Pioneering the Next Generation of New Americans
Pioneering the Next Generation of New Americans
(Originally published as a guest post on Startup America Partnership’s blog. Read about their great work here)
At the Business Center for New Americans,, we are constantly impressed with the ingenuity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit shown by our clients – many of whom are recent immigrants or refugees. Most immigrants don’t have the luxury to search for investments from venture capitalists, nor are they often creating the kind of startups that attract VC money. So, out of sight of New York’s Silicon Alley, they just roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to create businesses to support themselves and their families.
What our clients are doing – creating small businesses, and ultimately more jobs — is equally as important to our economy as startups in new tech sectors. We are proud to provide microloans and business training, helping our clients take that first step into the American entrepreneur class.
Back home, our clients were doctors or lawyers, musicians and hair braiders. Some are 19-years old, some are 70-years old. Some have doctorates, some have an elementary education (or even less.)
Like all good entrepreneurs, once our clients get started, they are hard to stop. Client Digna Guzman started a number of businesses, including a cigar shop, and now concentrates her efforts on a deli she owns and manages. Olga Bosio used a microloan from BCNA to start a small day care center; now she employs 20 people in a pre-school she opened and operates. Ravindra Tej Singh used support from BCNA to open a restaurant, which now employs five people.
While these businesses may seem “traditional” in today’s digital age, having the appropriate digital technology is important for even the smallest businesses. For that reason, BCNA is committed to helping our clients get access not only to microloans, but also to the hardware, software, and BCNA’s “Technology to Boost Your Bottom Line” training that give them the critical edge they need to succeed.
Our loans helped Alexander Sas, who runs a print shop, buy equipment and start marketing his services online. Kelsang Choden used her savings to start a small spa and, with a grant from one of our programs funded by the eBay Foundation, was able to buy hardware and software to help run her business. She now gets most of her clients from her on-line marketing and, with our help, is taking the next step into e-commerce.
At BCNA we realize that using cutting edge digital tools is important not only for our clients but also for our own outreach. So we were thrilled when we were approached a few months ago by a New York startup called LetGive, describing itself as the world’s first open giving platform. LetGive has created an alarm clock app called Snooze that lets you donate 25 cents to any nonprofit in the LetGive Network, just by hitting the “snooze” button. The LetGive platform and network also allows nonprofits to transform their websites, blogs, and mobile or desktop applications into easy fundraising platforms.
BCNA is proud to have been one of the first in a list of nonprofits in the LetGive network, now including such great organizations as Action Against Hunger, City Harvest, and The Nature Conservancy — what great company for us to be in. Josh Abdulla and his team are doing for nonprofits what we do for other businesses — providing tools, apps and knowledge, and financial support.
LetGive brings us full circle. They use their technology and startup acumen to help us provide loans, business and tech training and advice to startup businesses. Working with LetGive is helping us help New Americans and refugees achieve their American Dream: creating a flourishing and successful business they can call their own. We’re proud of our work, proud to be part of such a pioneering effort that itself is a wonderful example of how a startup can grow and thrive.