Breva?

10 startups were selected for the US Women in Tech cohort in partnership with Standard Chartered US. Over the next few months, 10 women founders will receive the support, mentorship, and resources they need to scale their tech-driven solutions and help their communities thrive. Two of them will be selected by their peers to receive USD 25K in grant capital from Standard Chartered Foundation to scale their solutions and impact. Want to learn more? Follow the journey of the remarkable founders behind these impact-creating initiatives as they collaborate and grow together. Meet the cohort: ASL Aspire, Barter Black, Breva?, Giving Credit, HERide, Imera, Mini City Inc., Myri Health (Google '24/Techstars '23), Pelican Invests, and Recess Labs. https://lnkd.in/gb8WaDZE Correction to the graphic below: Myri Health (Google '24/Techstars '23) is based in Norman, OK.

Following the announcement of our Breva? Thrive Grant finalists, we’ve been reflecting on what truly sets businesses apart—not just innovation, but impact. Every great company does more than sell a product or service; it contributes to a larger purpose. Whether that’s creating jobs, supporting local initiatives, or driving industry change, the strongest businesses are those that uplift the communities they serve. Our finalists embody this belief. They’re not just growing their businesses; they’re making a difference. Their commitment to positive change is exactly why we created the Breva Thrive Grant—because success isn’t just measured in revenue, but in the lives we touch.

Celebrate small businesses. They inspire change and drive growth, and?drive our communities forward. Today, I’m excited to celebrate 15 amazing entrepreneurs who are making a difference. These finalists for the Breva? Thrive Grant show creativity and innovation. They are committed to their missions and their communities. Join us in celebrating: 1. Bankhead Community Renaissance (Restore Life) – Empowering community revitalization 2. Black People Will Swim – Breaking barriers in aquatics? 3. BrainBuzzed Tutoring and Enrichment Services – Transforming student success? 4. Candidly Speaking – Creating conversations that inspire change? 5. Jay Flores – Sparking innovation in STEM education? 6. Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House – Strengthening communities through service? 7. The Mending Corner – A safe space for emotional healing? 8. Next Step Farms – Advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities 9. Northside Partnership Project – Building a stronger Pittsburgh? 10. The Power Project – Uplifting women through mentorship and training? 11. Wild Accelerator – Helping female founders thrive? 12. The Wilson Family Caring Center, Inc. – Supporting families in need? 13. Women + Cybersecurity = Women's Society of Cyberjutsu – Empowering women in cybersecurity? 14. The Worx! – Creating inclusive workforce opportunities? 15. Your Passion 1st – Guiding youth to career success Each of these businesses is one step closer to receiving the Thrive Grant. They will join a network of entrepreneurs focused on growth and impact. The winner will be announced on March 31st. Show your support for these amazing businesses. Drop a comment to cheer them on. #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Innovation #ThriveGrant #SmallBizSupport

I don't typically enjoy conferences. They often feel overpriced, overwhelming, and overproduced, offering little to a startup founder beyond sore feet and cash burn. Fintech Meetup is different. It is the best conference I have ever attended and may be the best conference in the world, period. In fact, every conference should immediately adopt all of its programmatic elements. I haven't posted much this week because it was my first time at the conference, and I wanted to be fully present to absorb everything and "learn the ropes." As I enter the last day here, I want to share my observations. Fintech Meetup possesses all the prerequisites for a great conference: - High-quality, innovative event technology that is both user-friendly and genuinely useful. - Incredible panels and presentations featuring thought leaders and companies discussing critically relevant issues impacting our industry. - A well-thought-out, easy-to-understand agenda offering participants a variety of content tailored to their interests. However, what truly sets Fintech Meetup apart is the curated connections they facilitate for all participants. There's nothing better than making intentional and meaningful connections at a conference. The Breva? team did well. We reconnected with many familiar faces and old friends, but we also made many new connections. Verbal agreements were reached, powerful new alliances were formed, and many hands were shaken. Look out for some incredible announcements in the near future. I'm super excited to see where these new relationships take us!

"Arriving someplace more desirable at a future time is an illusion. This is it." – Jon Kabat-Zinn Entrepreneurs we are always looking ahead. The next milestone, the next hire, the next big win. It’s easy to get so focused on the future that you forget to appreciate what you’ve already built. This morning, during meditation, I came across this quote. It kinda slowed me down a bit. I wanted to share in case anyone else needed a reminder. The company you’re working toward? It already exists. Maybe not at full scale. Maybe not in its final form. But it’s here. And no one cares about it more than you do. That gives you an advantage. So today, a friendly reminder: - Be grateful for where you are. - Be proud of what you’ve built. - Be present in the work you’re doing now. Success isn’t just in the future. It’s right here, too. Keep going!

?? Bringing the smiles (and some serious innovation!) to your timeline this morning! Had a fantastic meeting with two of the brilliant minds behind Breva?, Charles I. and Blair Gatchel. Their AI-powered platform is a game-changer for entrepreneurs looking to transform their financial access and risk management strategies. Super excited to see our collaboration come to life and empower even more businesses! ?? Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs

Most Banks Don’t Treat Small Businesses Like They Matter. This One Does. If you’ve ever run a small business, you know how banks treat you. You’re not their “biggest” client, so you don’t get their best service. Pinnacle Financial Partners is different. They don’t just say they care about small businesses, they show it. Their team wants to provide the same level of service and attention to every customer, no matter the size of the business. That shouldn’t be rare in banking, but unfortunately, it is. At Breva?, we believe small businesses deserve better. That’s why we’re excited about what’s ahead with Pinnacle, because when two companies truly care about small business owners, good things happen. Big thanks to Aaron Binion and his team for the warm welcome. We’ve got some exciting work ahead, and we’re ready to get started. Let’s build something great for small businesses!

Your Fire Is Still Burning. Even If It Feels Low. Feeling low energy? Imposter syndrome creeping in? Not where you thought you’d be in 2025 yet? Here’s your Monday morning reminder: Even low flames are still hot. And even the smallest fire can spark something massive. You are one conversation, one email, one moment away from your breakthrough. Keep putting in the work. The fire is still burning.

A small business needs to run on trust. Without it, everything slows down. That’s why the most important thing I can do as a leader is build a team I trust and make sure they trust me, too. So when your team says: “I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon.” “I’ll be picking up the kids later.” “I’m heading out for lunch.” “Just taking the dog for a walk.” Unless they are going to miss something important, you should make it clear that they don't need to tell you these things. Why? Because you want them to stop asking. You should make them feel like you trust them to get their work done. You trust them to manage their time. You trust them to take care of themselves. In a small business, every person matters. If the owner doesn't trust each team member, they waste time second-guessing, micromanaging, and slowing things down. That’s not how we operate. We don’t track time. We track results. And trust? That’s what makes results happen. What do you think?

Most entrepreneurs are addicted to effort instead of outcomes. Being the hardest worker in the room is not the flex they think it is. Building a business that thrives without you grinding 24/7 is the new flex. So why do so many entrepreneurs insist on making business harder than it needs to be? I'm trying to build something that grows without grinding me down, so I'm focusing on these things: 1. Learn: I'm leveraging the best of what others know Passion isn’t enough. The best leaders don’t waste time reinventing the wheel, they actively seek wisdom from advisors, peers, and books. Smart leaders don’t just learn from their mistakes, they learn from everyone’s mistakes. 2. Lift: I work everyday to teach and empower others Once you learn something valuable, pass it on. Businesses thrive when knowledge flows, not when it’s hoarded. The best leaders don't just build businesses, they build people. If you want more impact with less effort, make it your mission to create other leaders. 3. Automate: We don't repeat what can be systemized The most valuable resource in business isn’t money it’s time. Yet too many leaders refuse to automate simple tasks, choosing effort over efficiency. Automation isn’t about eliminating jobs, it’s about eliminating waste. Growth happens when you free yourself (and your team) from the repetitive, low-impact work that technology can handle. 4. Trust: I'm building a team that can thrive without me If you’re doing everything yourself, you don’t have a business, you have a bottleneck. The best leaders aren’t the busiest. They build teams that are engaged, empowered, and capable of winning without micromanagement. The goal isn’t to do more. It’s to create a system where things get done even when you’re not in the room. 5. Prevent: We solve problems before they happen The best leaders don’t spend their time putting out fires, they design businesses that prevent fires from starting. They focus on strategy, anticipate change, and solve problems before they escalate. Proactive beats reactive. Every time. The truth? Business doesn’t have to feel like an endless struggle. The most successful people don’t just work harder, they work differently. They build systems that amplify their impact, surround themselves with the right people, and trust that real success comes from clarity, not just effort. So ask yourself: Are you making your success harder than it needs to be?