On April 15th, the NYPACE community gathered at Citi Field for our annual Small Business Exchange Forum. With nearly 100 attendees, it was a fantastic opportunity for local entrepreneurs, experts, community leaders and our high-skilled volunteers to connect, share challenges, and discuss strategies for growth.

Hosting regular networking events like this is central to NYPACE’s mission. Creating a space where small business owners can learn from industry experts and build peer networks is vital to supporting the long-term growth and survival of businesses across New York.

We want to send a sincere thank you to our sponsor, Citi, for providing the venue, and to the incredible event partners and panelists who shared their time and expertise. To ensure their insights reach as many entrepreneurs as possible, we’ve compiled the key resources and recommendations shared during the event below.

Expert Insights & Resources from the Event

Government & Public Support

• NYC Small Business Services (SBS)
  • Overview: The primary city agency dedicated to the growth and vitality of New York City’s small businesses.
  • Support Available: Access to NYC business grants, permit assistance, specialized workshops, and legal services.
  • Website: nyc.gov/business

Business Management & Operations: Optimizing Your POS

Choosing the right Point of Sale (POS) system is a frequent topic among entrepreneurs. Our panelists broke down how the major platforms compare depending on your business stage:

• Square: Great for very small or early‑stage businesses looking for a low‑cost, simple setup.
• Toast: Built almost entirely for full‑service restaurants with complex kitchen and table management needs.
• Clover: Sits in the middle as a flexible option. It works well across retail, restaurants (quick- or full-service), and service businesses, with hardware and software that can scale as you grow.

Key Takeaways on Clover’s Platform Capabilities:

• Beyond Payments: Clover functions as a cloud-based business operations platform, offering real-time sales reporting, item-level visibility, inventory tracking, and employee management.
• Access to Capital (Clover Capital): For eligible businesses, this feature offers access to working capital based on future card sales rather than a traditional loan. There is no hard credit pull, and repayment adjusts automatically with daily sales.
• Practical AI Tools: Through third-party partners in the Clover App Marketplace, businesses are actively using integrated AI to automate phone orders, reduce order errors, identify sales trends, and automate customer follow-ups.
• Customization: Backed by Fiserv’s infrastructure, the platform allows you to configure only what you need through an extensive app marketplace covering accounting, payroll, and scheduling.

Financial & Banking Resources

• Citi Small Business
  • Overview: Banking solutions and financial tools tailored for small business owners.
  • Support Available: Access to business credit and financial management resources to help scale operations.
  • Website: citi.com/business
• Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund (HEF)
  • Overview: A community-driven lender supporting business startups and expansion, with a special focus on women- and minority-owned businesses.
  • Loan Details: Offers loans ranging from $500 to $350,000, alongside professional financial coaching.
  • Contact: loans@hefnyc.org

Strategic Investment & Partnership

• Earlystone Management
  • Overview: A private investment company focused on community-engaged investing.
  • Focus: Partnering with and supporting businesses that prioritize sustainable growth and community impact.
  • Website: earlystone.net

Skill-Building: Verizon Digital Ready Training Courses

Panelists highlighted free upcoming courses available through Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready Platform.

• Platform Registration: Sign Up for Verizon’s Digital Ready Platform (Insert your specific link)
• Recommended Modules:
  • Capitalizing on Success: A small business guide to grants
  • Creating the perfect pitch: Securing yeses from clients, customers, and funders!
  • Deck strategy & development
• Featured Event: Keep an eye out for the Verizon Small Business Super Pitch, featuring NYPACE graduate Precious Williams as the Lead Instructor.

Advocacy & Community Engagement

Our partners emphasized that small business owners can directly influence policy by sharing their lived experiences.

• Resource Access: Find responsible lenders and essential business tools via the Venturize Resource Hub (a project of Small Business Majority).
• Advocacy: Contribute your voice to ongoing advocacy efforts at Share Your Business Experience.
• Policy Updates: Stay informed on critical policy changes and research by signing up for the newsletter.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us this year. We look forward to seeing you at our next NYPACE event!