Also known as: Founders First
Founders First CDC is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFI, based in San Diego, California. It provides revenue-based financing and business support services to underserved small business owners across the United States, with a particular focus on minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and LGBTQ-owned businesses.
CDFIs are mission-driven financial organizations certified by the US Treasury. They exist to expand access to affordable capital for communities that are often excluded from conventional bank financing. Founders First CDC takes this mission a step further by focusing specifically on service-based businesses led by diverse entrepreneurs who face systemic barriers to business financing.
Founders First CDC uses a revenue-based financing model rather than a traditional loan structure. Revenue-based financing provides capital to a business in exchange for a percentage of future revenue until the total repayment amount is reached. This means repayment is tied to business performance: when revenue is strong, repayment is faster; during slower periods, less is repaid.
In addition to financing, Founders First CDC provides business coaching, mentoring and educational programming to help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses. This wraparound support is a core part of its mission and distinguishes it from purely transactional lenders.
Founders First CDC serves businesses across the United States and has expanded its geographic reach significantly. If you are a small business owner from an underserved community who needs both capital and business support, Founders First CDC is worth exploring.
Contact the organization directly to learn about current loan amounts, eligibility requirements and available business support programs.
Quick info
Business Loans
Founders First
Not verified
Nonprofit CDFI.
2026-06-06
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Revenue-based financing; small business loans for underserved founders
Additional notes
Focused on underrepresented founders. Revenue-based repayment structure. Strong wraparound support services available.Review scores are third-party public indicators only. They are not a recommendation or endorsement by Ask Fin and are not a measure of product suitability for your circumstances.
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Source URLs
Date checked
2026-06-06
How do I make a complaint about Founders First CDC?
Start with Founders First CDC's internal complaints process. If unresolved, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Depending on the type of company, your state attorney general or banking regulator may also be relevant.
Is Founders First CDC regulated in the US?
Use the NMLS Consumer Access tool at nmlsconsumeraccess.org to check licensing. For banks, check the FDIC BankFind Suite. For credit unions, check the NCUA Credit Union Locator. Ask Fin includes regulatory reference numbers where publicly available.
How do I find Founders First CDC's official contact details?
Always use the contact details on the company's official website. Do not use numbers or emails received in unsolicited calls or messages. Verify the website by checking the NMLS or FDIC/NCUA databases if in doubt.
What should I do if I think Founders First CDC has treated me unfairly?
Document everything in writing. Contact the company's complaints team first. If not resolved, submit a complaint to the CFPB or your state attorney general. The NFCC (1-800-388-2227) can provide free guidance for debt-related issues.
Where can I get free help with a Founders First CDC issue?
Contact the CFPB (consumerfinance.gov), call 211 for local resources, or contact the NFCC (nfcc.org or 1-800-388-2227) for debt and budget help. For legal issues, Legal Services Corporation (lsc.gov) provides free legal aid.
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