Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute

Congratulations to all of the fall graduates! This season, we’re celebrating the inspiring entrepreneurs who have completed our 12-week Business Launch Boot Camp across Denver Metro and Rural Colorado. Last night’s Spanish-language graduation was especially memorable as we were honored to have Denver Mayor Mike Johnston join us to share his words of encouragement: "Small, diverse, and local businesses are the backbone of a vibrant and stable economy. You are a vital part of making Denver a great place to live, work, and do business." In his speech, Mayor Johnston emphasizes the vital role entrepreneurs will play in shaping Denver’s future, including revitalizing downtown spaces like the 16th Street Mall as hubs for small businesses and cultural showcases. These graduations have been nothing short of inspiring, from Miguel Ramos of Rayuleta Teatro (owned by RMMFI grad), who delivered an unforgettable opera performance to the incredible pitch presentations that showcased the creativity and passion of our entrepreneurs from our Business Idea Lab cohorts. As we look forward to the final graduations of this cycle, we celebrate the resilience, innovation, and determination that each graduate brings to our community. Together, we’re creating a brighter, more inclusive future where entrepreneurial dreams take flight. 🎉 Congratulations, graduates! Your success inspires us, and we can’t wait to see your businesses grow and thrive.

We know many of you are feeling uncertainty, fear, and a sense of heaviness. These are complex emotions that arise when the path forward seems unclear. Today, as we hold these feelings, remember: you are not alone. At RMMFI, we believe people are unstoppable forces, and we’re here to create a space where each person can sit in the driver’s seat of their own life—to have autonomy over their present and future, no matter their background. Our mission has always been, and remains, about creating a pathway to entrepreneurship as a beacon of hope and self-determination, no matter the challenges ahead. Entrepreneurship is more than starting a business—it’s a way to build stability, pursue dreams, and shape futures for ourselves, our families, and our communities. This journey isn’t easy, especially for our Black, Latinx, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and female entrepreneurs and community members. We see you, we honor you, and we’re committed to walking beside you every step of the way. As a community, we will continue to lift one another up, support each dream, and celebrate every courageous step forward. In Community, Jessica Sveen, CEO, and the RMMFI Team

Early giving is here! 🎉 We’re thrilled to kick off our Colorado Gives Day campaign with PNC Bank’s generous $5,000 accelerator gift! This contribution gives a powerful boost to our campaign, helping create life-changing opportunities for entrepreneurs who might not otherwise have access to the resources they need. And thanks to a generous matching grant from a community supporter of RMMFI, every donation up to $30,000 will be matched dollar for dollar! This Colorado Gives Day, help entrepreneurs across Colorado turn their business dreams into reality. Double your impact when you donate to RMMFI today!

🚨 BIG MILESTONE ALERT 🚨 We are excited to announce that RMMFI has surpassed $2 million in total capital deployed, which includes both loans and grants, to our entrepreneur community! 🎉 Just two years ago, we reached the $1 million mark, a milestone that took us 14 years to achieve. It’s incredible to see the growth over the past two years. As we close out our fiscal year, here's some capital highlights from 2023-2024: - 💰 Total capital deployed: $485,206.62 - 💸 Grants: 168 grants totaling $284,500, exceeding our goal by $17,500! - 📈 Loans: 58 loans amounting to $200,706.62, setting a new all-time record for the number of loans closed! - 🎉 Our historical write-off rate is 5.4%, leaving us with an incredible repayment rate of 94.6%! Thank you to our community for making this possible. We couldn't have done it without our dedicated entrepreneurs, partners, and volunteers. Let's keep building momentum in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Ready for a fun day filled with local shopping and amazing food? What if we told you there’s a FREE meal and dessert waiting for you at the Sand Dunes Small Business Bazaar on Saturday, September 21st, from 2 - 6pm? If you’ve ever had anything from Angelica at The Ruby Rose, you know how delicious her food is! Join us at The Ruby Rose at Hooper Junction to support incredible San Luis Valley small businesses, enjoy live music from L8gacy, and be part of a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 pm. It’s the perfect way to spend your Saturday! Don’t miss out on this community celebration!

Calling all entrepreneurs in rural New Mexico: Join B:Side Capital + B:Side Fund and RMMFI for an info session on August 20 at 5:30pm to discover funding, resources, and support to start and grow your business. 📅 RSVP now to get the Zoom link for this virtual event. 💻 https://lnkd.in/gv9KRgec Part of our Colorado community? Please share with any small business owners and entrepreneurs you know in rural New Mexico!

Such a great event ! I can’t wait until next summer’s event with Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute !

🎉🎉 Celebrating 16 Years of Impact! 🎉🎉 For the past 16 years, we've been dedicated to helping individuals tap into their unique potential through entrepreneurship. Join us in celebrating this incredible milestone and the amazing journeys of our RMMFI entrepreneurs! 🎟️ Tickets are still available online and will be available at the door. Come out and support RMMFI's mission by purchasing a Summer Social ticket, participating in our silent auction featuring unique items from our entrepreneurs and local businesses, and buying raffle tickets for a chance to win a private catered dinner for 4 from Heirloom Catering. Don't miss out on our commemorative 16th anniversary YETI cups - they're going fast! Get yours along with a raffle entry when you purchase a VIP ticket. Let's make this anniversary a memorable one! 🎉 A huge thank you to our sponsors who made this event possible: Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo, Community Sponsor Amazon, and Supporting Sponsor Balanceo. #RMMFI #16YearsOfImpact #Entrepreneurship

Want a FREE Yeti tumbler? Head on over to our Instagram for a giveaway and help us celebrate sixteen years of Colorado entrepreneurship!

We’re proud to spotlight our Presenting Sponsor for the RMMFI Summer Social: Wells Fargo. The Colorado economy is powered by small businesses, and Wells Fargo is committed to helping them succeed financially. “Small businesses are the heartbeat of our Colorado communities. They pump life into our neighborhoods, creating vibrant places to live, work, and raise families – and they are crucial to sustaining millions of local jobs,” said Kelly Littrell, Vice President of Philanthropy for Wells Fargo. While economic challenges continue for small businesses in Colorado, Wells Fargo is focused on fostering an inclusive recovery and strengthening the small business sector for the long term. Their goal is to help as many Colorado small businesses as they can with a strong emphasis on supporting the needs faced by diverse small business owners. RMMFI is grateful to Wells Fargo for their support as we work together to create an inclusive small business ecosystem that generates health and prosperity in our Colorado communities. Get your tickets for our 16th anniversary Summer Social event and fundraiser at https://lnkd.in/gC7BYzid.