How TAP and Grameen America Support Entrepreneurs Nationwide
Entrepreneurs often begin with passion and purpose. Turning ideas into sustainable businesses requires clarity, structure, and informed strategic decision-making. Through a 2025 partnership between The Acceleration Project (TAP) and Grameen America, the 1:1 Elevate Coaching Series reached 27 entrepreneurs across the United States in just three months, providing personalized support that complements financial resources with expert business guidance.
Finding Direction Through Clarity: Denise Whitten’s Story
Newark-based entrepreneur Denise Whitten came to TAP with a strong desire to improve lives through health, financial empowerment, and community support. What she needed most was focus. With multiple meaningful ideas, she wanted help identifying a viable and sustainable path forward.
Denise participated in TAP’s 1:1 Coaching Series through the Grameen 2025 Health and Wellness coaching cohort. Across three customized sessions with TAP consultant Debi Coffield, Denise refined her vision and translated ideas into action.
Using TAP’s Brand Statement framework and Business Model Canvas, Denise clarified her value proposition, target audience, and service delivery model. The process helped her identify the common thread connecting her interests and her focus on opportunities aligned with long-term sustainability.
“My TAP consultant Debi has allowed me to fine tune my passions to more achievable goals. In these three sessions I was able to better align my goal.”
In post-program surveys, Denise reported strong outcomes, rating her confidence in her marketing skills a 10 out of 10, her confidence in running her business a 5 out of 5, and her overall experience of feeling supported throughout the program a 5 out of 5. These results reflect more than satisfaction. They demonstrate increased clarity, confidence, and readiness to take action.
Strengthening Financial Foundations: Candace McEwan’s Story
Healthcare entrepreneur Candace McEwan faced a different challenge. As founder of Canspireme Health & Wellness, she provides personalized care through weight management, IV hydration therapy, and primary care services. As a Board Certified Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, her mission is helping individuals become healthy, balanced, and inspired.
While Candace had strong clinical expertise, she sought greater business structure and financial clarity. Through TAP’s 1:1 Elevate Coaching Series, she worked with TAP consultant Amy Zarin across three coaching sessions, allowing strategy and insights to build over time.
“TAP’s 1:1 coaching helped guide me toward focusing on the services that make the most sense for my business and where I can have the greatest impact.”
The sessions helped Candace evaluate service priorities, budgeting strategies, and business planning tools. She also gained clarity around financial worksheets that had previously felt overwhelming.
“My TAP consultant helped break down financial worksheets that initially felt confusing and showed me how they directly relate to my services and business decisions.”
A major breakthrough came through analyzing whether her business was truly breaking even. For many entrepreneurs, revenue alone can create a false sense of stability. TAP helped Candace examine cost structure, profitability, and overall financial performance more deeply.
“The program encouraged me to face my numbers honestly. It helped me understand what my business is actually earning and whether I am truly breaking even.”
This financial clarity strengthened Candace’s confidence and positioned her for sustainable growth while maintaining high quality patient care.
Strengthening Businesses at Every Stage
Denise and Candace represent two different entrepreneurial journeys, yet their experiences reinforce a common truth. Small business owners achieve stronger, more sustainable outcomes when they have access to expert guidance, structured tools, and a trusted partner who can help translate ideas into actionable strategy.
The Acceleration Project provides nationwide, no-cost consulting and coaching to small business owners across the full business lifecycle, from early revenue stage entrepreneurs to more mature businesses preparing for growth and long term sustainability. TAP meets business owners where they are by offering customized 1:1 coaching, small group coaching, and educational workshops designed to build confidence, clarity, and operational strength.
TAP and Grameen America work together to expand opportunity for entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers to capital, resources, and strategic business guidance, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening long term economic mobility through entrepreneurship.
Since 2008, Grameen America has expanded access to fair and affordable capital for women entrepreneurs who are often excluded from traditional financial systems. Through its lending model and peer support network, Grameen America helps entrepreneurs launch and stabilize businesses while building financial confidence and long term economic independence.
Building on that financial foundation, TAP provides the strategic guidance entrepreneurs need to translate opportunity into sustainable growth. Through customized consulting and coaching, TAP helps business owners strengthen operations, improve financial literacy, refine market positioning, and develop practical strategies that support long term success.
Stories like theirs illustrate how combining capital, coaching, and trusted partnership equips entrepreneurs with the clarity and confidence needed to build resilient businesses and create long term economic opportunity within their communities.
February Focus: Building Your Brand Strategy
This February, TAP is featuring Small Group Coaching: Building Your Brand Strategy. These sessions bring together one consultant and three business owners for high impact learning, expert guidance, and peer collaboration. Participants gain clarity around their brand positioning, refine messaging, and define what differentiates their business in competitive markets.
For entrepreneurs navigating multiple ideas, seeking stronger market positioning, or preparing for growth, structured coaching programs like these provide practical strategies that translate directly into business momentum. Click here to learn more and apply.
Ready to Work With TAP?
TAP supports small business owners nationwide through expert consulting and coaching. We collaborate with institutions and engage skilled volunteer consultants to expand access to high impact business guidance.
For organizations, institutions, and individuals interested in working alongside TAP to build on the progress of 2025, we invite you to explore partnership opportunities by completing our partner application form.
Small business owners seeking customized consulting and coaching support are encouraged to apply for TAP services.
Professionals interested in sharing their expertise as volunteer consultants are invited to apply to join TAP’s national consultant network.
Building Clarity, Confidence, and Sustainable Businesses
Through a 2025 partnership between The Acceleration Project (TAP) and Grameen America, the 1:1 Elevate Coaching Series reached 27 entrepreneurs across the United States in just three months. 2/26/2026
Recognized for Transparency & Empowerment
We’re proud to align with leading organizations that champion transparency, accountability, and sustainable small business growth.
