Elizabeth's Story

Elizabeth was working as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) but she also had a dream. That dream is to start her own business — a vegetarian restaurant. When Elizabeth  saw a poster advertising Momentum’s Women's Venture Program, she thought she’d check it out. She began her research by visiting the Momentum website, where she learned that the program was for women interested in starting their own business. Evening classes and part-time study meant Elizabeth could balance her courses with her two children, and also with her shift work as an LPN. “The classes were small, about 15 students, which I liked a lot,” recalls Elizabeth. “I also liked the idea of finishing the program with a completed business plan.”

But with Momentum, that’s wasn’t all that was available to Elizabeth. She has also applied for financial support through Momentum’s Micro Business Loans program, where the strength of her business plan and her commitment to her program are key decision criteria. Says Elizabeth: “Not only did Momentum offer financial support in the form of a micro loan, but they also suggested other funding sources. So I’ve applied to several foundations that support female entrepreneurship, whereas before Momentum, I didn’t even know these funding sources existed. Momentum was just so helpful, and in so many ways.” Momentum helps students outside the classroom, too, because we believe in ongoing relationships. In other words, just because a course ends doesn’t mean your relationship with Momentum has to end. So you can count on Momentum to help with your job search, or to help you further your education, or, in the case of Elizabeth, to help you find additional sources of funding.

Elizabeth is still completing her course, but now, she says, she is truly excited about the future. “Just based on the research I did, I know there’s a market for vegetarian cuisine. But I’m going to wait until my business plan is the best it can be, and until any possible funding sources are in place. Because once I do it, once I start my own business, I want to do it right. With Momentum’s help, I know I will!”