WBENC

The final WBENC LIFT in the Community activation of 2025 took place earlier this month on November 6th at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, in collaboration with WBEC South and supported by Fifth Third Bank. The event brought together entrepreneurs, capital providers, and corporate leaders to demonstrate that when business owners are equipped with strategic knowledge and meaningful connections, accessing capital becomes a tangible outcome, not an insurmountable barrier. Learn what insights were shared and how to get involved with upcoming #WBENCLIFTintheCommunity events in the year ahead! Read Now - https://lnkd.in/eYh2FyH8 We are grateful to the event's speakers and supporters - together we are helping to fuel growth opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses! Lindsey All - WBEC South Cindy Brewer - LEO Events Rita Dancey - Maryland Electric Company Teri Doochin - Interstate Packaging Andrew Gaeckle - WBENC LIFT Laurel Orley - Daily Crunch Snacks Samantha Sutton - Fifth Third Bank Shea Wood - Pathway Lending Aleta Young - Fifth Third Bank #WBENC #WBENCnetwork #WBENCLIFT #LIFTintheCommunity #WBE #FifthThirdBank #AccessToCapital #SmallBusiness #Business #Finance #Loans #Capital #BusinessLoans #FinancialAcumen #Tennessee #NashvilleBusiness #Networking

Ready to gain actionable insights and connect with leaders driving change at the federal and local levels? Join the WBENC Forum on December 11th from 3–4:30 PM ET for an engaging virtual session featuring Angela Dingle, CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), as she shares her State of the Union on women-owned businesses and the federal government. WBENC's LaKesha White will present on Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification including how WBENC can help you get it, the process, and what to do once you are WOSB Certified. We will also hear from WBE and Forum Member, Dana C. Arnett of Wicked Bionic • Mission-driven Communications + Advertising Agency Committed to Changing Lives, on how to leverage relationships and get involved with local, city and state government. All are welcome to attend! Register today. https://lnkd.in/eCiwsiVr

WBENC Women of Color CRGs, in collaboration with the WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence, invites you to join us for From Vision to Victory — Women of Color CEOs Share Their Financial Playbook. Ready to transform your financial vision into tangible results? Building on the knowledge of “Fueling Growth Through Cash Flow and Capital,” join us for From Vision to Victory, an exclusive panel featuring successful Women of Color CEOs who will share their personal financial playbooks—the strategies, tools, and tactics they used to build financial strength, access capital, and scale their businesses to new heights. REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/eJrYw_Tx In this dynamic, business owner to business owner conversation, you’ll learn: - How these women CEOs are successfully managing cash flow to sustain and grow their businesses. - The how and why these women CEOs accessed the capital they needed. - The lessons they learned, including pitfalls and how to overcome them.

WBENC Women of Color CRGs, in collaboration with the WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence, invites you to join us for From Vision to Victory — Women of Color CEOs Share Their Financial Playbook. Ready to transform your financial vision into tangible results? Building on the knowledge of “Fueling Growth Through Cash Flow and Capital,” join us for From Vision to Victory, an exclusive panel featuring successful Women of Color CEOs who will share their personal financial playbooks—the strategies, tools, and tactics they used to build financial strength, access capital, and scale their businesses to new heights. REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/eJrYw_Tx In this dynamic, business owner to business owner conversation, you’ll learn: - How these women CEOs are successfully managing cash flow to sustain and grow their businesses. - The how and why these women CEOs accessed the capital they needed. - The lessons they learned, including pitfalls and how to overcome them.

On Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, we’re proud to lift up the WBENC-Certified WBEs who are reshaping industries, uplifting communities, and building economic impact across the country. We believe business development promotes innovation, opens doors, and creates partnerships that fuel the economy. That’s why we not only provide the most relied upon certification standard for women-owned businesses, but we also offer the tools to help them succeed! #ChooseWOMEN

Announcing the Inaugural Supplier Readiness Accelerator | Building the Construction Supply Chain WBENC and Amazon are pleased to introduce targeted programming designed to equip business owners in Construction with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to meet the requirements of a robust Corporate supply chain. The Supplier Readiness Accelerator | Building the Construction Supply Chain is a cohort-style program designed to strengthen supplier capabilities and build expertise in support of business growth strategies. Kickoff Session: Dec. 11, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM ET | Virtual | Open to All What to expect from the Kickoff Session: - Introduction to the 2026 “WBENC Supplier Readiness Accelerator | Building the Construction Supply Chain” Program - Hear about Amazon’s construction-related procurement categories - Learn best practices for engaging as a supplier in a Corporate Construction supply chain - Hear from members of the Amazon Procurement Team Register Now! https://lnkd.in/eCaDRpwP Learn About the Program! https://lnkd.in/eSbkn7sN

Announcing the 2025 WBENCPitch ACCELERATE National Pitch Competition Winners!📢 After months of preparation, passion, and powerful pitching, the 2025 WBENCPitch ACCELERATE National Pitch Competition wrapped up yesterday with a Final Round, held during NBIC Unity Week! We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all participants in this year’s competition. Each pitch reflected the vision, dedication, and innovation that fuel our community and push the boundaries of what's possible for businesses nationwide. Please join us in celebrating the top four business leaders who earned their place as 2025 WBENCPitch ACCELERATE National Competition Winners! Products Company Division: 1st Place: Posie Pots 2nd Place: SWAIR Services Company Division: 1st Place: Carolina Event Sitters 2nd Place: Mobi Waste Inc As we celebrate all 2025 awardees, we also look forward to the continued impact journey of each participant.

This past June, an inspiring and ambitious cohort of emerging founders convened at the 2025 WBENC National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, as members of the WBENC Collegiate Accelerator (CA), an entrepreneurial program designed to support and strengthen early-stage startup founders. While in New Orleans, they made new connections, gained valuable mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals, showcased their ventures on the expo floor, and competed in the 2025 Collegiate Accelerator Pitch Competition. Read on to learn more about the top three founders who placed in the CA pitch competition, the inspiration behind their innovative solutions, and what’s ahead for the future of their ventures! https://lnkd.in/es2tPzCr

WBENC Women of Color CRGs, in collaboration with the WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence, invites you to join us for From Vision to Victory — Women of Color CEOs Share Their Financial Playbook. Ready to transform your financial vision into tangible results? Building on the knowledge of “Fueling Growth Through Cash Flow and Capital,” join us for From Vision to Victory, an exclusive panel featuring successful Women of Color CEOs who will share their personal financial playbooks—the strategies, tools, and tactics they used to build financial strength, access capital, and scale their businesses to new heights. REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/eJrYw_Tx In this dynamic, business owner to business owner conversation, you’ll learn: - How these women CEOs are successfully managing cash flow to sustain and grow their businesses. - The how and why these women CEOs accessed the capital they needed. - The lessons they learned, including pitfalls and how to overcome them.