For more than 30 years, Ascendus built a legacy of expanding access to capital and education. We helped thousands of small business owners take their first steps toward stability, equity, and opportunity.
But over time, something shifted.
We saw something we couldn’t unsee. And once we saw it – once we understood the limits of access alone – we knew we had to do more.
We realized that access without mobility is not progress. Inclusion is essential – but it’s not the destination. True progress means movement. It means ascension.
That insight reframed everything. It became our North Star.
The Path to Ascension was born from this moment of clarity – built not only to open the door to capital, but to walk with entrepreneurs as they climb toward financial independence and generational stability.
The data tells a story we can no longer ignore. Families are living paycheck to paycheck. The median household savings balance is just $8,000 – yet rising costs from inflation, high-interest credit, and policy changes threaten to erode even that. A 10% global tariff, for instance, could cost American families between $1,190 and $4,700 annually – a hit that could wipe out up to 59% of household savings.
At the same time, interest rates remain high. With business credit card APRs averaging 20%, a $5,000 balance can translate into over $1,000 in interest annually – even with minimum payments. These financial pressures are compounded by proposed federal budget cuts: $26.7 billion in housing assistance, $230 billion from SNAP, and major reductions in Medicaid and ACA premium subsidies. Each of these cuts directly undermines the stability of the very communities small businesses serve.
Intergenerational mobility – the idea that each generation can do better than the last – is slipping away. These challenges are even more pronounced for communities of color, immigrants, and low-income families, who continue to face structural barriers to long-term financial security.
Owning a business remains one of the most powerful drivers of economic mobility. Entrepreneurs tend to have higher incomes, greater savings, and stronger household wealth than non-owners. Small businesses represent 99.9% of all U.S. companies, generate nearly half of the nation’s GDP, and have created 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years. They are responsible for two out of every three new jobs and form the backbone of local economies across the country.
Yet many remain excluded from traditional financial systems, and access to capital continues to be one of the greatest barriers to small business success.
In fact, 77% of small businesses report concerns about their ability to access capital, and 70% have less than four months of operating cash on hand.
The problem we saw – and continue to see – is that access alone does not lead to mobility. That insight became the foundation of our strategic support system: the Path to Ascension.
It’s a comprehensive, stage-based approach designed to guide small business owners from their first step toward financial stability to long-term independence. It’s built to meet entrepreneurs where they are and move with them – through fair access to capital, financial coaching, and tools – as they reach transformational financial milestones.
Our approach to fair capital access, delivered through mission-aligned microlending, is central to the Path to Ascension. When paired with one-on-one coaching, these services become more than financial products – they become the building blocks of community wealth, confidence, and long-term financial health.
By aligning our work to the realities small business owners face, we’ve created a framework that evolves with them – and with the economy – while remaining grounded in one unwavering purpose: to make financial ascension possible, not just imaginable.
To turn insight into impact, we designed the Path to Ascension as a journey built in stages – each one reflecting a distinct moment in a business owner’s financial trajectory.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, this support system recognizes that entrepreneurs need different kinds of support depending on where they are in their journey. From early credit-building to business stabilization and long-term financial independence, each stage aligns with specific needs, tools, and opportunities.
This approach gives us the flexibility to support business owners where they are – and grow with them. It allows us to embed new products, respond to changing economic conditions, and ensure every entrepreneur has a pathway not just to access, but to mobility. Whether laying a financial foundation, expanding operations, stabilizing growth, or preparing to graduate into the traditional financial system – every stage of the Path to Ascension is backed by a targeted solution.
For entrepreneurs who don’t yet qualify for a small business loan, the Foundation Stage offers the Get Ready Line of Credit – a low-barrier entry product designed to support those who don’t yet qualify for a small business loan. The Get Ready product helps build credit, strengthen financial behaviors, and establish trust with the formal financial system. It’s more than capital; it’s a foundational step that prepares entrepreneurs for future investment and long-term financial success. By meeting people where they are, the Get Ready Line of Credit opens the door to business ownership for those who have been excluded – and lays the groundwork for upward mobility.
How We Support Clients in This Stage:
This product offers an affordable, structured alternative – paired with guidance – to build financial readiness safely and responsibly.
For business owners who are actively running or expanding their operations, the Build Stage offers the capital and support needed to drive sustained progress.
Our core lending products are designed for small business owners who are ready to grow but face persistent barriers to accessing traditional financing. These microlending offerings are flexible, accessible, and intentionally built for entrepreneurs navigating lack of access to traditional financing. Our products are always paired with personalized coaching, helping borrowers strengthen financial practices and use capital strategically. This combination of capital and capacity-building maximizes the likelihood of success and strengthens local economic communities.
How We Support Clients in This Stage:
As part of the Path to Ascension, we also offer targeted support for key sectors.
The Childcare Provider Initiative is a vital component of our business lending work. It delivers tailored financing and business guidance to childcare providers – enterprises that play a critical role in early childhood development and workforce participation.
By supporting these businesses, we help expand access to childcare, enable parents and caregivers to stay in the workforce, and strengthen the local economy through job creation and educational continuity.
With a track record of strong financial management, entrepreneurs can unlock access to the Advance stage, with loans up to $100,000.
This isn’t just more capital – it’s a milestone that reflects credit growth, trust, and readiness for the next level of business. At this stage, clients often use funds for growth-oriented investments: expanding their team, entering new markets, or making long-term strategic moves.
Every loan in this stage is backed by tailored technical assistance, helping clients navigate challenges and prepare for future opportunities.
How We Support Clients in This Stage:
The final phase of the Path to Ascension reflects a client’s growing financial strength and readiness to access broader financial services through traditional institutions. Graduation is not an ending – it’s a continuation of the business journey with expanded options for financing, strategic planning, and long-term growth.
At this stage, entrepreneurs are positioned to take full advantage of financial products at mainstream institutions and can do so with greater confidence, having built stronger credit profiles and business acumen with our support.
How We Support Clients in This Stage:
Graduation allows business owners to pursue larger-scale financial solutions – such as commercial loans, credit-building tools, or savings products – often at more competitive terms. It also reinforces a key goal of Ascendus’ model: helping clients build the knowledge and track record needed to successfully navigate the wider financial system.
By supporting this transition, we expand access – not just for one entrepreneur, but for many. Each graduation strengthens our lending ecosystem and helps us continue building economic opportunities for future business owners.
We’re redefining what impact looks like by measuring not just business growth, but financial progress. Our tools are built to guide and adapt alongside each client’s journey.
Together, these pillars act as a compass – mapping each client’s unique path to financial health and long-term success.
At Ascendus, we work with business owners who are building something meaningful – often with limited resources, but with limitless determination.
The Path to Ascension is a long-term support system that fuels purposeful mobility – combining capital, guidance, and practical tools to help entrepreneurs move upward on their own terms.
Because when small businesses grow, communities grow with them.