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Capital Readiness Program for Women Entrepreneurs

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective April 17, 2025, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Capital Readiness Program grant has been discontinued. This action follows the termination of our federal grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which is part of a nationwide shift in federal priorities under Executive Order 14238. See official notice below:

“Upon further review, MBDA has determined that your grant is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the MBDA Program. MBDA is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda. Independently and secondly, the President’s March 14, 2025 executive order mandates that the MBDA eliminate all non-statutorily required activities and functions. See Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, E.O.“

However, there are still many resources you can tap into from the Universities of Wisconsin’s Office of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Specifically, please reach out to your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office for no cost one-on-one consulting. There are a plethora of experts waiting to support you on your business journey.

Looking for capital? Please tap into our State Small Business Credit Initiative Technical Assistance Center. This program will provide you with customized support in one of three main areas: financial, accounting or legal – all at no cost. You must be seeking capital to qualify. We can provide Quickbooks support, legal consultations, financial projections, and so much more. Refer to the required intake form to begin your journey.

Finally, our Main Street Bounceback Technical Assistance Program provides a catalog of trainings for not only you but any of your employees. You must be in business to qualify for these trainings and resources. 

Are you a Wisconsin woman challenged in sourcing capital for your small business? You’re not alone.

The Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE) historically finds fewer women entrepreneurs get capital and overall receive smaller amounts compared to men. In 2022, 47.5% of OBE women clients received capital vs 49.6% of men, with women receiving $63.8M in total compared to men’s $142M.

What is the Capital Readiness Program?

With the assistance of a grant from the Minority Business Development Agency, OBE is on a mission to help women entrepreneurs get access to more capital. We have completed research surveys with women entrepreneurs and focus groups with investors, lenders, and other stakeholders to help us identify particular needs for women-owned businesses.

OBE has created an innovative curriculum based on these findings in four customized tracks:

  • Early Stage Business
  • Food/Farm/Ag Businesses
  • Growth Stage Business
  • Tech/Innovation Businesses

This curriculum is tailored to women entrepreneurs and includes modules on personal financial literacy—including an opportunity to work with a coach; an in-depth study of business finances (including personalized assessments); special interest topics for women (communication skills, gender bias issues); business mentorship based on participant need; and concludes with a company pitch event to lenders and investors specially chosen to best meet the circumstances of each cohort.

All participants will receive an orientation packet including recommended reading, personal assessments, personal finance resources, and other pre-course preparation materials.

Upcoming Programs:

  • Summer 2025: Early Stage track (begins May 21st)
  • Fall 2025: Early Stage, Food/Farm/Ag, Growth Stage, Tech/Innovation (program dates TBD)

Contact Lora Bray to learn more about the upcoming training opportunites.

Lora Bray, Outreach Learning Manager

Do you have questions about the program? Reach out to Lora by filling out the form below.

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Entrepreneurs: Join a cohort!

We are currently recruiting for:

  • 2025 Summer: Early Stage
  • 2025 Fall: Early Stage, Food/Farm/Ag, Growth Stage, Innovation/Tech
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Partners: Join our list!

Are you a partner hoping to assist women across Wisconsin to access capital to start and develop their small businesses? Reach out to learn more how you can help!

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As a past and present CRP participant, you have exclusive access to attend and view webinars designed to further support the growth of your business.

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Check out the curriculum outlines:

Early Pathway Curriculum (Summer 2025)

1
Week 1: Introduction and Personal Finances
2
Week 2: Building Financial Acumen
3
Week 3: A Focus on Cash Flow & Creating Financial Projections
4
Week 4: Understanding the Capital Stack – What You Need to Know About Applying for a Business Loan
5
Week 5: Customer Segments
6
Week 6: Pricing Models
7
Week 7: Creating a PowerPoint Deck (Optional)
8
Week 8: Key Components of the Pitch
9
Week 9: Turning Financial Data into Strategic Action
10
Week 10 – Pt 1: Slide Pitch Deck Review (Optional)
11
Week 10 – Pt 2: Creating Your Executive Presence
12
Week 11: Peer-to-Peer Pitch Practice & Virtual Pitch Event

Tech Pathway Curriculum (Spring 2025)

1
Week One: Tying Together Personal and Business Finances for Success
  • Identify why women need to be focused on financial gender challenges in personal and business finance
  • Understand your financial wellness and create action steps for improvement in the areas of saving, spending and debt reduction—including how a credit report impacts your personal and business growth opportunities
  • Utilizing personal and business capital to fund growth, including understanding the personal and business banking products that can help finance a business
2
Week Two: Gathering Financial Acumen
  • Explain the importance of financial statements in supporting business strategies
  • Demonstrate and understand balance sheet basics
  • Demonstrate an understanding of income statement financials
3
Week Three: A Focus on Cash Flow and Creating Financial Projections
  • Demonstrate the creation of financial projections
  • Determine the ability of a business to generate positive cash flows and meet its financial obligations
4
Week Four: Need, Competition, Market
  • Gain tools for identifying and communicating with buyers and end-users.
  • Understand methods for analyzing competition and substitute technologies.
  • Learn techniques for estimating market size and understanding market dynamics.
5
Week Five: Business Hypotheses and the Scientific Method
  • Learn what LeanStartup is, and isn’t.
  • Show where LeanStartup is being used.
  • Compare Lean Startup to conventional practices.
  • Become familiar with Business Model Canvas tool.
  • Recognize MinimalViable Products and their value.
6
Week Six: Women’s Topics—Creating Your Executive Presence
  • Instilling confidence through uncertainty
  • Using executive presence for presentations and pitching the business
  • Working through bias as we encounter it
7
Week Seven: Fostering Confidence in Discussing Financial Matters with Stakeholders
  • Express an overall understanding of financial statements
  • Understand and apply financial analysis tools and resources to maintain financial health in your business and inform strategy
8
Week Eight: Deals and Partnerships
  • Learn the nuances of licensing, direct sales, and strategic partnerships as commercialization strategies.
  • Understand the phases of deal-making and key considerations at each stage.
  • Gain insights into planning for and managing successful deals and partnerships.
9
Week Nine: Prepare and Practice Your Pitch: Part 1
  • Template for preparing your investor pitch deck.
  • Pitching dos and don’ts Tips for compelling storytelling.
  • Gender differences in pitch approaches and investor questions.
10
Week Ten: Prepare and Practice Your Pitch: Part 2
  • Recommended refinements to pitch deck content.
  • Tips for improving pitch delivery.
  • Practice navigating post-pitch Q&A.

Find out more about the Capital Readiness Program and its need by reviewing the below reports provided by WIPPS (Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service) Research Partners:

IBE Women Entrepreneurs Project – Survey Report – Summary of Key FindingsDownload
IBE Women Entrepreneurs Project – Focus Group Report – Summary of Key FindingsDownload

Check out our webinar from March 25, 2024 to learn more and get YOUR common questions answered:

Contact Lora if you would like to receive an intake form to schedule a discussion and learn more about participating in the program.