SoFi Blog

Lender’s Entrepreneur Program Supports Starting Businesses with Student Loan Deferment and Business Coaching

San Francisco, CA – Social Finance, LLC (SoFi.com), a leader in peer-to-peer lending, today announced that CleanBeeBaby, an eco-friendly cleaning service for baby and toddler strollers and car seats, has been named the SoFi Entrepreneur Program “Startup of the Year.”  As a direct result of being a member of SoFi’s Entrepreneur Program, Jennifer Beall, the founder and CEO of CleanBeeBaby, has received more than $150,000 in financing for the company from the SoFi community, led by investor Michael Kane.

“As a SoFi borrower and part of its Entrepreneur Program, I have access to a network of people literally and figuratively invested in the success of my company and its financial future,” said Jennifer Beall, Founder and CEO of CleanBeeBaby. “SoFi connected me with outstanding people who have helped my business grow in various ways from making investments to providing mentorship. We are proof of what SoFi’s amazing community is able to create together.”

CleanBeeBaby has raised almost $600,000 since launching in 2011, with plans to raise another half a million before the end of the year through connections directly made within the SoFi community. Additionally, as a SoFi borrower, Beall has saved more than $5,000 refinancing her student loans through SoFi and was able to defer payments while she got her business off the ground.

“Student loan debt shouldn’t stop entrepreneurs from developing and raising capital for their companies,” said Mike Cagney, CEO of SoFi. “Our Entrepreneur Program differs from traditional incubators by not only sourcing capital, but also providing resources like business development support, valuable mentoring and networking opportunities – all without founders sacrificing equity.”

Benefits of the SoFi Entrepreneur Program include up to six months forbearance on loans, access to SoFi’s accredited investors, and professional mentorship. Additionally, career counseling resources are available to SoFi entrepreneurs looking to grow their teams, in fact, Beall recently used this service to help source a vice president of operations for CleanBeeBaby.

To date, SoFi has accepted 25 entrepreneurs into its Entrepreneur Program.  For more information or to apply to SoFi’s Entrepreneur Program visit sofi.com/entrepreneur-program/.

About SoFi

For the first time in history, accomplished graduates are unable to attain many of life’s milestones- like starting a company, purchasing a home, or buying a car- because of the massive student debt burden. SoFi offers student loan refinancing, home loans, and personal loans to highly qualified graduates. To date we’ve issued over $730M in loans to more than 8,000 members.  Our community-based model offers borrowers unique benefits like career coaching, entrepreneurship support, and unemployment protection.  We offer individual and institutional investors opportunities to invest in these bright minds and earn compelling rates of return. For more information, visit SoFi.com.

About CleanBeeBaby

CleanBeeBaby is an eco-friendly stroller and car seat cleaning enterprise that provides services in partnership with retail stores while you wait.  The first of its kind in the world, the CleanBeeBaby mobile unit can be found at one of 50+ retail partners in Southern California and New York City, or is available for private house calls.  CleanBeeBaby technicians are not only expert cleaners, but are nationally certified to install car seats and ensure the safety of our most precious cargo.  To arrange an appointment with CleanBeeBaby, please visit www.cleanbeebaby.com.

As a career counselor and career coach, one of the most common questions I hear from clients is how to improve a resume.  While there are plenty of tips and best practices out there, I find that a lot of job seekers get tripped up from hearing too much advice about what to include, how to format things, etc.  Clients often say to me, “Someone told me to do this, but someone else told me to do that – which one should I do?”

It’s a fair question, but it’s one that always raises a red flag for me.  Why?  Because I don’t think job candidates should spend excessive time and effort on their resumes.  And that’s exactly what all this well-meaning advice causes them to do.

A personal loan is money you borrow for any kind of personal use such as paying down credit card debt, investing in home improvements, taking a special vacation, or paying for an engagement ring or wedding expenses. Taking a personal loan could be a smart way to consolidate high-interest rate balances under one monthly rate. To repay the loan, you make monthly payments of principal plus interest. A personal loan gives you the flexibility to make big purchases, then pay it off at a pace that makes sense for you.

Summer is officially upon us, and with it the promise of warm sunshine, longer days and happy memories.  But if you’re one of the 37 million Americans with student loans, that debt can feel like a constant storm cloud over your head – no matter what the weather outside may be.

Rather than let another lazy summer pass you by, why not use the next few months to make a dent in your education debt?  Research shows that you’re more likely to achieve your objectives when they’re specific, measurable and time-bound, making summer the perfect time to set goals and see some progress by the time fall rolls around.   And it doesn’t take much – when it comes to reducing your loan balance, a few small changes can have a big impact.

Mortgages are available for primary residences, second homes, and Investment Properties. This includes single family homes, condos, 2-4 unit properties, planned unit developments, and manufactured homes. Tenancies-in-common (TICs) are not eligible.