VestedIn

We're excited to share Amma's, co-founder of , inspiring journey through our B-Smart program. Her success story showcases the impact of our program, her perseverance, and her business growth.

Applications are now open! Don't miss your chance to join our next cohort of entrepreneurs. Apply today and start your path to success!

📅 Deadline: [July 17th]

https://bit.ly/bsmartappc11

In honor of National Beautician's Day, we want to highlight some of the incredible beauty salon owners who have completed our Barbershop and Beauty Salon Accelerator Program (BBEA). Check out these amazing beauticians and their thriving businesses.

What kind of businesses can benefit from a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution)? Check out this post to see some of the people we help.

If you’re a small business owner, you could pre-qualify for a loan today and seize your growth opportunities with confidence! If you qualify, you can apply today: https://vestedin.org/business-loans/

Tomorrow!

Come experience all the fun at our annual Scavenger Hunt! The Scavenger Hunt & Program Kick-Off is an event not just for Fellows and Coordinators, but also for the entire VestedIn community of WesGold Fellows alumni, families, and partners.

In addition to The Hunt, you can expect speakers, music, games, activities, and other amazing opportunities for the Fellows to meet and connect. The Fellows will compete in a city-wide scavenger hunt, while food and activities will be available at Drexel Square Park for families, partners, and alumni to interact, engage, and learn with each other.

If you’re a fellow, this is an all-day event. If you’re part of the community, arrive by 12:30 pm.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4c4JWWh

We love seeing our VestedIn team out in the community!

Our Executive Director, Jim Burnett, had the honor of speaking at the OFN Small Business Conference last week! We appreciate every opportunity we get to partner with our community, whether it’s giving loans or motivating a room of small business owners. This is the work that makes us who we are!

Today we honor Juneteenth, a very important holiday. As we look back at how far we’ve come in terms of freedom and equality, we look ahead to continuing that work in our community as we empower local Black-owned businesses to grow and thrive. Let us know how you’re celebrating Juneteenth!

📣 Calling All Philly Entrepreneurs! 📣

Applications for the FREE 12-week B-Smart Entrepreneur Program are now OPEN through July 17th!

Gain essential business education, technical assistance, and resources to launch and grow your business. Conclude with a Pitch and Present competition for valuable feedback and potential funding. Apply today! https://bit.ly/bsmartappc11

Our annual WesGold Fellows Scavenger Hunt is next Saturday!

Even if you’re not a WesGold Fellow, this is an event you don’t want to miss. In addition to The Hunt, you can expect speakers, music, games, activities, and other amazing opportunities for the Fellows to meet and connect. The Fellows will compete in a city-wide scavenger hunt, while food and activities will be available at Drexel Square Park for families, partners, and alumni to interact, engage, and learn with each other.

Mark your calendars for June 22nd at 12:30pm for a fun-filled day! RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wesgold-fellows-2024-scavenger-hunt-program-kick-off-tickets-915813070547?aff=oddtdtcreator

What kind of businesses can benefit from a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution)? Check out this post to see some of the people we help.

If you’re a small business owner, you could pre-qualify for a loan today and seize your growth opportunities with confidence! If you qualify, you can apply here: https://vestedin.org/business-loans/

We love helping local businesses like Dahlia Rose Wellness!

Located in Philadelphia, PA, and serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Dahlia Rose Wellness Center offers holistic therapeutic services tailored to women. Specializing in supporting caregivers, the center provides individual and group therapy, career counseling, and stress management. Utilizing evidence-based practices like yoga therapy and EMDR, the center focuses on anxiety, toxic relationships, and trauma. Their trauma therapists use visualization, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques to foster healing and self-discovery, blending clinical expertise and personal experience to empower clients.

Djuan, a Cohort 10 alum of the B-Smart Entrepreneurship program, pitched her business model and secured a grant and loan offer from VestedIn! 🌟 We are thrilled to highlight her success and ongoing journey.

If your business needs a loan, VestedIn is here to be your community lending partner. Contact us to explore your options: https://vestedin.org/business-loans/

Need funding for your business? VestedIn can help!

If you’re a small business owner, you could pre-qualify today and seize your growth opportunities with confidence! If you qualify, you can apply today here: https://vestedin.org/business-loans/

You’ve seen us share videos of businesses and corridors who filmed commercials with us. Are you curious about how that came to be?

Check out this post to learn about “Our Neighbors, Our Businesses, Our Stories”, a project which will highlight selected commercial corridors and neighborhood businesses through video. You can read more here: https://vestedin.org/onobos/

🌟 Meet Shannon! Starting her cosmetology career at 16, Shannon knew her passion early on. Her broad experience in top salons across West Philadelphia and Rittenhouse Square honed her skills in hairstyling and makeup. Owner of The SLW Beauty Bar, Shannon’s work has graced Channel 10, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and various luxury publications.

We’re so excited to have her as part of our BBEA cohort and can’t wait to see what she does next!

You may have seen us highlight members of our BBEA program. Have you wondered what that program entails? Are you a barbershop or beauty salon owner who is curious about how we can help you?

Check out this post to get your questions answered! You can also fill out the interest form if you want to know when applications open for the next cohort: https://vestedin.org/beauty-salon-barbershop-entrepreneur-accelerator-program/

Get Funding Fast with VestedIn!

If you’re a small business owner, you could pre-qualify today and seize your growth opportunities with confidence! If you qualify, you can apply today: https://vestedin.org/business-loans/

We hope you have a meaningful and restful weekend!

One month later, we’re still pumped from the Opportunities Breakfast!

If you were there, you know how spectacular the event was. As a CDFI, we strive to provide the best events and programs to help small businesses grow and thrive in our community. The annual Opportunities Breakfast helps us accomplish that goal by giving business owners and entrepreneurs a space to build invaluable connections and get inspired by leaders who are setting new standards in business.

If you missed it this year, we hope to see you next year!

As a CDFI, we do a lot for small businesses at VestedIn.

But who are we, really? Check out these slides to understand the vision we have for our community.

Do you need a CDFI? Learn more about how VestedIn can help you: https://vestedin.org/ -believe

Happy Monday! Here's a throwback from the amazing Pitch and Present event that our B-Smart Cohort participated in back in November.

If you don’t know, B-Smart is an entrepreneurship program created in partnership with Drexel University and the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative. The program takes local entrepreneurs and early-stage companies through an intensive 12-week training on core business topics such as marketing and operations, technology for small businesses, business planning, and finance and capital.

After the 12 weeks of training, the Cohort competes in the Pitch and Present Competition, where they can pitch their business for financing, grants, or feedback from a panel of funders, advisors, community partners, and investors.

Want to be part of the next Cohort? Applications are dropping soon! Get on the waiting list: https://vestedin.org/b-smart-program/

🌟 Meet Evelyn! With 24 years as a licensed cosmetologist, Evelyn is dedicated to excellence at Superior Image Hair Studio. We’re proud to support her through the BBEA program as she inspires and empowers with her story and skills.

Do you know exactly what a CDFI is? Do you know everything we do?

Read through to understand what VestedIn’s role is in the Philadelphia community as a CDFI.

Do you need a CDFI? Learn more about how VestedIn can help you: https://vestedin.org/ -believe-v1

Do you qualify? Check the requirements!

Use of funds: Required. Please list all line items and related amounts.

Not eligible uses: Real estate or non-profit organizations.

Terms: Up to 60 months fully amortizing, no pre-payment penalty.

Collateral: Required for all loans, typically under-collateralized but never unsecured (business assets at a minimum).

Timeline: No longer than 7 business days.

Taxes: Must have filed for the last three years (or years eligible to file since starting business) and be current on all taxes, including installment agreements (minimum 6 months of payments)

Apply here: https://vestedin.org/business-loans/

May 27th is right around the corner!

The window of opportunity to become a WesGold Fellow is closing.

This PAID internship includes top-level training from industry experts, traveling, and connections with all kinds of amazing students. If you know someone who is interested, don’t wait to tell them!

Apply today: https://form.jotform.com/240236001456040

🌟 Meet Ciara!

Owner of CiBeaute Esthetics, located in Philadelphia’s East Falls, Ciara established her beauty haven in 2019, inspired by her own transformative skin care journey. Juggling roles as a single parent and an entrepreneur, she launched CiBeaute Essentials, a line of exquisite self-care products. Through her business, Ciara empowers others with the confidence that changed her life, leading educational sessions for fellow estheticians.

We’re proud to support her through the BBEA program as she continues to make significant strides in the beauty industry.

We have a very special birthday this month! Help us wish our Executive Director a happy birthday!

This , we want to highlight as many outstanding small businesses as we can.

We want to give a special shoutout to HiTouch Enterprises for the beautiful promotional graphics and the event production for our 2024 Opportunities Breakfast! The event wouldn't have been as successful without them.

Last week, the Beauty Salon and Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator (BBEA) program held its second Collective Power Session at Ethos GSFM, owned by Jonathan Jacobs, an alum of BBEA Cohort 2. This gathering united BBEA cohorts to strengthen the application of program lessons and underscore the significance of collective accountability and empowerment.

Interested in joining the next cohort? Fill out the interest form: https://vestedin.org/beauty-salon-barbershop-entrepreneur-accelerator-program/

We want to give a huge thank you to the sponsors of the Opportunities Breakfast. As we close out , we have to recognize all the sponsors who helped create this incredible event.

Your support was essential in bringing this event to life and facilitating a platform where local business leaders could connect and grow. Thanks to you, we're helping to drive change and empower the Philadelphia business community.