accelerator, Brought to you by USHCC & WBENC LIFT, Supported by The Kroger Co. Foundation

Fuel

The Latina Growth Accelerator is a groundbreaking virtual program designed to drive the economic growth of Latina-owned businesses generating over $10 million in revenue.

Launched by the USHCC Educational Fund in collaboration with WBENC LIFT and WBENC Women of Color UNIDAS, and supported by The Kroger Co. Foundation, this virtual program provides the tools, resources, and connections participants need to accelerate their business growth.

Learn More

Who Should Participate

The WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence is designed to support WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs).

For several years, WBENC has been partnering with Corporate Member leaders in the financial services industry to bring forward education and resources for WBEs, including workshops and coaching on access to capital, business plans, small business banking, and cash flow management. We launched the Financial Center of Excellence to coincide with our national events, with the goal of providing WBEs with access to small business bankers and financial experts, as well as additional learning opportunities on key financial topics, including funding alternatives and being bankable.

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the opportunity to reimagine and expand the Financial Center of Excellence model and tackle the broader needs and challenges facing women-business owners in today’s challenging business environment.

WBENC LIFT is a product of that reimagining, with a comprehensive model designed to support WBEs year-round.

Some grants and opportunities may be targeted to specific geographic areas or industries.

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