Let's Talk Small Biz Finance with CIC Tucson

CIC Tucson
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Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join Community Investment Corporation (CIC Tucson) for an inspiring chat with leaders in the entrepreneurial community about all things small-business finance. Hosted by Danny Knee and Caroline Nelson Produced by Tina Grecchi Have a question or suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Submit it here! https://cictucson.org/podcast-submission-form CIC is a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing resources and education in Southern Arizona (including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties). At CIC, we know your worth. Learn more about CIC's programs at www.cictucson.org

Episodes

  1. Jun 8

    Kiva's Southern Arizona Crowdfunding Hub with Cassie Price | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

    Ever wonder how small businesses can access funds without crazy collateral or high-interest rates? In this episode of Let’s Talk Small Biz Finance, learn how Kiva's innovative crowdfunding platform connects small business owners with lenders locally and globally, offering a 0% interest loan option up to $15,000. Learn more about CIC’s Kiva Southern Arizona Hub: https://cictucson.org/kiva Learn more about the Kiva Collective: https://cictucson.org/kiva-collective About the Host: Caroline Nelson is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Lending at Community Investment Corporation (CIC), a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing in Southern Arizona, including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties. Caroline is joined by Cassie Price, Capital Access Manager for Kiva’s Southern Arizona Hub. Have a question about small business finance, a theme, or a quest expert you'd love us to have on the show? Submit it here! https://cictucson.org/podcast-submission-form Discover more about CIC's Entrepreneurship, Homeownership, and Education programs here: https://cictucson.org Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to small business financing with Kiva Crowdfunded Loans 02:15 - Understanding what crowdfunding is and how Kiva’s platform works 03:39 - What is Kiva? Connecting small businesses globally 04:53 - How crowdfunded loans are pooled from many lenders 05:48 - Ideal client profile for Kiva loans and the importance of community support 06:30 - Business stages suitable for Kiva funding, from idea to established 08:32 - Building a strong social network and online presence for success 09:48 - Application process details and required documentation 10:43 - The significance of a compelling personal and business story 11:57 - Private vs. public fundraising phases and how they function 12:39 - Impact and excitement of community support through crowdfunding 13:21 - The marketing benefit of crowdfunding and resources for application support 13:45 - Difference between traditional lending and Kiva’s model with no collateral or interest 14:23 - Financial health and credit considerations in the Kiva process 15:02 - Setting funding goals and specific use of funds examples 16:28 - Using Kiva funds for startup costs and business growth 17:18 - The role of lenders, risk, and repayment expectations 18:47 - How Kiva manages repayments and lender flexibility 21:13 - Support, community, and engagement perks for lenders 22:30 - Benefits of applying through a Kiva hub like CIC in Tucson 23:11 - Timeline for application and fundraising phases 24:37 - What happens if fundraising goals aren’t met 25:12 - Refund process and how lender funds are recovered if campaign fails 26:22 - The Kiva Collective and community-building events 28:23 - How to connect with CIC and Cassie for support and application help 30:33 - Summary and key takeaways: low-cost, accessible financing for any stage 31:10 - 5 to 1 Matching funds for Native and Indigenous entrepreneurs #BusinessFinance #LoanApprovalTips #Underwriting101 #FinancialFreedom #SmallBizGrowth #weknowyourworth

    Kiva's Southern Arizona Crowdfunding Hub with Cassie Price | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

  2. May 26 ·  Bonus

    Building Local Economies with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi and Danny Knee | Let's Talk Small Biz Finance

    Building Local Economies with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi and Danny Knee: Insights from Pima County’s Economic Development Initiatives. In this episode of the Let's Talk Small Biz Finance Podcast, Danny Knee chats with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi about how regional economic strategies foster community growth, support small businesses, and adapt to global shifts. They explore the tools, policies, and innovative projects driving economic resilience and community benefit in Tucson and beyond. Heath Vescovi-Chiordi is the Director of Economic Development for Pima County. His work focuses on economic development and workforce development with a priority on sustainable and diverse growth. The goal is to increase the county’s viability for business attraction, retention and expansion. He is U of A graduate with a master’s degree in public administration. He’s won numerous awards and accolades including being named one of Tucson’s 40-under- 40, the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award for Emerging Leader 2021, being named one of Biz Tucson’s Next Gen leaders in 2022, and the Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development in 2024. About the Host: Danny Knee is the Executive Director of Community Investment Corporation (CIC), a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing in Southern Arizona, including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties, in addition to programs supporting first-time homeowners and education. Learn more about CIC's programs here: https://cictucson.org Have a question or suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Submit it here: https://cictucson.org/podcast-submission-form Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Heath Vescovici and his role in Pima County 02:05 - Heath’s early career, awards, and personal anecdotes 03:11 - Defining economic development: traditional vs community-based models 04:26 - Balancing community values and economic growth in regional strategies 05:29 - Measuring success: KPIs, public engagement, perception, and future planning 07:24 - Focus on small business retention and expansion efforts in the region 08:49 - Partnering with community organizations and providing access to resources 09:45 - Impact of national and global economic shifts, including tariffs and conflict 11:43 - The interconnected nature of small and large businesses in economic health 12:32 - Personal preference game: Teacher vs. Economic Developer, and pop culture debates 14:00 - Spotlight on overlooked resources: local lenders, community colleges, and regional IDAs 17:13 - Current initiatives in the “lab”: grants, workforce training, aerospace, and tech startup development 21:19 - Building a regional economic brand and international outreach projects 22:21 - Heath’s go-to Sonoran hot dog spot and closing remarks #CommunityFirst #EconomicMobility #GrowTogether #PimaCounty #EconomicDevelopment

    Building Local Economies with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi and Danny Knee | Let's Talk Small Biz Finance

  3. Apr 23

    Will I Get Funded? Demystifying the Loan Underwriting Process | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

    What exactly happens in underwriting? Here’s the truth behind the "black box." If you’ve ever wondered if you will get funded for a loan, in this episode, Caroline and Brandi from CIC share what an underwriter really looks for - and how you can get approved faster. Why are loans underwritten? It’s all about assessing risk. Lenders use a variety of means to understand if your business can handle taking on the debt - using ratios like DSCR (debt service coverage ratio), current assets, cash flow, credit history, additional income, and more. For lenders like CIC, we want to make sure that the amount of money that your business takes on will help you grow and is feasible to be repaid, and not going to be overwhelming and put you in a worse financial place. It’s as much about the numbers as it is about the story behind them. At CIC, our team looks at a potential borrower's character and builds a relationship with them, which helps inform the underwriting process. If the underwriting process ever felt mysterious or scary, we’re here to help. We believe transparency is everything, and knowing how it works and how to be better prepared can actually make the process less intimidating. At its core, underwriting is about supporting your growth. We care about helping you understand your financial standing and what it takes to move forward. Learn how to track your finances here: https://youtu.be/b9XXeVhNAII?si=9a1Jc0CsRdWdMgve Check out our loan calculator here: https://cictucson.org/businesses-that-prosper About the Host: Caroline Nelson is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Lending at Community Investment Corporation (CIC), a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing in Southern Arizona, including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties. Caroline is joined by Brandi Szymanzi, CIC's Rural Lending Manager, for this discussion. Have a question about small business finance, a theme, or a quest expert you'd love us to have on the show? Submit it here! https://cictucson.org/coffee-with-caroline-submission-form https://cictucson.org #BusinessFinance #LoanApprovalTips #Underwriting101 #FinancialFreedom #SmallBizGrowth

    Will I Get Funded? Demystifying the Loan Underwriting Process | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

  4. Mar 20

    How to Secure Business Funding without Using Personal Credit | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

    Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us online for a casual chat about all things small business finance. Caroline Nelson is here to share tips, answer your questions, and help you feel confident managing your business money. This month, we’ll be discussing how to secure business funding without using personal credit. The topic was submitted by a listener and is likely something many current and aspiring business owners want to know more about. Join us as we explore why personal credit is often tied to business funding and the alternative options that may be available. About the Host: Caroline Nelson is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Lending at Community Investment Corporation (CIC), a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing in Southern Arizona, including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties. Caroline is joined by Brandi Szymanzi, CIC's Rural Lending Manager for this discussion. Dollars and Sense for Entrepreneurs, easy tools to track your small business finances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9XXeVhNAII&t=2s Business Finance Resources: https://cictucson.org/business-finance Learn more about CIC's Small Business Financing options: https://cictucson.org/businesses-that-prosper Learn more about CIC's Kiva Southern Arizona Hub here: https://cictucson.org/kiva Have a question or suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Submit it here! https://cictucson.org/coffee-with-caroline-submission-form

    How to Secure Business Funding without Using Personal Credit | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

  5. Mar 19

    Crowdfunding Your Business Growth with Kiva | A Conversation with Reteisha Byrd and Danny Knee

    What does it take to fund a dream? In this episode, CIC Executive Director Danny Knee sits down with Kiva’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Associate Reteisha Byrd for a fast-paced conversation breaking down how Kiva works, for both borrowers and lenders. Who should apply? How much can you raise? Do you need perfect credit? (Spoiler: no.) Plus, how anyone can become a lender and support entrepreneurs right here in Southern Arizona, or around the world. If you’ve been thinking about starting or growing your business, this episode is for you. Tune in and learn how community-powered lending is opening doors across Southern Arizona. Learn more about CIC's Kiva Southern Arizona Hub here: https://cictucson.org/kiva Find the full TENWEST schedule and get your tickets at www.tenwest.com #CIC #Kiva #SmallBusinessSupport #TucsonEntrepreneurs #CommunityCapital #EconomicInclusion #WeKnowYourWorth

    Crowdfunding Your Business Growth with Kiva | A Conversation with Reteisha Byrd and Danny Knee

  6. Mar 13 ·  Bonus

    Impact Investing for a More Inclusive Economy | A Conversation with Alicia Robb and Danny Knee

    This week, CIC’s Executive Director Danny Knee caught up with Alicia Robb - economist, angel investor, and Founder & CEO of Next Wave Impact - ahead of TENWEST to talk about what it really takes to unlock capital for entrepreneurs. Alicia is a globally recognized expert on entrepreneurial finance and will be one of the Keynote speakers at TENWEST. From angel investing to research on entrepreneurship and women-owned businesses, Alicia’s work has helped shape how we think about impact investing for the next generation of founders. We’re excited to be part of the dialogue on how impact investing can fuel more inclusive economic opportunity. Timestamps: 00:00 - Why Alicia Robb is such a key voice on venture capital equity 00:57 - The gender and racial gap in angel and venture funding 01:25 - Homophily and why investors fund people like themselves 02:48 - The case for diversifying the investor side 03:18 - Why outcomes contradict the “we only care about the business” claim 04:18 - Bias in pitch competitions and why awareness matters 05:14 - Lessons from Rising Tide and moving from theory to action 06:11 - Why NextWave Impact focused on impact companies led by women and minorities 07:09 - What makes Kachua Impact Fund different from a typical VC fund 08:29 - How CIC’s capital model fits alongside venture and impact investing 09:23 - Why most businesses need debt, revenue-based financing, or other capital 10:19 - How local attendees can get involved as investors 11:17 - Crowdfunding as a low-minimum entry point into startup investing 12:09 - Why Kachua opens the door to non-accredited investors 13:04 - Kiva as a debt-based way to support entrepreneurs 13:31 - Why access to capital matters as much as buying from local businesses 13:58 - Tucson favorites and final thoughts ahead of Tenwest #TENWEST #AccessToCapital #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvesting #TucsonAZ #EconomicOpportunity #WeKnowYourWorth

    Impact Investing for a More Inclusive Economy | A Conversation with Alicia Robb and Danny Knee

  7. Mar 12

    How to Fund Your Business and the 5 Cs of Credit | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson

    Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us online for a casual chat about all things small business finance. Caroline Nelson is here to share tips, answer your questions, and help you feel confident managing your business money. Stay tuned for guest experts to join in the inspiring conversation. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, this is your chance to get real talk and handy advice in a relaxed setting. Don’t miss out on this friendly, informative coffee chat! About the Host Caroline Nelson is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Lending at Community Investment Corporation (CIC), a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing in Southern Arizona. Dollars and Sense for Entrepreneurs, easy tools to track your small business finances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9XXeVhNAII&t=2s Business Finance Resources: https://cictucson.org/business-finance Learn more about CIC's Small Business Financing options: https://cictucson.org/businesses-that-prosper Have a question or suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Submit it here! https://cictucson.org/coffee-with-caroline-submission-form

    How to Fund Your Business and the 5 Cs of Credit | Coffee Chats with Caroline Nelson
  • 7 Episodes

About

Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join Community Investment Corporation (CIC Tucson) for an inspiring chat with leaders in the entrepreneurial community about all things small-business finance. Hosted by Danny Knee and Caroline Nelson Produced by Tina Grecchi Have a question or suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Submit it here! https://cictucson.org/podcast-submission-form CIC is a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in small business lending, crowdfunding, and alternative financing resources and education in Southern Arizona (including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties). At CIC, we know your worth. Learn more about CIC's programs at www.cictucson.org

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