Category: Business Owner Stories

Tees, Dreams, and Business Credit: How Blake Milam is Building a Resilient Business

Tees, Dreams, and Business Credit: How Blake Milam is Building a Resilient Business

When he started a t-shirt business in his dorm room, Blake Milam had no idea he was really building a multi-faceted business that would help other entrepreneurs — he just wanted an outlet for his creative talents that would also bring in money.  Milam originally founded his t-shirt printing company, Guapaholics, from his college dorm room in Clarksville, TN. Like most entrepreneurs, he had to be scrappy. “I would screen print in the living room and dry shirts in the… Read More
How This Wellness Center Owner Used Funding to Grow With Confidence

How This Wellness Center Owner Used Funding to Grow With Confidence

“Where's the money coming from?” Shalonda Pettis had to answer that question after she launched Georgia-based wellness and weight loss center, Elite Wellness Solutions. While she self-funded her business in the beginning, it grew to a point where that became unsustainable. “I thought I’d just pay for everything myself with all of my own money,” Shalonda remembers. “And I don't know that that was the smartest thing to do.”  While it was promising to see her business grow and serve… Read More
How This Microgreens Farm Is Growing With Nav Prime

How This Microgreens Farm Is Growing With Nav Prime

Husband and wife team Ryan and Taryn Lockwood launched Houston-based BCK Ranch — a microgreens farm — in 2022. They're now focused on expanding. However, like many new businesses, they have run into a few stumbling blocks when applying for funding. Let’s explore how BCK Ranch is using Nav to maneuver through common financing challenges and to get a jump start on their business credit. https://player.vimeo.com/video/947527480?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 The BCK Launch Story BCK Ranch came to life like most small businesses —… Read More
Nav Grant Winner Runner-Up: Burst of Life LLC

Nav Grant Winner Runner-Up: Burst of Life LLC

Both personal and community frustrations fueled veteran Jarriel Brown’s drive to create a business that gives back. Burst of Life LLC sells products that focus on health and wellness but the mission is much bigger. “I started this company so that I can create opportunities for those in need, especially in the black community and for veterans,” he explains. Brown is the second place winner in Nav’s quarterly small Business Grant program, receiving a $5000 grant.  The company’s main product… Read More
Nav $10,000 Small Business Grant Winner: English for a Lifetime

Nav $10,000 Small Business Grant Winner: English for a Lifetime

Learning English can be a hurdle that hurts immigrants socially and economically. In an effort to change that, Dr. Joel Floyd founded English for a Lifetime, a school that helps immigrants master the English language for personal, workforce and career development purposes. The most recent winner of Nav’s quarterly $10,000 Small Business Grant, Dr. Floyd will use those funds to help build a computer lab and to continue expanding to additional locations.  Eventually he hopes to teach and inspire a… Read More
I Was a Victim Of Business ID Theft: It Can Happen to You, Too

I Was a Victim Of Business ID Theft: It Can Happen to You, Too

There have been 1.2 million complaints of EIDL loan identity theft as of August 2021, according to a report from the Office of the Inspector General titled Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Small Business Administration in Fiscal Year 2022. That means over a million business owners believe their business identity has been used to apply for COVID relief loans administered by the Small Business Administration.  I’m one of those victims. Here’s what happened to me, along with steps… Read More