When Aquila Leon-Soon was in the early stages of launching her startup, she was rejected for a loan by three different banks.
She also knew that another funding option, venture capital, was not a realistic one: Black women like her only raise about .01% of the VC money pulled in by the average successful startup.
Luckily for Leon-Soon, she lives and works in New York City. Through resources provided by the city, she was able to find workarounds to replace the traditional avenues of funding, instead growing her business using government certifications, grants, and mentorship programs.
