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

Kemah N. Duopo

Harmon Polish

Kemah began her journey when she moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Los Angeles, California. She felt she could not reach her full potential in her hometown and aimed to gain more opportunities. Instead, the big change led to new challenges and in 2018, she got laid off. However, that would soon turn into a blessing.

Even though Kemah was struggling, she still had the opportunity to get her nails done, which had been …

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Unoma Okorafor

Herbal Goodness

Unoma Okorafor is the founder and CEO of Herbal Goodness, a manufacturer of premium quality organic superfood and herb products in the form of dietary supplements, herbal teas, and powders that naturally support healthy living. 

Okorafor was inspired to start Herbal Goodness in 2013. As a native of West Africa, she’d grown up eating fresh, organic fruits such as mangoes and papayas daily, but during her pregnancy fo…

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Timothy Oyedele

Juzy Smoothie & Juice Bar

Timothy was inspired to help others live healthier lives when he started his own journey towards better living. While working at a gym, Timothy noticed he had fallen significantly out of shape.

He looked at his surroundings and decided to take up body building and a healthier diet. “I went and did some research and hopped on the juice cleanse for about three, four days and I felt
great afterwards,” he explained.

Timothy w…

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Women Owned

Susan Lynn Prather

The WAE Clinic, PLLC

After struggling with an illness that doctors and specialists couldn’t understand, Susan Lynn Prather decided to take a more holistic approach to her health — changing her diet, lifestyle and adding new wellness treatments — and began to see real, positive results.  

As a Nurse Practitioner in a small rural community, Susan was frustrated by both the limitations of conventional medicine and the lack of area hol…

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BIPOC Owned

Yanbin Che

Teaxas Blends

Yanbin Che grew up in the mountain village of Anxi Fujian, which many refer to as the “tea capital of China,” where for many families in the region, tea farming is a source of sustenance, culture and tradition.

When Yanbin moved to the US, she wanted to share her love and knowledge of tea with what she hoped would be an open and accepting customer base. However, upon entry Yabin experienced a few challenges, as she disco…

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BIPOC Owned

Nguyet “Vikki” Howard

Skillful Touch Massage

Vikki worked in chiropractic clinics, long-term care facilities and other community organizations providing healing through massage therapy. After graduating with her social work degree, she decided to open her own massage business, Skillful Touch Massage, to continue helping people dealing with physical and mental pain while having her own space and the freedom to set her own schedule.

The demand for her services rapidl…

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