FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY, August 4, 2026
Partnerships power potential, especially for small business owners building without easy access to capital. Last month, Ascendus’s New York Director of Lending, Jose Made, joined a “Meet the Lender” session hosted by The Acceleration Project (TAP), presenting Ascendus directly to entrepreneurs enrolled in TAP’s EDGE program.
EDGE delivers technical assistance at the intersection of personal and business financial health to more than 270 entrepreneurs across New York City and Westchester County. The relationship between Ascendus and TAP runs in both directions: Ascendus refers borrowers into TAP’s free coaching, and TAP connects business owners back to Ascendus when they’re ready to access capital.
“Jose’s accessibility and guidance during our Meet the Lender event is a prime example of the power of TAP’s partnership with Ascendus. Entrepreneurship can be a difficult journey, but at TAP we go beyond technical assistance, walking alongside business owners through every stage, and when that support is paired with mission-driven capital providers like Ascendus, their burdens can ease and the outcomes can be transformational.”
Jack Murphy, Vice President of Programs & Partnerships, The Acceleration Project
Following the session, business owners were able to connect with Ascendus to continue their journey toward capital. One of them, Melnia Cordis of Melnia Cordis Law, was referred to TAP’s EDGE program after receiving early loan support from Ascendus.
“One of my biggest takeaways from the TAP program is that every business lever is essential for growth, but meaningful improvement requires measuring where you are everyday. The Borrow module reinforced the importance of building business credit, as access to financing is a strong indicator of a business’s financial health and growth potential. I was fortunate to receive early loan support from Ascendus, which played an important role in my entrepreneurial journey. I’m grateful for programs like TAP that provide tools and guidance to help keep my business on track for long-term success.”
Melnia Cordis, Melnia Cordis Law
Partnerships like this one are the bedrock of the small business ecosystem. Ascendus is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with TAP and partners like them, pairing mission-driven capital with the technical assistance that helps small business owners build something that lasts.
The partnership runs deeper than any single event. In a recent “TAP Talk,” TAP CEO Jane Veron sat down with Ascendus CEO Paul Quintero to discuss what it actually takes to create economic mobility for small business owners, and why capital alone isn’t the full answer. As Paul put it, “capital is the gasoline, but it requires an engine and design.”
