Photo Credit: Femi Abayomi (IG @phemmmee)
“There are many things we can do to improve primary-care services,” says Omowunmi (Wunmi) Abayomi, NP, an adult-care nurse practitioner and founder of Adult Health NP Modern Wellness Practice on Staten Island. “But setting up a healthcare practice is expensive. I’m so thrilled that Pursuit understood my goals and provided financing and support.”
Here’s how two loans from Pursuit and our Business Advisory Services team are helping Wunmi establish a new model for healthcare delivery in her community.
Improving care for clients in need
Years of experience in New York City’s healthcare system led Wunmi to see a need for increased primary-care services.
“So many people use urgent or emergency care or go to specialists because they don’t have access to primary care when they need it,” Wunmi explains. She also saw a need for additional wrap-around services to help people live better lives with chronic diseases, such as nutrition counseling for diabetics.
“My practice will bring access to primary care closer to those who need it,” Wunmi says. “It’s something new in health care, a nurse-practitioner-led private practice tied to the community.” In addition to diagnostic and preventive care, Wunmi will integrate education and resources and connect people to specialists. The practice will also offer staggered hours of operation to fit patients’ busy lives, so they don’t have to take time off from work for a primary care visit. Her goal is to open her practice in late August.
“I know health care very well, but launching a business is new to me. I’m so grateful that there are excellent, free resources available to help,” Wunmi says. Among them, she worked with SCORE for two years putting together her business plan and financial projections – a service that she highly recommends for all entrepreneurs. In addition, she says that the Staten Island Small Business Development Center provided statistical resources for her target area to help Wunmi as she developed her business plan.
Financing her vision with Pursuit
To realize her dream, Wunmi needed financing to secure a lease, build out the space for a medical practice, and purchase equipment to bring needed services to her clients.
She first approached her bank but, as a new business, they weren’t able to help her secure the funds to launch. Before learning about Pursuit, she also approached another small business lender, but that lender couldn’t provide the financing she needed either.
Not one to give up, Wunmi connected with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. The expert team there gave her several great recommendations to help her on her journey – including one that led to Pursuit.
“The recommendation to contact Pursuit was fantastic,” Wunmi says. Soon, she connected with Pursuit AVP and Senior Business Development Officer Steve Meredith.
After researching Pursuit’s loan options, Wunmi set her sights on Main Street Capital Loan Fund financing to complete the build-out and purchase equipment. Steve also encouraged her to apply for an SBA Microloan to secure working capital.
“It was such a wonderful surprise to be recommended for two loans,” Wunmi admits. “And Steve was fantastic through whole process. He’s a great communicator and was always on point about the progress of my application and what I needed to do. And when I felt anxious, he was so reassuring.”
“Finding a lender who is willing to provide capital for a new small business can be challenging,” Steve admits, “but that’s why Pursuit occupies such an impactful niche, empowering businesses with access to affordable financing and resources. By combining Pursuit’s ability to provide capital with Wunmi’s vision, patience, and persistence, not only is Pursuit proud to help Wunmi as a small business owner, but we’re excited to see the positive impact that her business will have on her community for years to come.”
Wunmi adds that Pursuit Business Development Officer Louis Carroll’s help and guidance were also critical to her financing success. “He worked with underwriting to extend my loan approval twice so I could complete my lease negotiations.” She closed on both loans in May and work is well underway to move her business forward.
Business Advisory Services provide additional support for entrepreneurs
In addition to the financing Wunmi received, she’s eligible for Pursuit’s Business Advisory Services – a range of expert-level consulting services available at no cost to Pursuit borrowers. She’s been working with Christophe Pane, VP and Senior Business Strategist.
“Christophe and the services are awesome,” Wunmi says. “He helps me stay focused and has connected me with outstanding graphic-design services, which is saving me so much money, and I’m also getting help with marketing. And Christophe understands me and my vision and makes the right connections so that both the process and the results suit me and my business.”
As she gets ready to launch, Wunmi has longer-term goals to grow her business, including increasing access to primary care for small business owners who want to offer services to their employees but can’t afford traditional insurance models.
“Working with Wunmi has been incredibly rewarding,” says Christophe. “It’s a privilege to support someone who’s dedicated her life to helping others. She’s smart and fearless and I have no doubt that she’ll be successful and quickly make a lasting impact on the community.”
Pursuit can help
“From friends and family to the many organizations that have played a part, I’m so grateful for the help I’ve received,” Wunmi says. This includes pro bono legal services from Brooklyn Legal Aid and additional guidance and connections from the Queens Chamber of Commerce. And Pursuit’s financing and services are helping her bring it all together to achieve her goals.
“After being turned down for financing twice, I felt dejected. Then, I found Pursuit!” Wunmi says. “Now, I have a team that believes in me and my vision. I didn’t think it was possible to have a pleasant loan experience but Pursuit has been outstanding!”
Steve adds, “Wunmi was delightful to work with. She was attentive to what Pursuit needed to move her application along and we cannot wait to see where she takes her business from here.”
If you’re looking to launch a new business or expand, Pursuit can help you, too. With loans from $10,000 to $5.5 million, we have financing for working capital, equipment, the purchase or construction of commercial real estate, to refinance business debt, and more for businesses in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Nevada, Illinois, and Washington.
Contact us to learn more.
