There's a lot to reflect on as we approach the end of another calendar year. Since each year has its moments and milestones, defining them is always a matter of choice.
We've had some incredible moments in the last 12 months. It's been an incredible whirlwind not just for Black Girl Ventures but for our founders, who came through with insurmountable courage to pitch in our signature pitch competition.
Their success is our success. It's a true testament to what we can achieve together. We're truly excited for all that's in store for 2022. BGV won't stop! We're all in for (and with) our community. Let's go!
"The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment." —Pema Chödrön
BGV MERCH
Our Black Girl Ventures merch is the perfect way to help us raise funds for the organization and show your love of supporting Black women entrepreneurs.
WE BAG
Black Restaurant Accelerator Program
Black Restaurant Accelerator Program is for Black-owned restaurants only. Pepsi and the Urban League are partnering together on this financial assistance/grant program. Existing restaurant owners can receive capital, mentoring, training, and other support to help them keep their restaurant open, start, or grow one. Note that the accelerator program is ONLY offered in the cities of Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia as well as Washington, DC.
Causa Local
Causa Local focuses on helping Puerto Rican small business owners, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. Latinx and Hispanic business owners can also try the non-profit. They facilitate interest-free loans, give advice, and other support. Crowdfunding is offered from their WeFunder program and they also offer 0% APR loans in partnership with Kiva. They also offer loans from Causa Rural to farmers or rural business owners and a creative financial aid program.
Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF)
Entrepreneurs of Color fund is available in multiple “major” cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. A number of banks, non-profits, CDFIs, and government resources are used to help BIPOC businesses get the capital they need. It may include information on free government grants, low-cost loans, counseling, microloans, and more.
First Nations Development Institute Grants
A First Nations grant opportunity that is currently open to Native American business owners is the First Nations Native Farmer and Rancher Apprenticeship. Through this grant, a total of 30 Native American beginning farmers and ranchers will receive up to $7,500 over the course of 30 months, as well as individualized technical assistance to expand their business capacity and strengthen land management strategies. The deadline is December 22, 2021, at 5 p.m. MDT.
Requirements: The current grant opportunity is open to Native American Beginning Farmer and Ranchers (BFRs) based in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Arizona, or New Mexico. Applicants must be willing to commit to a 30-month apprenticeship.
SBA 8(a) Business Certification
An 8(a) small business is any business where the owner(s) is socially and economically disadvantaged. This includes any minority-owned small business where the owner is also economically disadvantaged.
While there are a limited number of federal grants for minorities for business needs, it does set aside a certain portion of federal contracts to disadvantaged businesses, including minority-owned businesses. If your business is eligible for federal contracts — for example, you have a construction business or manufacture goods that government agencies purchase — then it’s a good idea to get an 8(a) small disadvantaged business certification, as this status can help you get contracts.
You can apply for 8(a) status through the certify.SBA.gov website. If you are a woman, you can also apply for Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) status on that same website.
Grow by Invoice2go
This brand-new grant is Invoice2go’s “way of recognizing the contributions and untapped potential of small business owners from underrepresented groups.”
Winners will receive up to $15,000 to grow their companies. And they can also join the greater Invoice2go community of business owners — 50% who identify as women or BIPOC — for support and insight. In addition, they will also gain access to exclusive workshops to help them win more work, build deeper customer relationships, simplify operations, and more.
Qualifications:
You must be an owner of a business, a legal U.S. resident, and must be 18 years or older.
The business must be majority-owned by a legal U.S. resident who identifies as one or more of these: Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Latino, Native American or Alaska Native, Arab or Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, or as a person with a disability.
The business must be less than 5 years old, have no more than 10 employees, and have annual revenue equal to or less than $1M.
To Apply
Complete an entry form on the Invoice.2go site and in 200 words or less, explain your business and how winning would support your business and community.
Grow continues to May 6, 2022. Awards of up to $15,000 will be selected each month for a total of twenty awards. These are the deadlines for application submissions to be considered for the following month’s award:
Friday, December 31, 2021, at 11:59 pm PST
Also, Friday, February 11, 2022, at 11:59 pm PST
Thursday, March 25, 2022, at 11:59 pm PST
Friday, May 6, 2022, at 11:59 pm PST
Subscribe to the Digital Orange Juice for juicy ideas and the people who fund them. You can find out about our next pitch competitions here. Also, be sure to join our new community BGV Connect!
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