Nicole Cater had always dreamed of owning a coffee shop. From her early days as a barista to studying entrepreneurship at DePaul, the vision never left her. Life took her through corporate roles and motherhood, but the dream lingered, until she discovered the franchising opportunity with BIGGBY COFFEE. Its values of community and joy resonated deeply, and Nicole knew this was her moment.
Then, just as her dream was within reach, disaster struck. Midway through franchise training, her lender abruptly denied her loan. As a single income earner, financing was her biggest hurdle, and now it seemed impossible. That’s when Nicole remembered hearing about First Women’s Bank.
The team at First Women’s Bank didn’t just provide a loan, they became true partners in her journey. They guided Nicole through underwriting and introduced her to the William Blair Capital Grant Program, which provides critical funding to women-owned businesses. Nicole applied and was awarded the grant, giving her an additional boost of capital at a time when every dollar mattered. This combination of financing and grant support transformed fear into confidence.
With FWB and William Blair behind her, Nicole purchased equipment, launched marketing, and completed her café build-out. Today, her BIGGBY COFFEE location thrives, serving not just great coffee but a mission-driven community.
