VestedIn

What VestedIn does

VestedIn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1997 as the West Philadelphia Financial Services Institution and rebranded to its current name in 2021. Headquartered at 3675 Market Street in Philadelphia with 11-50 employees, the organization provides business loans ranging from $1,000 to $250,000-plus, SBA Microloans through intermediary status, grant administration on behalf of partners including Congressman Evans and Wells Fargo, and free technical assistance (minimum 1.5 hours per client) to underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs across seven counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Its product portfolio spans four loan products (Expedited, Direct, 250 Plus, and SBA Microloans), three grant programs (Community Project Fund, PBLN Grant, Wells Fargo Reopen & Recover), and three capacity-building programs: WesGold Fellows (an 8-week paid summer internship for youth ages 14-21), B-Smart (a 14-week intensive entrepreneurship training hosted at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business), and the Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator Program. The organization explicitly does not position itself as a technology company; its technology footprint consists of a third-party loan application workflow, online pre-qualification, and a Banzai-powered financial literacy resource.

VestedIn's business model combines net interest margin on small-dollar loans with donations (collected via Donorbox), tax-deductible contributions, grant administration fees, and event-driven fundraising such as the annual Founders' Gala and Opportunities Breakfast. Customer acquisition is community-led and partnership-driven, with referral pipelines from Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Customers Bank, the SBA, the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Temple SBDC, and Drexel University. The organization reports cumulative impact of $5.5M in direct financing, $70M in leveraged capital, 1,600+ jobs created, and 140+ businesses supported through B-Smart.

Name

VestedIn

Legal name

VestedIn

Website

https://vestedin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VestedIn is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) Community Development Financial Institution providing small business loans ($1,000-$250,000+), grants, and free technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs across seven counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, alongside youth and entrepreneurship training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Financial Services (CDFI Lending)

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microenterprise Group Lending (Joint Liability) (FSAKAGAH), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Small business loans
• SBA microloans
• Financial education programs
• Entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Lending: VestedIn generates revenue through interest on small business loans provided to entrepreneurs and small businesses in underserved communities. Loan products include Expedited Loans ($1,000-$25,000), Direct Loans ($1,000-$250,000), and 250 Plus Loans ($250,000+).
2. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, VestedIn receives tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to support its mission. Donations fund programs including WesGold Fellows youth development and B-Smart entrepreneurship training.
3. Grant Administration: VestedIn administers grant programs on behalf of partners including Congressman Evans' Community Project Fund and the Wells Fargo Grant Program, distributing funds to qualified small business owners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VestedIn is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans ($1,000 to $250,000+), administers grant programs on behalf of public and private partners, delivers free technical assistance to all loan applicants, and runs youth and entrepreneurship development programs (WesGold Fellows, B-Smart, and the Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator). The organization serves small business owners and underserved youth in seven counties across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Product overview

VestedIn is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a portfolio of financial products and programs. The core offerings include four business loan products (Expedited Loans $1K-$25K, Direct Loans $1K-$250K, 250 Plus Loans $250K+, and SBA Microloans), three grant programs (Community Project Fund, PBLN Grant, and Wells Fargo Reopen & Recover Grant), and technical assistance services. Complementing the financial products are three youth and entrepreneurship development programs: WesGold Fellows (an 8-week paid internship for high school students), B-Smart (a 14-week entrepreneurship training program at Drexel University), and the Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (BBEA). The organization positions itself as more than a lender, providing holistic support including financial education and post-financing technical assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WesGold Fellows: Comprehensive youth development program for underrepresented, underserved students between ages 14 and 21, providing paid personal and professional development opportunity focused on financial literacy, real estate, and entrepreneurship.
• B-Smart
• Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator Program

Products and services

• Expedited Loans Provides financing from $1,000 to $25,000 to eligible small businesses with a simplified loan process, faster loan processing, and approval within 7 days of completed application.
• Direct Loans Provides loans from $1,000 to $250,000 to eligible small businesses with underwriting not solely based on credit score, one-on-one consultations, and matching the right loan product to the borrower's need. Minimum 30-day processing time.
• 250 Plus Loans Provides loans of $250,000 and up by securing loan terms through marketplace search to find the right deal that fits borrower needs.
• SBA Microloans U.S. Small Business Administration microloan program administered by VestedIn as an intermediary trusted lender for eligible borrowers, providing funds for working capital, inventory, equipment, and other business needs.
• Community Project Fund Grants Grant program made possible by Congressman Evans to produce promotional videos supporting small businesses and neighborhoods in the 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania, allowing local businesses to create virtual storefronts.
• PBLN Grant Grant from the Philadelphia Business Lending Network, a group of nonprofit and for-profit lenders working with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce to improve access to capital for small businesses.
• Wells Fargo Reopen & Recover Grant $10,000 grant program for businesses affected by civil unrest and Covid-19, for physical improvements, inventory, marketing, or past-due bills.
• Technical Assistance Pre and post technical assistance services including strengthening business tax returns, balance sheets, credit reports, cash flow projections, and financial statements, with a minimum of 1.5 hours of free technical assistance provided to all clients whether loan is approved or denied.
• B-Smart 14-week intensive entrepreneurship training program for early-stage entrepreneurs combining hands-on business education, expert coaching, and peer collaboration. Hosted at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business with access to Drexel's Blackboard platform, concluding with a Pitch and Present competition.
• Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (BBEA) 10-online-session training program designed by VestedIn, Entrepreneur Works, and Black Squirrel providing beauty salon and barbershop owners with training, technical business assistance, mentorship, and networking resources for growth and sustainability.
• WesGold Fellows 8-week paid summer internship program for high school students ages 14-21 focused on financial literacy, real estate, and entrepreneurship, providing curriculum-based instruction, experiential learning, field trips, and professional development training.

Quantifiable outcome

• $5.5 million in direct financing provided since inception
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Drexel University Beachell Family Learning CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in the B-Smart entrepreneurship program. Drexel University hosts the 14-week intensive training program at LeBow College of Business and provides access to the Blackboard learning platform. The partnership combines academic resources with community-based training.
• West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative (WPCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the B-Smart entrepreneurship program along with Drexel University and VestedIn. WPCC brings local community knowledge and entrepreneur networks to the partnership.
• Philadelphia Department of CommercemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Philadelphia Business Lending Network (PBLN), a consortium of nonprofit and for-profit lenders working to improve access to capital for small businesses throughout Philadelphia.
• Temple University Small Business Development Center (SBDC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner that directs small business owners seeking capital and support services to VestedIn.
• The Business Center for Social EntrepreneurshipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner supporting social entrepreneurs and small business owners in accessing VestedIn's lending programs.
• Entrepreneur WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator with VestedIn and Black Squirrel of the Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, providing training and resources for beauty industry entrepreneurs.
• Black SquirrelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator with VestedIn and Entrepreneur Works of the Beauty Salon & Barbershop Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, bringing digital marketing and technology expertise.
• Goldman SachsminorOthersWesGold Fellows Director Samantha R. Lyons is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, connecting the organization to Goldman Sachs' entrepreneurship education ecosystem.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reinvestment Fund: Reinvestment Fund is a Philadelphia-based CDFI providing capital and financing for small businesses, housing, and community development. It is a directly comparable CDFI peer operating in the same region and serving overlapping small business borrowers.
• Community First Fund: Community First Fund is a Pennsylvania-based CDFI focused on small business lending and economic development in underserved communities. It directly competes with VestedIn in the PA small business lending market with a similar nonprofit CDFI model.
• Justine PETERSEN: Justine PETERSEN is a CDFI providing small business loans, housing counseling, and financial services to underserved communities. It mirrors VestedIn's holistic lending-plus-technical-assistance model for low-income entrepreneurs.
• LiftFund: LiftFund is a nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans and business support services to minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs. It is a directly comparable peer offering microenterprise and small dollar lending with technical assistance.
• DreamSpring: DreamSpring (formerly Accion Texas/New Mexico) is a CDFI providing small business loans and capital to underserved entrepreneurs. It shares the CDFI mission, microenterprise loan products, and integrated technical assistance model with VestedIn.
• CDC Small Business Finance: CDC Small Business Finance is a CDFI providing SBA loans and small business financing to underserved borrowers. It is a direct peer in the SBA intermediary lending space with similar SBA Microloan and 504 program activities.

Broad incumbents

• Opportunity Finance Network: Opportunity Finance Network is the national membership organization for CDFIs, providing capital, policy advocacy, and infrastructure for the sector. VestedIn is a member CDFI and competes/coordinates with OFN-supported lenders operating in overlapping geographies.
• Grameen America: Grameen America is a national microfinance organization providing small business loans to low-income women entrepreneurs. It is a broad incumbent in the microenterprise lending space with a similar mission-driven, community-based lending model.
• Accion: Accion is a global nonprofit focused on financial inclusion, providing capital and support to small businesses. It is a broad incumbent in the microfinance and small business lending space with mission alignment to VestedIn's community lending focus.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform providing 0% interest loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is an emerging player in mission-driven small business lending, with comparable target borrowers but a digitally-native distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VestedIn_org

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 VestedIn