Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs (FEE)

Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs (FEE) is sponsored by Undisclosed (referenced as a grant initiative and virtual pitch competition). This grant initiative and virtual pitch competition provides $5,000 microgrants to small businesses across Los Angeles County, specifically targeting entrepreneurs in low-to-moderate income communities and those who have historically faced barriers to accessing capital.

Program Overview — Fueling Entrepreneurs Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs Apply Today: Deadline Extended to July 31 LISC LA is Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs in LA County. Launching during National Small Business Week (May 2025) presents a powerful opportunity to drive visibility, trust, and engagement for the BMO-LISC LA Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs program.

Grants deployed to small businesses Small businesses received access to capital Small businesses supported with technical assistance Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs (FEE) is a grant initiative and virtual pitch competition developed by LISC LA’s economic development leadership in partnership with BMO , designed to support the growth, resilience, and sustainability of small businesses across Los Angeles County.

The program focuses on entrepreneurs located in low-to-moderate income communities—especially those who have historically faced barriers to accessing capital—and aims to increase their ability to grow, compete, and contribute to local economic ecosystems.

The program is grounded in the belief that access to flexible capital, when paired with coaching and connections, can create lasting change for entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.

Access Program Overview Slides Who This Program Supports We welcome applications from: Small businesses with annual revenue up to $250,000 — including startups & micro-businesses with growth potential Entrepreneurs who have historically struggled to access capital Business owners committed to strengthening their communities through local hiring, service, or economic activity.

Priority will be given to businesses based in the following “venue cities: What Makes This Program Different Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs offers more than just financial relief—it is designed to provide momentum .

Grant recipients receive: Flexible-use funding to address urgent needs or unlock growth opportunities Visibility through storytelling and promotional features on LISC LA and BMO platforms Access to support from local partner organizations that offer technical assistance, business development, and coaching Community and network building through events and shared learning opportunities Application Process: How It Works The Fueling Emerging Entrepreneurs program uses a dynamic, challenge-based application process designed to build capacity while identifying promising small businesses.

Rather than a traditional static application, this approach helps entrepreneurs reflect on key aspects of their business while engaging with tools, resources, and a supportive community. Grantee selection will be based on a combination of pitch quality, digital engagement, assessment completion, and business potential . Judges will evaluate: 1.

Pitch Quality, Engagement & Assessment Completion Clarity, creativity, and impact of the video pitch Completion and thoughtfulness in all nine challenge assessments 2.

Innovation, Impact & Scalability Originality and growth potential of the business idea Contribution to local economic development and community well-being—especially in focus areas like Crenshaw, South LA, Inglewood, Long Beach, Carson, Pasadena, Pomona, Santa Monica and other venue cities.

Long-term sustainability and potential for scale This dual approach ensures grantees are evaluated holistically—not only by business size or polish, but by potential, community value, and readiness for the next stage of growth. This model not only identifies promising businesses—it helps build their capacity and examines their level of bank readiness throughout the process.

It: Encourages reflection, growth, and intentionality Builds confidence in storytelling and digital engagement Creates a level playing field for side hustles and early-stage ventures Offers participants real value—even if they don’t receive a grant Provides incentives for business development and acceleration Why This Challenge-Based Approach Works Applicants begin by creating a business profile on social networks with video posting capabilities such as Fud, Linkedin, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok etc. apps, which serves as platforms for storytelling and engagement.

- Invite others to follow your profile— engagement boosts visibility and increases chances of selection. Next, entrepreneurs must APPLY at https://lisc. tfaforms.

net/f/fuelingentreprenuers • Registration must include a working link to the applicant’s business profile on one of the social apps as described above. • This step also provides access to upcoming info sessions and other support resources.

Applicants evaluate their business’s brand visibility and communication strategy , including: • Messaging and outreach techniques • Areas for improvement in audience engagement This helps entrepreneurs identify how well their brand is showing up online.

Step 4: Data Strategy Assessment Entrepreneurs assess how they currently use data in their business, including: • Customer tracking and feedback • Business performance metrics • Data-driven decision-making This step offers tips on how to leverage data to grow smarter and faster. Step 5: Educational Assessment Applicants take inventory of their own knowledge and training needs.

• Review available business education resources • Identify gaps in skills or business knowledge • Begin planning ways to upskill and strengthen their leadership This step helps entrepreneurs evaluate the legal foundations of their business, including: • Intellectual Property, Business formation and structure • Contracts and agreements • Compliance and risk management Participants receive prompts and insights to strengthen their legal infrastructure.

Step 7: Financial Assessment Entrepreneurs examine their business’s financial health , such as: • Revenue streams, pricing, and budgeting • Funding strategies and cash flow • Opportunities to improve financial planning and stability Step 8: Technological Assessment This step focuses on how the business uses technology to operate and scale: • Review tools used for operations, marketing, and sales • Identify gaps and opportunities for automation or digital improvement • Learn strategies to boost efficiency using tech Step 9: Final Pitch & Engagement Participants wrap up the challenge by: • Uploading a refined 60-second video pitch to the Fud app, summarizing their business, vision, and growth goals • Integrating insights from the 8 assessments into their pitch • Encouraging further engagement by continuing to grow their following and visibility The final pitch serves as a key storytelling component and helps reviewers assess readiness, clarity of vision, and overall potential.