During my summer fellowship at the Tamer Institute, I developed a case study on funding a small business for the ReEntry Acceleration Program (REAP) curriculum at Columbia Business School. The case centers on an aspiring New York City entrepreneur evaluating self‑funding, loans, and grants tailored to underserved founders—including those with credit challenges or incarceration histories. I grounded the case in real examples, such as Dutch Bakery, which grew from an apartment‑based operation to a Harlem storefront through disaster‑relief grants and zero‑interest loans. By creating relevant, up‑to‑date material, I supported the Tamer Institute’s mission to advance social enterprise by equipping REAP participants with practical knowledge to navigate funding landscapes. My work aims to foster entrepreneurship among communities that face systemic barriers to credit and capital.

As an MBA student, I applied research, relationship‑building, and financial analysis skills to craft the case. Coursework in Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition provided frameworks for assessing the trade‑offs between control and capital, which I used to evaluate financing options. My involvement in the Social Enterprise Club taught me how to translate business principles into social‑impact contexts, and Columbia’s librarian resources and the Tamer Institute’s network enabled me to gather data such as Dutch Bakery’s funding journey. Finally, knowledge from my Financial Statement Analysis class helped me interpret microloan requirements and ensure the case reflected realistic financial scenarios.

Balancing relevance and feasibility for REAP participants was challenging. I had to synthesize complex funding instruments, such as microloans and Small Business Administration products, into clear language for entrepreneurs with limited financial literacy. Depicting the chaotic loan‑application process at Dutch Bakery—where tax returns and board interviews were both needed—required me to show real obstacles without overwhelming readers. Limited data on underserved founders’ funding outcomes also made it difficult to ground the case in robust evidence, and I had to stay current on New York City’s evolving grant and loan programs. With guidance from Sandra Navalli, I refined the scope to emphasize actionable insights.

This fellowship deepened my understanding of the financing challenges facing underserved entrepreneurs. Interviews illustrated how resilience—such as pivoting to direct deliveries during the pandemic—and strategic funding through zero‑interest Community Development Financial Institution loans can drive growth despite credit barriers. The project reinforced the importance of tailored financial solutions like city grants, honed my ability to translate complex concepts into accessible tools, and strengthened my commitment to social‑impact entrepreneurship. I plan to explore innovative financing models that promote equity and sustainability. I am grateful to Sandra and the Tamer Institute for the opportunity to contribute to REAP’s mission.