September Investment Thesis & Recap: Investing in Opportunity, One Contribution at a Time
My Blaze Capital investment decisions throughout September 2026 were guided by a belief that entrepreneurs deserve access to the resources they need to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses. For me, investing is about more than financial returns. It is also about understanding the people behind a business, their motivations, the obstacles they face, and the opportunities that funding can create.
This perspective is personal. I watched my mom spend five years building her startup, only to struggle to secure funding because she did not know how to navigate the funding process and lacked the credit needed to qualify for financing. Witnessing her experience showed me that a lack of access to capital can prevent hardworking entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential. It also taught me that an entrepreneur's inability to secure funding does not necessarily reflect a lack of passion, talent, or a viable vision.
That experience influences how I approach investing. I am drawn to entrepreneurs whose businesses reflect resilience, creativity, family traditions, and a desire to make a difference in their communities. I want to support founders who have taken the initiative to build something of their own, but need additional resources to grow.
"Empathy helps me recognize entrepreneurs whose goals resonate with me, while analysis helps me assess the opportunity more thoughtfully."
During September 2026, I invested $25 in each of four small-business loans, contributing a total of $100. In aggregate, these crowdfunded loans provided a combined $49,000 in funding to businesses in the food and beauty industries. Although my individual contributions were modest, I viewed each investment as an opportunity to participate in expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs pursuing their goals.
September Blaze Capital Investment Recap
1. Atwood Hwy BBQ Shack — $25 Blaze Capital Investment
Aggregate Loan Amount: $12,000
My first investment supported Atwood Hwy BBQ Shack, a family-owned barbecue restaurant seeking funding for new equipment and a new location. April and Donteah built their business around a shared love of barbecue, combining Donteah's passion for slow-smoked meats with April's talent for baking and creating delicious side dishes.
What stood out to me was how their individual strengths complemented one another to create a shared business vision. Their story demonstrates how personal passions can develop into a business that brings people together.
The $12,000 loan was intended to help the restaurant acquire equipment and establish a new location. I was drawn to the opportunity to support a family-owned business working to expand its operations and reach more customers.
This investment reinforced my interest in entrepreneurs who turn their passions into businesses and work together to build something meaningful.
2. OBN Beauty — $25 Blaze Capital Investment
Aggregate Loan Amount: $15,000
My second investment supported Marilyn, the founder of OBN Beauty, a business specializing in vegan skincare, haircare, and self-care products. Her journey began with a personal challenge: finding gentle, effective products that addressed her family's sensitive skin and diverse haircare needs. After moving from Chicago to Arkansas, she began researching ingredients and creating small-batch formulas at home.
I connected with Marilyn's resourcefulness and determination to solve a problem through entrepreneurship. Rather than accepting the lack of products that met her family's needs, she created her own solutions and developed them into a business.
Her background in quality assurance also influences her commitment to consistency, product quality, and customer feedback. Beyond growing her brand, Marilyn operates the business with her daughter and hopes to create long-term opportunities for her family.
The $15,000 loan was intended to help OBN Beauty expand production and purchase inventory. I saw this as an opportunity to support a founder whose business combines a personal mission with a vision for broader growth, including wholesale partnerships and eventually a dedicated business location.
Marilyn's story reminded me that entrepreneurship can create opportunities across generations while serving customers whose needs may be overlooked by traditional brands.
3. Korey Baker's — $25 Blaze Capital Investment
Aggregate Loan Amount: $10,000
My third investment supported Korey Baker's, a Rochester bakery seeking funding for commercial equipment and expanded production. Korey's passion for baking began with family traditions and memories of gathering around the table. Those experiences inspired a dream of sharing handcrafted baked goods with the community.
Although Korey initially pursued a career in other fields, the desire to bake eventually led to a career change and formal education in Baking and Pastry Arts. Building the business required long hours, personal sacrifice, and an investment of personal savings.
What resonated with me was Korey's willingness to pursue a long-standing dream through education, hard work, and personal commitment. The bakery represents more than a place to purchase baked goods; it is envisioned as a welcoming community space where families, students, neighbors, and visitors can connect.
The $10,000 loan was intended to help purchase commercial equipment and increase production capacity. Korey also hopes to host community events, support local artists and musicians, create jobs, and provide educational opportunities as the business grows.
I was drawn to the potential for this funding to help a dedicated entrepreneur move closer to building a business that contributes to the local community.
4. Diamond House BBQ — $25 Blaze Capital Investment
Aggregate Loan Amount: $12,000
My fourth investment supported Billy and Diamond House BBQ, a small barbecue business seeking to purchase equipment for the opening of its first brick-and-mortar location. Billy's inspiration comes from his grandmother's recipes and the family gatherings where food created lasting memories.
He built Diamond House BBQ to honor those traditions while creating a welcoming experience for customers. His vision extends beyond serving barbecue; he hopes to bring people together, create jobs, and demonstrate that second chances are possible.
I was drawn to the personal meaning behind Billy's business. His story illustrates how entrepreneurship can preserve family traditions while creating new opportunities for the future.
The $12,000 loan was intended to help the business purchase the equipment needed to establish a physical location. This funding could help Billy move toward a more established operation and reach customers in a new way.
His story reinforced my belief that businesses can represent more than their products or services. They can reflect an entrepreneur's values, personal journey, and commitment to the community.
Balancing Emotional Connection With Investment Analysis
Although personal experience is a major influence on my investment decisions, September also highlighted the importance of balancing empathy with objective analysis.
A compelling founder story can explain why a business matters, but it does not automatically establish that the business will succeed. As I continue developing my investment approach, I want to become more intentional about evaluating how loan funding will be used, whether the business has a clear growth plan, and what challenges could affect its ability to meet its goals.
Going forward, I want to combine my emotional connection to entrepreneurship with a stronger understanding of business fundamentals. This includes considering the purpose of the funding, the potential for sustainable growth, and the risks associated with each opportunity.
I see these two perspectives as complementary. Empathy helps me recognize entrepreneurs whose goals resonate with me, while analysis helps me assess the opportunity more thoughtfully.
September Portfolio Summary
Business Name | Aggregate Loan Amount | Blaze Capital Contribution |
Atwood Hwy BBQ Shack | $12,000 | $25 |
OBN Beauty | $15,000 | $25 |
Korey Baker's | $10,000 | $25 |
Diamond House BBQ | $12,000 | $25 |
September 2026 Total | $49,000 | $100 |
Take Action
My September experience showed me that you do not have to contribute thousands of dollars to make a difference. Even a $25 investment can be part of a larger effort to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs who deserve an opportunity to grow.
I challenge others to find ways to support small busin
esses, whether through investing, purchasing their products, sharing their stories, or connecting them with valuable resources.
Need a place to start? Join our Lending Teams:
Let's help close the funding gap, support entrepreneurs beyond their existing stories, and invest in the opportunities that can change families and communities— one contribution at a time.
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