Banks and fintechs exist on a spectrum. Some products are intentionally designed to under-serve small or community businesses. The good news is that community banks, certain credit unions, and emerging fintechs can be far more flexible and pragmatic for scaling entrepreneurs.
Know what to ask for: working capital lines with renewal clauses, invoice factoring with transparent fees, and loan covenants that prioritize business growth rather than punitive defaults. Build a portfolio of financial partners, not a single-bank dependency.
SpadesLife curates a vetted list of institutions and partners that actively underwrite Black founders. We also negotiate community-friendly terms for market participants so our sellers get fair access to growth capital.