News

Jul 17, 2024

Venmo Selects 10 Entrepreneurs to Receive the Third Venmo Small Business Grant

The Venmo Small Business Grant program is a part of Venmo’s ongoing commitment to the small business community, providing selected recipients with financial capital and mentorship resources to help them overcome challenges and achieve success.

Venmo today announced the 10 recipients of the 2024 Venmo Small Business Grant program. These 10 small business visionaries have not only harnessed the power of Venmo business profiles to manage and help grow their business but have also turned their unique business concepts, as well as their unwavering passion and excitement, into tangible successes.

These recipients will receive a $20,000 financial grant, pro bono technical expertise, and mentorship on topics such as legal services, financial analysis, digital marketing, and more as a part of the program. This year, nearly 50,000 entrepreneurs applied for the Venmo Small Business Grant program.

Meet three of the inspiring grant recipients:

Tak Tak Goods

_{Tak Tak Goods founder Risa Recio}

Based in Cedar Creek, Texas, Tak Tak Goods offers handmade glassware that brings joy, humor, and magic to your everyday ritual.

“As I was learning to blow glass, I wasn’t compelled to comply with my peers’ historical, Eurocentric standards. I developed a distinct, playful style amidst the classically trained aesthetic,” said Founder Risa Recio. “The lack of POC representation drove me to forge my own path, break the rules, and build a successful business. Tak Tak’s cornerstone product, the Face Cup, is a direct result of resisting those traditions. I’m proud that Tak Tak has ushered newfound appreciation for alternative techniques in glass and brought visibility to my experience as a female, Filipino immigrant and entrepreneur.”

Soma Metalwork

_{Soma Metalwork founder Kiran Chapman}

Based in Yarmouth, Maine, Soma Metalwork offers hand-forged chef's knives, bespoke homeware, and blacksmithing classes.

“I grew up as a second-generation South Asian American kid in Harlem. In my 20s, I realized that working with my hands was crucial to my sense of self,” said Founder Kiran Chapman. “I founded Soma Metalwork during my apprenticeship with a blacksmith, where I hand forge a line of kitchenware and teach blacksmithing classes. My goal is to share metalworking with underrepresented craftspeople who might not find traditional avenues for skill-building accessible. I want to grow my business and my community to foster open-mindedness, diversity, and care.”

The Traveling Black Women Network

_{Traveling Black Women Network founder Nadine Duncan}

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, The Traveling Black Women Network is a vibrant community connecting and supporting Black female travelers.

“I founded Traveling Black Women to create a global community where Black women travelers are confident and supported and to address unique challenges like safety and representation,” said Founder Nadine Duncan. “What began as a travel guide has expanded to a vibrant online community of 100,000 members worldwide. We offer resources, organize trips, workshops, and meetups, and partner with amazing travel organizations – all to empower members with travel knowledge and cultural etiquette.”