At Accompany Capital we create paths to success and self-sufficiency for immigrants & refugees – as well as other fellow New Yorkers. We don’t just support our clients with affordable loans, we continue to support them with:
Through our partnership with organizations like New York Women in Business, we sponsor and participate in events that highlight women entrepreneurs’ stories and bring together women who are starting, building, or expanding business to learn from each other’s journeys.
Women who are not our clients are also welcome to take advantage of the many workshops we offer on every phase of entrepreneurship, from starting a business, to marketing it successfully and take it to the next level.
We have also created a speaker bureau – AC Voices – highlighting Accompany Capital clients who have successfully navigated the very diverse challenges they have faced and can tell the story compellingly at meetings, conferences, and panels to uplift other women – and men – on their journeys. Contact us to learn more about this program.
Accompany Capital works closely with Women’s Enterprise Action Loan Fund (WEALF) to benefit from referring our clients to WEALF for mentoring while WEALF refers their clients to us for larger loans. WEALF was founded 7 years ago to help women founders and their businesses become financially self-sufficient through interest-free loans of up to $10,000 and one-on-one mentoring from experienced businesswomen to maximize the impact of the loan. Since then, WEALF has been proving – with each loan they grant – that zip code & ethnicity are no barriers to success for women entrepreneurs.
This internship is designed for recent college graduates with an interest in small business lending to immigrants and refugees. Previous related work experience is not required. Fluency in a second language, particularly one that is helpful to the communities we serve, is highly desirable.
This full-time paid position will require a 12-month commitment to working at the Accompany Capital office in Jackson Heights, Queens. The Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Intern will learn the fundamentals of small business lending, engage in research projects, and receive mentoring from senior loan officers. The selected candidate will receive both a salary and health benefits.
The application will become available in February 2024 and decisions will be announced in early summer, for a start date in fall 2024.
Please email Claire Gohorel to receive more information about the internship and the application process.
If you’re interested in supporting the Leonid Ostrovsky Lending Internship, please contact Claire Gohorel for more information or donate here.
Saving for a First HomeIf you are a low to moderate-income New Yorker, we can help you qualify for one of these government-sponsored savings programs:
Accompany Capital’s home ownership seminars will help you understand the home purchasing process and what is involved in home ownership. The seminars are offered four times a year and fulfill the education requirement for both the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program and the First Home Club Matched Savings Program, including:
Francess Smith, Manager of IDA Program
[email protected]
Click here to watch our collection of free recorded webinars.
Wednesday, April 24th
2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
This is Part 1 of a 2-part series of QuickBooks Level 1 class for small business owners who are new to QuickBooks. The webinar aims to help you learn the basics and understand how you can use QuickBooks to manage your business finances. The sessions will cover the following:
Speaker: Paul Rosenblum, Numerex Services, Small Business Consultant, Professional Bookkeeper, a QuickBooks Certified Proadvisor
For more information, please contact Tshering Gurung at [email protected] or 347-730-6468
This workshop is provided in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Capital One.
Thursday, April 25th
2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
This is Part 2 of a 2-part series of QuickBooks Level 1 class for small business owners who are new to QuickBooks. The webinar aims to help you learn the basics and understand how you can use QuickBooks to manage your business finances. The sessions will cover the following:
Speaker: Paul Rosenblum, Numerex Services, Small Business Consultant, Professional Bookkeeper, a QuickBooks Certified Proadvisor
For more information, please contact Tshering Gurung at [email protected] or 347-730-6468
This workshop is provided in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Capital One.
Tuesday, April 23rd
1:00 PM- 2:00 PM
Have you been wondering how to get money to start or grow your business? Do you know how to ask for financing?
If you have been asking yourself these questions and are not sure where to find the answers, then you need to attend our Meet the Lender workshop hosted in partnership by NYC Department of Small Business Services.
Accompany Capital creates a pathway to self-sufficiency for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in New York City by providing access to affordable capital to start or grow a business. We provide business loans and microloans to business owners who are not able to obtain loans from traditional lenders. In this workshop, you will learn about different loan products and what it takes to obtain a loan.
There will also be time for you to speak with the lender individually about your business needs.
Join us to learn how we can assist you to obtain the capital you need to build your business!
Please note: This is an online webinar. You will receive the details needed to join within 24 hours of the scheduled start time. To receive these details you MUST register beforehand.
Speaker: Tshering D. Gurung, Senior Manager of Business Development & Training, Accompany Capital
For more information, please contact Tshering Gurung at [email protected] or 347-730-6468
This workshop is provided in partnership with the NYC Department of Small Business Services and sponsored by HSBC.
Are you negotiating a commercial lease? Don’t do it alone! Whether you’re a new business renting your first space or you’re working on renewing your business’ lease, the Commercial Lease Assistance (CLA) Program from NYC Small Business Services, administered by Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, is here to help with free legal assistance.
At this webinar, you will learn about the Commercial Lease Assistance Program and receive helpful tips from a Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation representative on what to look out for when signing or negotiating a commercial lease.
The Commercial Lease Assistance Program provides free legal services to help eligible businesses with the following:
Presenter: Staff Attorney, Community & Economic Development, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A
For more information, please contact Tsetan Dekyi at [email protected] or 845-241-3691
This workshop is provided in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A and SBS.
Location: 303 Sands St. 9th floor, Brooklyn (across the street from Wegman’s)
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Are you ready to harness the power of AI?
In today’s fast-paced business landscape, staying ahead means embracing innovation. Join us for a dynamic half-day conference with four insightful workshops led by industry experts. Learn practical strategies for leveraging AI to revolutionize the way you market, design, plan, and grow your business.
Don’t miss this opportunity to equip your small business and daily operations with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s AI-driven economy.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
For more information, please contact Maria Paulino at [email protected]
This workshop is provided in partnership with NYWIB, SCORE NYC, Women,NYC, and sponsored by DIME.
**This program will be online until further notice, accessible from any device 24 hours a day, 7 days a week**
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s HomeFirst
Down Payment Assistance Program provides qualified homebuyers with up to $100,000 toward the down
payment or closing costs on a 1-4 family home, a condominium, or a cooperative in one of the five boroughs
of New York City.
The following topics are covered:
Discount code: ACCOMPANYCAPITAL50
Eligibility Requirements: Click here
For more information, please contact Francess Smith at (212) 898-7850 or [email protected]
This workshop is put on through the Housing Partnership Development Corporation
Offering simple, delicious, natural Ethiopian coffee and blends that allowing the unique flavors of each type of single origin bean to shine through. Many of our Ethiopian coffees are certified fair-trade and organic. Others are sourced from small farms that are committed to responsible practices but cannot afford the costs of certification. All of our Ethiopian coffees come from small-holder farms and farmers cooperatives.
Inca Heritage offers beautiful women’s hats, capes, coats, shawls, and dresses as well as fun children’s hats and toys, all made with 100% Premium Baby Alpaca and organic cotton from natural, organic sources, environmentally safe, and 100% free of animal cruelty.
Olive oil-based, gentle, all-natural skincare, body care, and hair care products that are safe and effective to combat early signs of aging, allergies, or skin sensitivities, giving you beautiful skin and stronger hair.
Balkan Bites is a female and family-owned business that specializes in wholesome Southeast European comfort foods made with premium ingredients and authentic recipes, such as Burek, a portable stuffed phyllo swirl.
Harlem Chocolate Factory is an artisan chocolate company that strives to convey the cultural experiences of Harlem through their chocolate products, sharing their love for Harlem & Chocolate and bringing diverse voices to the forefront of the chocolate industry. Try their Brownstone Bars and their delicious bonbons and truffles!
The Gilded Grape has a strong focus on local producers, featuring wines from the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley & North Fork- even Brooklyn – and artisanal spirits such as gin, whiskey, single malts, and vodka from New York State craft distilleries, as well as other popular brands and producers.
Award-winning language learning, translation, interpretation & cultural exchange services, powered by refugee talent & host community members.
Butcher Girls Co. is a virtual butcher shop, hand-delivering curated boxes of local, sustainable, and humanely sourced meat and fish as part of a weekly, biweekly or monthly subscription program.
The Bark Shoppe is a premier pet care facility in Harlem, dedicated to fostering great relationships between pets and their owners. Featuring signature soap-free shampoos for your pet’s coat and sensitive skin; water-based hydrating body sprays infused with natural essences to provide a long-lasting deodorizing scent without sacrificing the natural oils in your pet’s fur; and gentle but effective combs and brushes.
Please contact Nicole Mas at [email protected] or 212-898-4112 for more information.
The owner of Le’Bulga Inc., a luxury handbag company, Natalia tells an impressive story of building a successful business from the ground up in the highly competitive fashion industry. After immigrating to the United States in 1995 from Uzbekistan, she graduated from FIT with a degree in Fashion Design. Upon graduation, she worked for various high-end fashion brands, which led to her passion for handbag design.
Le’Bulga handbags have been worn by celebrities and fashion insiders, and have been featured in fashion magazines alongside luxury brands including Burberry and Chanel.
The daughter of Filipino immigrants and the owner of SPAdét, Annabelle tells an inspiring story about leveraging entrepreneurship to solve real-world problems. Using her background in biochemistry, she began experimenting with natural personal care products in 2008 to heal her daughter’s eczema. Once she perfected a formula that worked for her daughter, she founded SPAdét, which is best known for its O’Live Castile Soap – a pure, safe, and environmentally friendly liquid cleanser for sensitive skin.
SPAdét has secured large contracts with educational institutions, medical facilities, child learning centers, and specialty pharmacies.
The owner of Alima Hair Braiding in Brooklyn, Alimata tells her moving story about making the best of challenging circumstances – and uplifting other women along the way. A refugee from Burkina Faso who arrived in New York with her husband and children in 2012, she opened two hair braiding salons after putting herself through school.
Alimata’s salons employ eight women from her community. She is also the founder and president of the Association of African Women, a nonprofit networking group for African women entrepreneurs.
Archana came to the US from Nepal in 2003 and studied chemistry and sociology at Hunter College, graduating in 2010. She worked in sales, marketing, and training at Time Warner and Verizon before becoming the business manager at a Manhattan day spa. She was able to save enough money to open her own business on the Upper East Side in 2018: Lenox Spa and Nails, a spacious day spa specializing in manicures, pedicures, and facial treatments. A loan from Accompany Capital helped finance completion of construction and the purchase of spa equipment. Lenox Spa and Nails has created 11 full-time jobs.
As a member of the Accompany Capital Voices Speakers Bureau – women entrepreneurs who are ambassadors for Accompany Capital and experts in their business sectors – she is available to speak to groups about entrepreneurship.
Marieme Keita, who came to New York from the Ivory Coast in 1992, speaks eloquently about work life balance, including making time for the joy her four children bring while still managing employees and a thriving business.
She began work as a hair braider in 1992, later opening her own own storefront braiding salon. Learning by doing, she gained the experience and confidence she needed to open her next business in 2015 – Keita West African Market – and has saved enough to purchase a home for her family as well. Located on a street with extremely high foot traffic in Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, the Keita West African Market now carries over $200,000 in merchandise and has recently expanded to include Lycamobile and money transfer services as well.
Her goal is to continue to expand and provide the most value she can for her customers, employees, and community while enjoying life and her beloved family as well.
Millie Carbajal started M&M 24HR Daycare when she was 30 years old, a single mom, and a hotel worker. Dissatisfied with the day care choices she found for her young children – particularly for her night shift work – she started researching how to open her own. When she discovered her home didn’t meet state requirements, she found one that did and moved.
The first three years after she opened were hard. She had to cash out her 401k and apply for food stamps to make ends meet while paying for training classes for a Child Development Associate (CDA) degree. She was soon able, however, to open a second location, M&M Preparatory, and then M&M 24HR Daycare, both ow which are affiliated with the New York City’s 3K and Pre-K programs.
Today she serves over 40 families and, in 2019, she and M&M’s 24-hour services were featured in Time Magazine. She now sits on the Board of the UFT as a first Chair, representing child care providers from the Bronx.
Special thanks to the New York Women’s Foundation for supporting this project. Contact us at [email protected] for booking information.
