RMMFI Attends the White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit
On March 26, RMMFI was invited to attend an event with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Colorado political leaders as part of the White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit. Interim CEO Jessica Sveen and five RMMFI entrepreneurs participated in the...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Michelle Castor
OWNER OF AGUA Y SANGRE HEALING Michelle Castor (she/they) is the owner of Agua y Sangre Healing, a community-centered wellness practice founded in 2013 to create more affirming, competent, and accessible care for BIPOC and LGBTQIA peoples. Michelle...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mielat Asrat
OWNER OF MIELAT ASRAT INSURANCE AGENCY As we start our third round of the Thrive Business Accelerator, we also want to celebrate the growth that participants of our first two TBA cohorts have shown. For the first year after the TBA finishes, we are...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Shah Iman
OWNER OF AMALLAH BEAUTY AND BEYOND Shah Iman is the owner and operator of Amallah Beauty and Beyond, a full-service cosmetology brand that primarily focuses on natural hair care and products. Shah finished high school at the age of 16, which...
A Goodbye Note from Rob Smith
I suspect most of you already know, but today marks my retirement from RMMFI due to my family's tragic and unexpected loss. It's been an incredible 14 years working through both the evolution of RMMFI and me as a person. We live by a North Star that...
RMMFI’s Theory of Change
As RMMFI has evolved over the past 13.5 years, we've learned a lot about the impact that inclusive entrepreneurship can have on people and communities. Ownership is about much more than the business, and we want to make sure our model — and the...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ría Ramirez
OWNER OF GOOD FOOD GOOD LIVING Ría Ramirez is the owner of Good Food Good Living, a healthy-living catering business that offers organic and responsibly-sourced food cooked in a way that allows the body to absorb the nutrients it needs while...
RMMFI CEO Rob Smith Retiring in February
RMMFI’s North Star begins with the belief that life circumstances are real and sometimes overwhelming, but they should not determine what you can do in the present or be in the future. This applies not only to the entrepreneurs we serve but also...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Jessica Berry
OWNER OF BOSCO BAKING CO. Jessica Berry is the owner of Bosco Baking Co., a baking company specializing in gluten-free desserts and pastries. Jessica’s romance with baking — and eating — desserts began abroad when she studied in Rome, Italy...
3,700 Hours of Community in Action
Last year, more than 200 RMMFI volunteers contributed over 3,700 hours to supporting inclusive entrepreneurship in Colorado. As mentors, workshop facilitators, loan reviewers, and more, volunteers shared their expertise and passion to help...
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mark Hill
OWNER OF MERAKI CUSTOM CAKES Meraki Custom Cakes officially opened its doors in 2016, and Mark Hill is the creative behind this delicious edible art. It all started in 2012 when Mark was in a bind and needed a birthday cake for his mother at the...
What We Accomplished Together in 2021
“I have grown so much, and I have so much more confidence. I can't wait for my future!” Like the entrepreneurs we serve, RMMFI has a lot to look forward to in 2022. But before the year ends, we wanted to celebrate a few highlights from our 2021...