Adventure Pitch Fest takes place in November, but businesses in New Mexico’s outdoor industry should start thinking now about how they want to participate. Applications to compete in the live pitch competition will be accepted until September 30, 2026, and an informational webinar and Q&A session will be held on August 26. The Pitch Fest awards $15,000 in cash. Organizations and businesses uninterested in pitching can participate by hosting booths that engage with investors, key industry stakeholders, and consumers.
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Business Growth Summit Features Access to Capital
The nonprofit lender and business development organization WESST, which offers consulting services and resources to small-business owners, will be on hand at the Business Growth Summit on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Albuquerque to discuss how entrepreneurs can access capital for their startup or established company.
Continue readingHomewise Helps Pop-Pop’s Italian Ice Grow
For nearly three decades, Pop Pop’s Italian Ice has been bringing smiles to families across New Mexico. What started as a beloved neighborhood treat has grown into a statewide brand, serving communities through retail locations, food trucks, concession stands, and countless special events. Today, Pop Pop’s Italian Ice employs more than 40 people, operates eight mobile units, three retail locations, three concession stands, and recently moved into a new 10,0000-square-foot headquarters. But the journey to get here was built on hard work, resilience, and a commitment to community. And when it came time to take the next step, the nonprofit lender Homewise was proud to help.
“When we looked at this deal, what stood out wasn’t just a well-run business. It was a team that shows up for youth sports, schools, and neighborhood events consistently,” says Chris Anderson, Commerical Project Manager for Homewise. “Supporting businesses that activate and strengthen their communities is exactly what Homewise Commercial Loans are here to do.”
Continue readingLearn How to Start a Business in New Mexico
Native American entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members in New Mexico can learn how to start a business at an online workshop hosted by the American Indian Business Enterprise Center at NMSU’s Arrowhead Center. The one-hour event, called From Idea to Enterprise, starts at 4:30 pm MDT on August 5, 2026. Registration is required.
Continue readingUnlock AI
The nonprofit lender DreamSpring is hosting two online workshops to help business owners initiate or expand their use of artificial intelligence. AI for Your Business: Getting Started takes place at 10:00 am MDT on Friday, July 24, 2026. The second session, AI for Your Business: Going Further, is at 10:00 am MDT on Friday, August 7.
Continue readingBusiness Technical Assistance is Part of the Job
Business owners looking for loans or lines of credit can face challenges that extend past financing needs. That’s why the nonprofit lender The Loan Fund offers business technical services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations that need help with financial and other planning. Prospective borrowers can get assistance with developing their business plan, organization, and financial forecasts. Once they become borrowers, The Loan Fund clients can expect ongoing advice regarding marketing, cash flow, and other operational challenges.
Continue readingGovernment Programs Can Finance a Business
The nonprofit lender LiftFund is hosting an online introduction to government programs that business owners can tap into for business funding. The one-hour webinar takes place on July 15, 2026, at 10:30 am Mountain Daylight Time. Discover the latest government funding programs and resources available to help finance and grow a small business in 2026.
Continue readingIncubators Offer More Than Space
Roberta Easter dreamed of keeping her ancestor’s craft alive when she started Enchanting Soap Collections. Joined by her daughter, Chrystal Trykoski in 2022, the pair worked from Easter’s home, creating hand-poured soaps of unique designs with no two the same.
In 2025, Easter and her daughter moved the business into the WESST Enterprise Center business incubator, giving them room to grow, scale, and dream bigger than ever. As WESST incubator tenants, Easter and Trykoski are receiving operational support and resources that are already accelerating the company’s growth.
Barely a year after moving to the incubator, Enchanting Soap Collections was selected as one of nine businesses from a national applicant pool of 120 to pitch at a national airport concessions competition in St. Louis sponsored by the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC). Contestants presented their concepts before a distinguished panel of airport concessions and travel retail executives who evaluated businesses based on innovation, scalability, and market readiness to sell their products in United States airports. While they did not advance to the next round of the competition, Easter and Trykoski are still winning big: they were invited to showcase and sell their products at the 41st Annual AMAC Conference in Maryland in June 2026.
Continue readingMicro-Grant Deadlines Coming Up
The Regional Development Corporation (RDC) is accepting applications for up to $3,000 in capital from its Micro-Grant Fund. And the national organization, Local Initiatives Support Corporate (LISC), is accepting applications for up to $5,000 in funding from its FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab fund. The criteria for each program differ widely, but both represent small business grant programs that can give new business owners critical funding for their enterprises.
Continue readingBook Offers Business Insight Gained Locally
Anne Haines, founder of the nonprofit lender DreamSpring, has collaborated with two local authors to share insights on building a business. Grit and Growth draws on DreamSpring’s 30-year evolution from a tiny startup to a national leader in small business development. Authors Anne Haines, Amber Kani, and Laura Marrich — along with Yashoda Naidoo, founder of Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Café and one of the entrepreneurs who shares her story in the book — are hosting a book release conversation at the DreamSpring headquarters in Albuquerque on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Light refreshments will be served. Missed the event? Scroll to the link below to order the book.
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