ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, Inc.

We rely on the philanthropic support of organizations and individuals like YOU, to help provide the support our clients need to succeed. 

 Please give today to support Georgia's entrepreneurs!  -- THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

$220+ million in loans     |     2,700+ successful businesses     |     22,000+ jobs

16,000+ entrepreneurs served by our ACE Women's Business Center since opening in 2015

Access to capital is essential to successful business ownership and is an ongoing challenge for women, minority, and low-moderate income entrepreneurs. ACE’s mission is to remove barriers to capital for entrepreneurs seeking support for the growth and scaling of their businesses, which we know also contributes to economic progress in communities. Our business model is not only about providing capital, but also coaching and connections.

ACE is getting capital to women-owned businesses in Georgia – in 2024 over 50% of loans went to women. As a 24-year old, woman-founded and led organization, ACE is uniquely qualified to help women entrepreneurs. While we have always worked to advance equitable opportunities for women, our first formal initiative, Women Investing in Successful Entrepreneurs (WISE), launched in 2013. This program deployed $3.6MM to women. In 2015, our Women’s Business Center opened to provide even more services and assisted 5,400+ clients in its first 4 years. ACE’s women’s peer cohort for high potential businesses, offers individualized coaching and peer meetings where participants can share challenges and successes and learn from each other. Its success has led to the development of other groups. 

In 2024, ACE hosted a WOSB Certification Cohort, offering women business owners comprehensive training on various key topics, including: Types of Certifications, Capability Statements, NAICS codes, Federal Government Opportunities and more. These sessions provided essential guidance and insights into the application requirements for WOSB certification. By April, 16 participants had successfully completed Phase 2 of the cohort and submitted their paperwork to the SBA portal, with the majority having received their certifications.

Our place-based work in some of Atlanta’s low-income communities of color, while not women-focused, provides other opportunities for women business owners to receive in-depth business advisory support and access to capital.

ACE provides:

Capital - in the form of fairly-priced loans to help with working capital, facility purchases and upgrades, equipment, inventory, etc.

Coaching - through our Women's Business Center and business advisory services offering consulting, classes and workshops in English and Spanish.

Connections - with resources, mentors, and peers to provide the tools needed to work smarter and build thriving businesses.

As a CDFI, ACE keeps its loans fairly priced, affordable and accessible. And our clients usually prove dependable – this year’s repayment rate stands at 95%. However, interest on these loans only covers 60% of the costs of providing critical services to our clients.

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