The Brand Blueprint · 2026-06-12 · 12 min
Not every useful funding opportunity is a grant. Not every smart funding move comes with a flashy headline or a public deadline. In this Funding Friday episode of The Brand Blueprint, Dana Ammons breaks down three very different funding paths founders can use right now - and, more importantly, who each one actually fits. This episode covers: • Kiva for founders who can activate real community support around a real business purpose • SBA microloans for founders with practical funding needs and a clear use-of-funds story • Shopify Capital for merchants with real sales momentum and a cash-flow timing challenge The bigger lesson is simple: stop chasing what sounds impressive and start matching your business to the kind of capital it is actually ready for. If your funding strategy has felt scattered, reactive, or overly grant-dependent, this episode will help you get much clearer about fit, timing, and readiness. Watch now, then ask yourself the better question: What kind of capital is my business ready for first? Timestamps: 00:00 Flashy money vs. usable money 01:00 Three funding paths founders can use right now 02:00 Kiva U.S.
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