Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

What Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce does

The Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit and federally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 2005 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It provides economic development services — business loans, grants, free business consultation, and financial literacy programming — to Hmong, Asian American, and other underserved business communities across Wisconsin, with the stated goal of addressing limited access to capital and economic disparities. Core financial products include the Revolving Loan Fund, the regionally-branded Launch and Grow Eau Claire program, and a Business Investment Grant (up to $10,000) funded through ARPA and administered in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Complementary educational programs (Start IQ, Grow IQ, Youth Entrepreneur Showcase, Youth Leadership, Your Path to Homeownership) and signature events (Annual Awards Banquet, Wisconsin Asian Summer Festival, Morning Grounds, golf outing) extend the organization's reach beyond direct lending.

HWCC operates through a five-office statewide footprint (Milwaukee headquarters plus Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, and Wausau satellites), delivering services in-person and via online membership portal, recorded webinars, and the "Starting From Scratch" podcast. The revenue model blends annual membership dues across five tiers (Student free through Corporate $500), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Internship $1,500 to Capacity Building $7,500), donations including a Legacy Donor program ($2,500/year commitments), pass-through grant administration, and interest/fees from the Revolving Loan Fund. Cumulative program impact cited includes over $2 million in loan dollars deployed, over $10 million in leveraged economic impact, and over 250 jobs created or retained in Wisconsin.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: HWCC reaches entrepreneurs through cultural events, strategic partnerships with Wisconsin banks (Huntington, US Bank, Town Bank), health systems (Aurora, Froedtert), insurance carriers (Church Mutual), employers (Northwestern Mutual), educational institutions (NWTC), and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), supplemented by word-of-mouth referrals within the Hmong and Asian American business community. HWCC is led by CEO/Executive Director Dr. Maysee Herr with a small staff including a Community Engagement & Events Coordinator and an Events & Membership Coordinator. The organization has no disclosed AI or proprietary technology platform; its delivery model is human-relationship-driven, and it is not engaged in venture-backed or equity-financed growth — operations are sustained by membership, partnership revenue, grants, and donor support.

Name

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://hmongchamber.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(6) nonprofit and CDFI that provides business loans, grants, and free business assistance to Hmong, Asian American, and underserved entrepreneurs across five statewide offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers ranging from free student membership to $500 corporate membership. Members receive access to business development assistance, member directory listings, workshop discounts, and networking opportunities.
2. Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships at various investment levels ($1,500-$7,500 annually) providing branding, event access, and marketing benefits to partners.
3. Grants Administration: HWCC administers grant programs funded by ARPA and other sources for Wisconsin businesses in qualified census tracts and underserved communities.
4. Donations: Donations accepted though not tax-deductible as HWCC is a 501(c)(6) organization. Includes Legacy Donor program with $2,500/year commitments.
5. Business Loans: Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) providing business loans to entrepreneurs. Also offers Launch and Grow Eau Claire program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit chamber of commerce that provides business loans, grants (up to $10,000), free business consultation, financial literacy education, and tiered membership programs to Hmong, Asian American, and underserved business communities across Wisconsin. It operates a Revolving Loan Fund, a regional Launch and Grow Eau Claire loan program, and a Business Investment Grant program funded through ARPA.

Product overview

The Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) operates as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a suite of financial products and community programs rather than a unified technology platform. Its core offerings include the Revolving Loan Fund and Business Investment Grant (up to $10,000) for Wisconsin businesses, complemented by free Business Assistance and consultation services. Educational programs include Start IQ (financial literacy), Grow IQ (financial analysis), Youth Entrepreneur Showcase, and Youth Leadership. The organization also provides membership programs at five tiers ($0-$500 annually), an Ambassador Program for community leadership, a podcast (Starting From Scratch), and various events/workshops. These services are delivered through a main Milwaukee office and four satellite offices (Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Wausau), with a focus on supporting Hmong, Asian American, and underserved business communities across Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) A loan program providing funding to ignite startups or propel businesses forward, part of HWCC's business loan services targeting Wisconsin businesses in qualified census tracts and underserved communities.
• Launch and Grow Eau Claire A regional business loan program specifically supporting entrepreneurs and businesses in the Eau Claire area.
• Business Investment Grant A grant program offering up to $10,000 per applicant for Wisconsin businesses in qualified census tracts, underserved populations, or areas disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Business Assistance Free business consultation and technical assistance services provided to support entrepreneurs with business planning, market analysis, marketing strategies, and day-to-day operations.
• Start IQ: Business Financial Literacy Program An educational program focused on business financial literacy for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• Grow IQ: Financial Analysis for Growth Decisions A program providing financial analysis training to help businesses make informed growth decisions.
• Youth Entrepreneur Showcase A youth-focused program showcasing and supporting young entrepreneurs in the community.
• Youth Leadership Program A leadership development program for youth interested in entrepreneurship and community engagement.
• Your Path to Homeownership A program helping community members navigate the path to homeownership.
• Starting From Scratch Podcast A podcast featuring inspiring stories of Asian small business owners and business opportunities.
• Membership Programs Tiered membership including Student ($0), Professional ($100), Nonprofit ($200), Small Business ($250), and Corporate ($500) annual levels, offering benefits such as member directories, spotlight features, event access, and vendor opportunities.
• Ambassador Program A leadership opportunity for community members to champion HWCC's mission, representing the organization at events, grand openings, and community gatherings while connecting with members and sharing resources.
• Events and Workshops Various workshops and events including BMO Business Workshop, BMO Budget Workshop, Business Awards, Morning Grounds, and other networking opportunities for the business community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 jobs created/retained in Wisconsin
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC): National Pan-Asian American chamber offering education, certification, procurement, and advocacy programs. Comparable to HWCC in mission and target demographic, but operating nationally rather than at the state/CDFI level.
• National Asian American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (NACCE): National-level chamber representing Asian American businesses and chamber partners across the U.S. Comparable to HWCC's role as a chamber, but operating at the federation level rather than as a single-state CDFI-lending chamber.
• Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce (MMAC): Large general-purpose regional chamber serving the Milwaukee metro area. Comparable to HWCC as a Wisconsin-based chamber offering membership and business services, but mainstream rather than culturally focused and not a CDFI.
• CDC Small Business Finance: One of the largest U.S. CDFIs, providing SBA and conventional loans to small businesses, including minority-owned firms. Comparable in lending products and CDFI mission, but materially larger in scale than HWCC.

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce: Wisconsin-based ethnic chamber serving Latino-owned businesses with membership, events, and advocacy. Closely comparable in structure, scope, and geography to HWCC, differing primarily in the cultural community served.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): Wisconsin-based CDFI providing loans, education, and technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs — most directly comparable to HWCC in geography, mission, and product mix, though WWBIC focuses on women rather than Hmong/Asian American communities.
• Grameen America: Microfinance nonprofit providing small-dollar loans and support to underserved entrepreneurs (primarily women) across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable to HWCC in mission and target borrower profile, differing in loan size and delivery model.
• Pacific Community Ventures: California-based CDFI providing loans and business advisory to underserved small business owners. Comparable to HWCC as a mission-driven CDFI serving minority entrepreneurs with capital and non-financial support.
• Asian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin: Another Wisconsin-based Asian business chamber offering networking, advocacy, and member services. Comparable to HWCC's chamber-of-commerce function, though without the CDFI lending mandate.

Regional players

• Northwest Side Community Development Corporation: Milwaukee-based community development corporation providing lending and small business support to underserved neighborhoods. Comparable to HWCC in mission (CDFI-style lending to underserved Milwaukee communities) but with a neighborhood rather than ethnic-community focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hmong-chamber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce