Ask Julia: Networking with Slow Money

Dear Julia,

I wanted to reach out to you about Slow Money. Do you know whom to contact regarding raising money through them?

JD

Hi JD,

First, I should clarify that Slow Money itself doesn’t have money to lend. Rather, we are a network of entrepreneurs and investors working to improve the flow of capital to sustainably minded “slow businesses.”

With that in mind, here are three ideas for how you can network with Slow Money to get the financing you need to grow your business.

1.Sign up for the Boston Chapter’s meet-up site. We will be hosting another entrepreneur showcase on Tuesday, November 5th. (You can learn more about the showcase in general by looking at the details of past events). We will announce this through the meet-up site and encourage you to apply to present.

2.Send in a loan application to Sprout Lenders.There is no “current” deadline, so go ahead and fill out the application and submit it. You may need more money than the loans offered by Sprout, but this will also network you into Fresh Source Capital.

3.Here are some other resources for capital and partners:

• Mass Growth Capital 
• Fair Food Fund
• Massachusetts Small Business Development. Mark Allio is a great resource.

Slow Money Boston also offers a list of food system funders.