WEPOWER Capital Fund

Geographic Scope: North St. Louis City (with regional focus)

Focus Areas:

• Black and Latinx entrepreneur support
• Community wealth building
• Economic growth in historically divested communities
• Small business lending and investment

Program Details:

• Total Fund Size: $1.5 million
• Major Funder: Living Cities ($500,000 investment)
• Fund Administration Partner: Mission Driven Finance
• Fund Model: Revenue-based repayment structure (not traditional fixed installments)
• Investment Structure: Keeps ownership and control with entrepreneurs; uses holistic underwriting approach

Key Features:

• Founder-Friendly: More flexible than traditional loans
• Barrier Reduction: Eliminates collateral requirements and minimum credit score thresholds
• Underwriting Approach: Holistic assessment beyond traditional metrics
• Community Benefit: Percentage of returns owned/managed by surrounding community; remainder preserves fund legacy
• Hiring Requirements: Business owners commit to hiring in generationally disinvested areas and providing living wages

Target Businesses:

• Black and Latinx-owned businesses
• Strong growth trajectory
• Commitment to North St. Louis City
• Various industries

Eligibility Requirements:

• Black and Latinx entrepreneurs
• Businesses showing strong growth trajectory
• Preference for those committed to North St. Louis City
• Companies with viable business models

Application/Investment Process:

• Applications reviewed by WEPOWER Capital team
• Holistic underwriting process
• Revenue-based repayment structure determined
• Founder-friendly terms offered
• Technical assistance and valuable connections provided

Note: Fund designed to address systemic barriers Black and Latinx entrepreneurs face (higher denial rates, lower capital amounts, higher interest rates)

Application Process

Note: Specific application steps not detailed in provided content. Based on fund description:

1. Submit Application
   • Contact WEPOWER Capital team
   • Provide business information and financial details
   • Undergo holistic underwriting review
2. Underwriting Review
   • Holistic assessment of business viability
   • No minimum credit score requirement
   • No collateral requirement
   • Review of growth trajectory and business plan
3. Terms Negotiation
   • Revenue-based repayment structure discussed
   • Founder-friendly terms offered
   • Technical assistance package outlined
4. Investment Decision
   • Fund approval
   • Capital deployment
   • Ongoing support and connection provision

Support Provided

• Capital investment (flexible amount)
• Technical assistance
• Valuable business connections
• Founder-friendly terms

Contact for More Information: WEPOWER Capital team via wepowerstl.org