Level Up Lending

High-Touch Support to Help You Grow Your Business.

This six-month cohort program is designed to help you close your operational gaps, strengthen your business foundation, and grow with confidence — all provided at no cost to selected borrowers in the Pursuit community. This program combines expert guidance with peer accountability to help you feel supported as you work to implement what you learn.

This is your invitation to apply.

I'm Interested!

This program is supported by:

What You’ll Gain

• Financial systems and recordkeeping that give you a clear picture of your business

• Financial statements, projections, and a pitch deck ready to share with funders

• A sharper marketing strategy backed by competitive and SWOT analysis

• A stronger leadership mindset through the Learn, Lead, Lift curriculum

• Improved capital readiness for future Pursuit funding

Who is eligible for this opportunity?

✓ Current Pursuit borrower nominated by the Pursuit team

✓ Revenue-generating business

✓ Able to commit to 6 months of participation, including monthly accountability sessions

✓ Able to set aside about 5 hours per month for program activities

✓ Willing to participate in a cohort setting and share progress with peers

✓ Ready to implement new processes, not just absorb information

High Touch Capacity Building Support

IFEL Capacity Building Wheel — Operations, Business Planning, Financial Management, Marketing & Sales, Legal Support

We help business owners build a firm foundation for growth. From webinar events to high-touch one-on-one support, we connect entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed.

Learn More

Ready to Level Up your business?

Accept Your Level Up Nomination

Applications are due on November 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET

What You'll Gain

Eligibility

About IFEL

The Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), founded in 2002, is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Learn more at weareifel.org.

This page is presented by IFEL. IFEL does not provide investment advisory services.

Our Mission

To empower champions, mobilize allies, and activate investors to use their relationships and other resources to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Our Vision

We envision a future with inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems in which people from historically marginalized populations have equal opportunity for success as entrepreneurs, investors, and champions.

Our Leadership

Founded in 2002, IFEL brings changemakers together to harness relationships and bold strategy to build opportunity for historically excluded entrepreneurs and founders.