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What drives CNote — A look back
In the startup world, six months can feel like a lifetime. Indeed, its been about six months since CNote won the Fintech Category and took home Best Startup Pitch Company at SXSW. A lot has changed, our team has grown, but the most important things have stayed the same. Same mission, prettier website Despite growing…
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Small Biz Story | Mamacitas Cafe
A Different Startup, With a Quirky Mission Mamacitas Cafe, a specialty coffee and baked goods retailer in Oakland, is different. A lot of other coffee shops may say the same. Be it their brewing methods, the coarseness of their grind, or the music heard playing in the background, this cafe is on a mission to…
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Small Biz Story | Z011 Coffee Roasters in San Francisco
A whole new coffee experience For San Franciscans, coffee drinking has become a ritual and an experience to be savored. And discovering coffee shops offering new flavors, aromas, and brewing methods has become a popular pastime in the city. In 2015, Belen and her husband decided to offer a completely unique coffee drinking experience to…
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Ingrid Murray – Prospect Cleaning Service – More than a loan, an investment in mutual success
Community lending – Helping small businesses grow Running a small business is a huge challenge. Even with the best-laid business plan and capital to spare, if you want to follow the long road to success you are going to need some help. Be it financial planning or access to skilled employees, a small business’ ability…
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Small Biz Story: MAFIA Bags, a small business with big ideas about sustainable design
MAFIA Bags is more than just a series of stylish, functional, and sturdy bags, totes, backpacks and accessories. It is a company which represents community and cohesiveness around two inspirational goals. To give new life to materials and to transform the way we do business. Started in 2012 by brother and sister Marcos and Paz…
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Roberto Romeo – Michiko Studios – Giving Local Artists a Place to Create
Finding the space to create While New York City is overflowing with artists and creatives, one thing the city is always short on is space. This is especially true for musicians who need rehearsal spaces that are both affordable and acoustically sound. That’s where Roberto Romeo (pictured) saw a tremendous opportunity to expand his small…
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Redesigning Finance in Detroit
An hour before my hotel alarm goes off, I’m thrown awake by a chorus of hammers, trucks and drills from the construction outside. Where am I? Right, Detroit. The city of a legendary decline and an even more legendary revival. I’ve heard enough “dark” stories to shape my groggy and not so pleasant image of…
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Fany Gerson – La Newyorkina – Seeing Opportunity When Others See a Challenge
Community Lender Helps Entrepreneur Grow Her Business La Newyorkina is a place for handmade Mexican ice cream, paletas (ice pops), chamoyadas & other treats. It is also a fan favorite all around New York City. La Newyorkina is known for using unique flavors, fruits, and ingredients in its colorful paletas (Mexican popsicles). The journey to small business success…
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CNote selected to participate in Village Capital FinTech program
We are humbled and proud to share that CNote has been selected to participate in the Village Capital FinTech program. This program, co-sponsored by PayPal and Village Capital, is on a mission to help create “accessible, efficient, and affordable financial services for underserved communities and small businesses.” Such recognition does come with a responsibility to…
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The Pig & The Penny
Did you grow up with a piggy bank? You know, the pink kind that smiles end to end as you proudly plop each copper penny into its thin slat? Plunk. Plink, plink. Yep, me too. But, what I’ve come to realize is the psychology behind that little pig is much broader than I thought. To…
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Where finance meets impact.