Impact Stories

Small Business. Big Impact. 

We are proud of our clients who add vibrancy to our communities while creating a pathway to prosperity for themselves, their families and their employees. 
 
At LiftFund 26% of our client base includes startups contributing to the local economy and making a difference in their communities. 
 
Read about our clients’ entrepreneurial journey and get inspired by their passion, commitment and resiliency. 

BIPOC Owned

Charles Story Jr.

Game oN

Charles Story always dreamed of becoming entrepreneur. Inspired by the opportunity to merge his passion for mentoring and gaming, he launched Game oN, a space where kids and young adults can drop in and play games on various systems like PlayStation, Xbox, virtual reality, and more. Charles came up with the business idea while he and his son were playing a video game at home. He saw the potential, but traditional banks were

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BIPOC Owned

Emilio Salazar

Colinas Foods

Emilio started Colina Foods to help underserved Hispanic restaurants, and he did well — but limited storage space increased his price per product. Emilio struggled to obtain funding through traditional routes, but after a friend referred him to LiftFund, he received capital to expand his storage space and create more jobs in his community.

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Aaron Bowen, Jordan Suydam, and Mark Vlaskamp

The Folde

Friends and college baseball teammates Aaron, Jordan, and Mark wanted more than their day jobs, so they launched upscale laundry service The Folde. They needed funding after operating the business going on little money. They turned to LiftFund, who took a chance on the young startup and provided the capital necessary to reinvest in their business and market their brand.

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BIPOC Owned

Terry Smith

Smitty’s Cleaning Service

After tornados caused significant structural damage to Tuscaloosa, Terry wanted to help his community rebuild. He used his decades of janitorial services industry experience to start Smitty’s Cleaning Service — but he needed capital. Terry found LiftFund through his local Chamber of Commerce and was able to get funding for the equipment his business needed.

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BIPOC Owned

Aleia Shipman

3G Chemical Solutions LLC

Aleia needed a better way to provide for her children. Her boss (she was a saleswoman at a chemical company) disagreed with her growth ideas, so she launched 3G Chemical Solutions in 2016. She needed capital to buy office space and a warehouse so she could expand, and LiftFund was there to help her.

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