What does it look like when a major financial brand actually shows up for small businesses, not with a brochure, but with a laptop, a meal, a congresswoman, and a WNBA champion? It looks a lot like what happened inside Clouds Brewing in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Visa & Main hosted an afternoon that was equal parts resource fair, fireside chat, and information load, gathering dozens of local entrepreneurs for an event centered on real solutions to the real challenges small business owners face every day. And for those in the room, it was clear this was access, in action.

More Than a Moment

The event brought together an impressive lineup of partners committed to economic empowerment: Lendistry, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, SCORE, the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Raleigh chapter, NC SBDC, Wake Tech, and Prospera. Together, they filled a resource fair floor that gave attendees direct access to funding experts, legislative advocates, and business advisors.

Perhaps most tangibly, every small business attendee walked away with a complimentary laptop courtesy of Visa & Main, a practical, no-strings-attached investment in the operational strength of the entrepreneurs in the room. In a climate where digital infrastructure can be the difference between a thriving business and a stagnant one, that gesture carried real weight.

Lessons from the Lendistry CEO

I had the opportunity to sit down with Everett Sands, CEO of Lendistry — a mission-driven lender focused on supporting underserved small businesses. His advice was direct, practical, and overdue in its clarity.

According to Sands, before approaching any lender, every small business owner should ask three critical questions:

• Do you finance me? — Not every lender works with every industry. Know whether your business type is even eligible before you invest time in the process.
• Do you finance the loan amount I need? — Lenders specialize in different ranges. A lender focused on microloans may not be the right fit for a $500K ask, and vice versa.
• Do you finance my use of proceeds? — What the money is for matters. Equipment, working capital, real estate — these are all treated differently depending on the lender’s parameters.

“All lenders do not service small businesses. Do your research.” -Everett Sands, CEO, Lendistry

That last point is the one most entrepreneurs learn too late. Sands’s reminder that not every financial institution is built to serve small business is critical intelligence. Also, knowing the right questions to ask upfront can save owners months of wasted effort and unnecessary credit inquiries.

A Champion Entrepreneur

WNBA Champion Azurá Stevens brought more than her championship resume to the afternoon. Alongside her father, she also brought lunch, literally. Same O Dame O’s, the food truck owned by Azurá, served attendees as part of a gathering centered on nourishment in every sense of the word.

When asked how she manages to stay balanced between her athletic career and business ownership, Azurá’s answer was rooted in something every entrepreneur needs: trust.

“It’s easy to stay focused when you have someone you trust.” — Azurá Stevens, WNBA Champion & Entrepreneur

Her father was already a proven chef before the food truck was ever a concept. So, when it came time to build the business, Azurá made a strategic and personal decision: delegate operations to someone with demonstrated skill, while she leveraged her platform and public influence to elevate the brand. It’s a model many celebrity entrepreneurs attempt, but few execute as cleanly.

Her parting wisdom to the room was simple and powerful: fight through your fear. Keep going. Things will work out when you work hard.

What This Means for Small Business

Events like this one matter not just because of the resources exchanged or the laptops distributed, but because of what they signal. When major brands, elected officials, community lenders, and business champions choose to show up together for small business owners, it shifts the narrative. It says: your growth is worth investing in.

For the Raleigh entrepreneurs who filled that room at Clouds Brewing, the afternoon offered something that can’t always be found online or in a brochure: direct access, real conversation, and the reminder that they are not building alone.