GRANT · HOW TO WIN THIS
Varies; two tiers: Micro-Enterprise Loans and Growth Lending (amounts not specified publicly).
Rolling — no fixed deadline, apply anytime.
FUNDING TYPE
CDFI, Loan
CAN YOU GET THIS?
YOUR REAL ODDS
No specific approval rate is published, but the mission is explicitly to serve founders banks turn away.
Rolling applications mean there's no fixed deadline competition, but loans are localized to Rochester, NY, so the pool is limited by geography. They have an active lending team and a track record of supporting micro-enterprise clients.
WHAT IT TAKES
Review loan programs (Micro-Enterprise vs. Growth Lending) on their site to identify the right fit — 30 minutes
Contact a micro-lending officer by phone or email to discuss your situation — 1–2 days to connect
Submit loan application with business and financial details — 1–2 weeks to prepare
WORTH KNOWING
They explicitly allow loan payment deferrals during hardship (they offered 90-day deferrals during COVID-19), suggesting a more flexible, relationship-based lender than a typical bank.
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