WESST

What WESST does

WESST (Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team Corp) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that delivers an integrated suite of business development services to entrepreneurs across the state. The organization operates through four physical offices (Albuquerque as the headquarters within the WESST Enterprise Center, plus Farmington, Hobbs, and Las Cruces) and virtual delivery via Zoom Workplace, serving clients in both English and Spanish. Its service portfolio is organized around four core programs: Training & Consulting (workshops and one-on-one advising on business planning, marketing, and financial planning), Lending (SBA micro-loans from $500 to $150,000 at 0-9% fixed rates, paired with mandatory consulting), Incubation (the 37,000 sq ft Silver LEED-certified Enterprise Center housing up to 20 light manufacturing, service, professional, and technology businesses with wet labs and shared amenities), and WESST Studios (a full-service green screen production facility). Special initiatives include the MBDA-funded Capital Readiness Program, the WK Kellogg Foundation-funded Native Women Rising program, and the NMECECD-funded CRECER and THE Accelerator child care business development programs.

The organization is structured as a CDFI and SBA-affiliated entity hosting a statewide network of Women's Business Centers. Revenue mechanics combine federal and state grants (SBA WBC Program at $150K federal plus $150K match per location, plus MBDA, NMECECD, and Kellogg Foundation grants), charitable contributions (Visionaries Circle multi-year pledges, New Mexico Small Business Backers monthly giving program), event fundraising (annual Silver Soirée), facility and production rental income (Enterprise Center event space and WESST Studios), and microlending interest income. The entity operates with 11-50 employees under a board of directors, led by President & CEO Lindsey Kay and CRO C. Sandro Tonini, with regional program directors in each office. Notably, WESST was awarded SBA New Mexico Microlender of the Year for two consecutive years (2024-2025), the 2025 AWBC National Certificate of Excellence, and a 2023 Bronze Telly Award for its production work.

Customer segments span women entrepreneurs (its primary SBA WBC constituency), Native American/Indigenous entrepreneurs (Native Women Rising), rural business owners across New Mexico, child care providers (CRECER/THE Accelerator), and general startups and early-stage businesses. Impact metrics from 2021-2025 cite 478 businesses built, 2,000+ careers launched, and 9,511 individuals employed through WESST programs. In 2025, the organization underwent a brand refresh alongside a physical footprint evolution driven by funding shifts, while continuing to expand programmatic scope through new federal grant partnerships.

Name

WESST

Legal name

Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team Corp

Website

https://wesst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WESST is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that supports New Mexico entrepreneurs statewide through integrated training, one-on-one consulting, SBA micro-lending ($500-$150K), incubation at the WESST Enterprise Center, and WESST Studios production rentals, operating four offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: WESST operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Visionaries Circle program encourages multi-year financial commitments from donors who provide matching dollars for federal funding. Monthly giving campaigns through the New Mexico Small Business Backer program support ongoing operations.
2. Federal and State Grants: WESST receives federal funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration's Women's Business Center Program, requiring 1:1 non-federal matching dollars. Additional funding comes from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) for the Capital Readiness Program, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (NMECECD) for CRECER initiative, and WK Kellogg Foundation for Native Women Rising. Each WBC location receives $300,000 in total program costs ($150,000 federal, $150,000 non-federal match).
3. Event Fundraising: Annual signature events including the Silver Soirée generate proceeds earmarked for specific aspects of WESST's work. The 12th Annual Silver Soirée (October 2026) is titled 'Made in New Mexico' and held at the Albuquerque Museum.
4. Incubation and Event Space Rental: The WESST Enterprise Center houses incubator member companies and anchor tenants in office, light manufacturing, and lab spaces. Conference and meeting rooms are available for rental to the public with flat-rate pricing for production and event rentals. WESST Studios offers full-service production rentals.
5. Microlending: As one of three SBA micro-lenders in New Mexico, WESST provides small business loans ranging from $500 to $50,000 (or up to $150,000 according to some pages) with fixed interest rates from 0% to 9%. Loans may carry up to 5% loan fees. Loan recipients must work with WESST consultants throughout the loan duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WESST is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization that supports New Mexico entrepreneurs through hands-on training workshops, one-on-one business consulting, SBA micro-lending ($500 to $150,000), and a 37,000-square-foot business incubation facility. The organization also operates WESST Studios for film/TV production and runs special initiatives for underserved communities including women, Native American, and rural entrepreneurs.

Product overview

WESST is a nonprofit economic development organization serving New Mexico entrepreneurs through a portfolio of interconnected programs. Its core offerings are organized as Training & Consulting (hands-on workshops and one-on-one business advising), WESST Lending (SBA-backed microloans from $500 to $150,000), the Incubation Program (the Silver LEED-certified WESST Enterprise Center with office, lab, and co-working space), WESST Studios (full-service film/TV green screen production studios), and Event Space rental. Special initiatives include the Capital Readiness Program (MBDA-funded), Native Women Rising, and the CRECER/THE Accelerator child care program. WESST also operates a network of Women's Business Centers, runs the annual Silver Soirée fundraiser, and maintains a Client Directory. The organization does not offer a public API or AI/ML-based products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRECER: Capacity Resources for Enhancing Care, Excellence, and Resilience - initiative providing free business development resources to increase the supply of high-quality licensed child care in New Mexico, funded by NMECECD.
• THE Accelerator

Products and services

• WESST Training & Consulting Hands-on training workshops and one-on-one business consulting services covering business planning, strategic planning, marketing, web marketing, social media marketing, and financial planning and analysis, available in both English and Spanish for New Mexico entrepreneurs.
• WESST Lending CDFI and SBA micro-lender offering small business loans from $500 to $150,000 with fixed interest rates from 0% to 9%, paired with consulting support throughout the loan duration for entrepreneurs who do not qualify for traditional bank financing.
• WESST Incubation Program Business incubation program at the WESST Enterprise Center, providing office space, workshop access, mentor networks, high-speed internet, conference rooms, and wet lab spaces for up to 20 early-stage businesses in light manufacturing, service, professional, and technology industries.
• WESST Studios Full-service film and TV production studios with a three-wall green screen cyclorama, lighting grid, 42-seat retractable screening room, multi-camera live streaming, and event rental capability for businesses needing digital media production space.
• WESST Enterprise Center Event Space Meeting and event space rental at the WESST Enterprise Center, offering rooms including the Atrium (70 max), Wells Fargo Conference Room (30 max), AB Potter Training Room (20 max), and AB Potter Meeting Room (6 max), with A/V equipment available.
• Capital Readiness Program Program funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) offering free one-on-one consulting, training workshops, and networking to help underserved entrepreneurs access capital through SSBCI programs, government initiatives, investor meetings, and crowdfunding.
• Native Women Rising Initiative focused on empowering Native American and Indigenous entrepreneurs through cohort-based training, one-on-one business consultations, peer mentorship, and connections to capital and financial education resources, offered in-person and virtually.
• CRECER / THE Accelerator CRECER (Capacity Resources for Enhancing Care, Excellence, and Resilience) provides free business development resources to increase quality licensed child care in New Mexico. THE Accelerator is a six-month bilingual training program for family/home-based child care providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 478 businesses built from 2021-2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, strategic and minor.

• PNM (PNM Resources)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of WESST's 11th Annual Silver Soirée. PNM is a major New Mexico utility company with representation on WESST's board through Omni Warner.
• City of Santa Fe Office of Economic DevelopmentstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in powering the Marketing Essentials for Small Businesses training series, including Social Media Made Simple sessions held at the Santa Fe Business Incubator.
• NMSU-Arrowhead CenterstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner with City of Santa Fe in presenting the Marketing Essentials for Small Businesses training series, leveraging NMSU's economic development resources.
• Fort Defiance Regional Business Development OfficestrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of the Navajo Business Just Start It series, bringing business training to the Navajo Nation community in Ft. Defiance and Window Rock areas.
• San Juan CollegestrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWESST Farmington office is located on the campus of San Juan College within the Quality Center for Business building, providing training and consulting services to the San Juan County area.
• Hispano Chamber of Commerce (Hobbs)strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWESST Hobbs office is located at the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, providing training and consulting services to the Lea County area.
• Collective Co. (Las Cruces)strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWESST Las Cruces office is located at Collective Co., providing training and consulting services to the Doña Ana County area.
• Santa Fe Business IncubatorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecondary location for WESST Albuquerque Women's Business Center in Santa Fe, housed at the Santa Fe Business Incubator for specialized training sessions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is the SBA-affiliated national nonprofit providing mentorship, workshops, and business resources to entrepreneurs — directly overlapping WESST's training and consulting mission for small businesses. Both are SBA-partnered nonprofit business support organizations, though SCORE emphasizes volunteer mentorship over WESST's integrated lending and incubation model.
• LiftFund: LiftFund is a Texas-based CDFI and SBA microlender offering small business loans and business development services to underserved entrepreneurs — closely matching WESST's microlending + training model. Like WESST, it pairs capital access with technical assistance to drive repayment and business outcomes.
• Grameen America: Grameen America is a nonprofit microlender providing small business loans to women entrepreneurs in underserved communities, with a parallel lending + mentoring model to WESST's. Both target financially excluded entrepreneurs and pair capital with hands-on business support.
• Kiva U.S. Kiva is a nonprofit crowdfunding microlending platform providing 0% interest loans to small business owners — comparable to WESST's micro-lending focus on entrepreneurs who lack traditional bank access. Both serve the underbanked small business segment at small dollar amounts.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund is a CDFI offering small business loans, coaching, and training to underserved entrepreneurs — directly mirroring WESST's integrated lending + advising approach. Both organizations emphasize bilingual services and serving women and minority founders.
• Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation: Justine Petersen is a St. Louis-based CDFI providing small business loans, credit building, and business development services to low-income entrepreneurs. Like WESST, it pairs microloans with technical assistance and targets similar underserved populations.

Broad incumbents

• Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBENC): WBENC is the national nonprofit certifying and supporting women-owned businesses, sitting in the same ecosystem as WESST's SBA Women's Business Centers. While WBENC focuses on certification and corporate supplier diversity rather than microlending, both serve the women entrepreneur segment through programs and partnerships.
• America's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): The SBDC network is the SBA's national resource partner providing no-cost business advising, training, and market research to entrepreneurs — overlapping WESST's training and consulting offerings at greater national scale. SBDCs and WBCs (WESST's category) are sister SBA programs with overlapping missions but distinct funding streams.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is the federal agency administering the WBC and micro-lending programs that fund WESST. While not a direct competitor, the SBA sets program rules and contracts that shape WESST's operating model, and it is the umbrella for many of WESST's peer resource partners (SCORE, SBDC).

Emerging players

• Village Capital: Village Capital is a nonprofit impact-focused organization supporting early-stage entrepreneurs through cohort-based programs and access to capital — partially overlapping WESST's cohort-based training initiatives like Native Women Rising and THE Accelerator. Less direct overlap on microlending but comparable on training-and-network support for underserved founders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WESSTNM
• Facebookfacebook.com/WESST.NM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/973855
• Instagraminstagram.com/wesstnewmexico
• TikToktiktok.com/@wesst_nm
• Xx.com/GoWESST

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WESST