The Circle of Aunts & Uncles offers qualified local entrepreneurs with demonstrated need a new vehicle for accessing local lenders offering low interest loans, as well as advice, business and connections. The Circle intentionally creates trusting relationships between lenders and borrowers, in the spirit of actual aunts and uncles, enabling investors to understand the true needs of the business and provide advice and contacts.
Our Entrepreneurs
Bower Café
Midtown
First Funded June 2019
Thane Wright creates a unique experience at Bower Cafe. The name of the cafe-charcuterie shop, “Bower,” comes from a bowerbird, a species that decorates its nest with bright colors to attract mates.
Holding true to its symbolic name, Bower Cafe’s menu is full of variety and exciting combinations. In addition to traditional cafe treats such as lattes and pastries, Wright features a variety of cured meats that change on a monthly basis. New to the menu are a variety of toasts, and sandwiches.
Cherish Philly
*Details coming soon!
Dolly’s Boutique
Germantown
First Funded June 2019
Dolly's Boutique & Consignment, owned by Shani Newton, is a unique boutique experience specializing in designer clothing, accessories, handbags and jewelry located in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.
Her dream of become an entrepreneur blossomed at the age of 12. After years of ups and downs in the world of business, she fulfilled her dream of opening Dolly’s Boutique in 2009. With the opening of her second shop in the Fashion District in 2019, she is now one of four minority business owners in the space.
Manayunk
First Funded Nov 2023
With over 10 years of experience in the retail Shaw Lewis, a Philadelphia native, is the dynamic founder of Expect Lace, an inclusive lingerie retailer nestled in the vibrant Manayunk section of her hometown. Recognizing the lack of diverse and body-positive lingerie options, Shaw launched Expect Lace to fill this gap, offering a range of styles that cater to all body types and preferences. Her business stands as a symbol of empowerment, celebrating the uniqueness of each individual through carefully curated collections. With a commitment to quality, inclusivity, and community, Shaw and Expect Lace have become integral parts of Philadelphia's fashion landscape, embodying the spirit of confidence and self-love.
Fason De Viv
First Funded November 2015
Haitian-American Hanifah Samad named her store Fason De Viv, which means ‘lifestyle’ in Haitian Creole. At the time of the loans, Hanifah's store highlighted clothes that she designed and her mother made, among other fashions. In addition to her flagship store, Hanifah operates a curated online marketplace for independent brands selling fashion, jewelry, accessories, home decor, art, and beauty products.
Franny Lou's Porch
First Funded, June 2016
Blew Kind named her coffee shop in honor of Frances E.W. Harper (19th century bold abolitionist, poet, and lecturer) and Fannie Lou Hamer (20th century civil rights activist). Kind creates space for marginalized peoples voices to be heard and understood while generating a culture of humanization and community.
This loan is paid in full. In 2023, Blew closed her business and is now exploring new entrepreneurial opportunities.
Grant Blvd
3605 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia
Joined February 2020
Received $9,400 loan for digital marketing, equipment for outfitting retail space, inventory expansion, and workforce development
With 18 years of experience as a public educator, Dr. Kimberly McGlonn is a committed advocate for inclusivity and environmentalism, advocacy that informs her approach to business leadership. As Founder & CEO of the Philadelphia-based manufacturing and retailer, Grant Blvd, she oversees the daily management, creative direction, & growth strategy for this, her sustainable apparel brand. Ultimately, Grant Blvd’s mission is to design fashion forward, sustainably sourced garments, whilst supporting women who are formerly incarcerated towards leading self-sufficient, full lives. Finally, she serves her immediate neighbors in the role of Councilwoman in Jenkintown Borough.
Herb Fuzion
Joined May 2023
Received a $2,000 loan for equipment and market event staffing.
Lanise Middleton, Owner and Operator of Herb Fuzion Honey. Established during the pandemic, Lanise found an innovative way to consume Local Honey by infusing it with natural herbs and flavors. No artificial flavors used.
"You can find local honey everywhere. I wanted to step outside the box and offer consumers other ways to enjoy honey. While getting the benefits of local honey, consumers can enjoy our honey in a variety of flavors. Our flavors range from Lemon Ginger to Chili Mango. Honey is not just for tea. You can substitute it in recipes that call for sugar, marinate your meats, or even replace your condiments."
Heres2CoolStuff
1214 South St., Philadelphia PA
Joined October 2017
Received $5,000 loan to purchase printing equipment and fund design construction
Entrepreneur and artist John Graves III opened Heres2CoolStuff in 2015 to provide an ever-changing selection of new, used and vintage men and women’s clothing. The store is also used to promote local artwork, host workshops and other community events such as open mic, acoustic and movie nights.
Honeysuckle Provisions
310 S. 48th St., Philadelphia, PA
Joined May 2022
Received a $14,000 loan for culinary equipment.
Omar Tate and Cybille St.Aude-Tate are social entrepreneurs who believe in centering the Black experience and are fueled by the conviction that chefs have a social responsibility. Their overarching brand, Honeysuckle Projects, expands the mission of Honeysuckle Provisions into a network of community spaces centered around the values of ancestry, nourishment, and reclamation across pop-ups, dinner parties, and events.
Omar Tate: Identifying first and foremost as an artist (not a chef) who uses food as one of his many mediums, Omar is a West Philly native who worked for over a decade in acclaimed kitchens across Philadelphia and in New York City before embarking on his own.
Cybille St.Aude-Tate: A Haitian-American chef and children’s book author. Though her culinary career has led her to multiple appearances at the James Beard House in New York City, Charleston Wine + Food, and a casting in Food Network’s “Chopped,” she is most proud of her cultural work grounded in Haiti.
Jeantrix
Joined June 2022
Received a loan for $15,000 for equipment outfitting retail space.
Jeantrix is a Fashion & Art brand originating out of the Philadelphia area. Created by Nyce (Deric Crawley) and Homm (Muhammad AB), their objective is to create and combine Fashion, Art, and Film to give their audience a one-of-a-kind experience of different textures, colors, and images that will inspire you to Follow Your Dreams.
Starting off as just a hobby in 2004, the artists began to receive many requests for custom work and founded Jeantrix in 2006. Since then, their brand has naturally evolved over time to encompass a broader range of art including luxury apparel, canvases, sculptures, film, murals and art installations. They also have ongoing collaborations with many celebrities and other fashion brands such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Dr. Martens footwear, MCM, Neiman Marcus, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, Michael B Jordan, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Blue Ivy and many others throughout the fashion and entertainment industries.
Kitchen Garden Textiles
Joined February 2019
Received a $2,170 loan for professional camera equipment and accessories including backdrop and lighting, as well as access to professional photo editing software
Kitchen Garden Textiles are created with 100% organic linen to help create a healthy, vibrant future with products you'll use and love everyday. They are dedicated to valuing the people working with them at every step of their process.
A portion of the profits from their linen produce bags go to regenerative farms in Philadelphia. Their products help you reduce reliance on single-use and plastic disposables with elegant linen products.
Crafted in Pennsylvania, their textiles are for gathering, storing, preparing and serving food.
Lil’ Pop Shop
265 S. 44th St., Philadelphia PA
Received a $5,000 loan for purchasing larger popsicle molds.
Jeanne Chang opened Lil’ Pop Shop in 2012 in West Philly. Her pops are made with high quality local ingredients; our favorite flavors include green tea mochi, goat cheese with port-soaked figs, mint chocolate chip and raspberry lime. The dairy is sourced from local pasture raised cows.
Jeanne sells her pops both retail and for events, with options for a Popalong truck or a la carte drop off catering.
Lobo Mau
700 s. 6th (corner of Bainbridge st.) Philadelphia
1901 S. 9th St., studio
Joined October 2017
Received $10,000 loan for a new sewing machine and photography equipment to update online store
Lobo Mau is a brother/sister clothing line specializing in innovative textile design. Rooted in slow fashion values, Lobo Mau is a zero-waste company that produces with local factories and silk screens its original textiles with careful consideration of its social and environmental impact on the world. After being named Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly in sustainability in 2019, Lobo Mau took this momentum to open its flagship store in Queen Village, Philadelphia, carrying other like-minded designers and furthering the brand’s slow-fashion ethos.
Lobo Mau received a second loan to develop fabric for $5,500 in 2018.
Mother Butter
Joined January 2022
Received a $7,500 loan for new kitchen machinery to increase production capacity.
Kristin Dudley launched Mother Butter LLC in May of 2021. Mother Butter is a zero waste food company currently producing their signature Original Mother Butter, a sweet and salty nut free seed butter spread in small batches in Philadelphia. Mother Butter is made from a unique blend of 4 seeds: pumpkin, sunflower, sesame and flax seeds—incredibly nutritious and delicious—a great option for the whole family.
Mother Butter is sold at pop-up and farmers markets, and currently sits on 14 small retailer shelves. They launched a chocolate flavor this year which has been a big hit and thought of as a “healthy nutella”.
Merzbacher’s of Germantown
(formerly Philly Bread)
4530 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia PA
Joined June 2015
Received $5,000 loan for oven and bakery equipment repairs
Merzbacher’s (formerly Philly Bread), owned by Peter Merzbacher, is a wholesale producer of artisan bagels, baguettes, buns, focaccia, and ciabatta. They bake with local rye and corn from Castle Valley Mill in Bucks County. The bakery’s beloved Philly Muffin (a square English muffin with great flavor and an open, airy texture) is a menu staple at local cafes. You can find their bread and muffins on the shelves at local markets including MOM’s Organic Market, Weaver’s Way Co-op, Riverwards Produce, and Di Bruno Bros.
The Pasta Lab
Joined February 2020
Received $12,000 for a packaging machine which will allow them to extend their product’s shelf-life
Owners Gina Rubinetti and Chris Wright are fresh pasta makers, highlighting freshly-milled, locally sourced grains and producers from the mid-Atlantic region. All of their raw materials (produce, grain, eggs, meat and cheese) are sourced from small farms in and around Pennsylvania. Gina and Chris have a production space in Kensington, and sell their small batch fresh pasta at local farmers markets including Rittenhouse, Head House and Chestnut Hill. The loan from Circle of Aunts & Uncles will allow The Pasta Lab to expand their business into wholesale and make their product more widely available.
Philly Forests
6336 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia, PA 19138
Joined November 2021
Received a $15,000 loan for a work truck.
Jasmine Thompson, owner and operator of Philly Forests developed a background in food & agriculture by building food forests on Native American Tribal Lands in Northern California.
Since then, she's enhanced food sovereignty and security in Philadelphia by nutrition education, urban forestry, sustainable farm management, farmers market operation, and more.
The mission of Philly Forests is to diversify the local food system through meaningful local food stakeholder engagement and sustainable agriculture. Jasmine additionally enjoys cooking lentils with her two cats sprawled on the kitchen floor.
Remark Glass
1901 S. 9th Street, BOK B08, Philadelphia PA
Joined February 2018
Received $12,000 loan to rehab two kilns and convert studio to natural gas
Danielle Ruttenberg and Rebecca Davies, co-owners of Remark Glass, heat and shape recycled bottles to make new usable forms like serving bowls, glasses, carafes, and light fixtures. Bring them a bottle from a special occasion (like the champagne bottle from your wedding), and they’ll give it new life as a usable keepsake. Purchase their work at Art in the Age, Bok Market, select events throughout the year, or on their website.
Remark received a second loan for $8,855 in 2019.
Rowhouse Grocery
1713 McKean Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Joined 2019
Received $6,500 loan for physical improvements
Rowhouse Grocery is a corner store located at 17th & McKean in South Philadelphia. Our goal is to bring fresh produce and groceries to our neighborhood at a price that is accessible to the whole community. The in-house kitchen allows us to not only make delicious sandwiches and salads daily, but also to cut down on food waste and provide nutritious meal options at a low cost. Rowhouse also provides job training for people with obstacles to employment. The three owners are long-term residents of the neighborhood and are excited to provide a space for neighbors to gather and shop or take a class!
The Sable Collective
1101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Joined 2019
Received $10,000 loan to create an online store to sell merchandise focused on wellbeing and art
Shanti Mayers founded The Sable Collective in 2016 to create a retail space for women of color, selling items made by people of color. She noticed that this was a gap in the industry, and she was inspired to make this space a reality. Mayers’s store sells a wide variety of items related to wellness, art, and fashion including clothing, jewelry, housewares, and beauty products. She has recently closed her store at the Fashion District and sells only online.
The Silk Tent
Triton Soap
Joined May 2023
Received $9,500 loan for production equipment to increase soap inventory.
Triton Soap’s founder Jesse brings creativity, playfulness, and a bit of flirtation to soap making. Inspired by the vibrancy of queer and trans culture, he creates nurturing skin products that smell and feel amazing. A self-taught soap maker with a background in public health, body-positive fitness, and transgender activism, Jesse believes that cleansing and caring for one’s body is an act of love and resistance.
Tim Eads – Tuft The World
3000 N. Hope Street, Philadelphia PA
Joined June 2016
Received $6,000 loan to purchase two new sewing machines, an industrial iron, and materials for inventory development
At the time of the first loan,Tim Eads designed hand printed fabrics that are sewn into eye-catching bags and clutches. The company operates a no-waste facility; even unprinted scraps of fabric are saved for future use. Bold designs are printed with water-based inks that are less toxic than plastisol. You can buy his bags locally at shops like Stadler-Kahn, The Fabric Workshop Museum store and Philadelphia Independents, at stores across the U.S. (listed on his website) and through his online store.
In 2019 we made a second loan of $12,000 for equipment and supplies for a new line - tufted rugs made from waste scraps.
Currently Tuft the World operates out of two spaces. Their production and order fulfillment is in West Philly at 5400 Grays Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143. Their education center is in the Bok building, RM 501.
tufttheworld.com Instagram: @tuft_the_world
Viva Leaf Tea Co.
6730 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Joined May 2022
Received a loan for $15,000 for expanding production capacity.
Viva Leaf Tea is owned by Christa Barfield, a health-care professional turned farmer and lifelong Philadelphia resident. It was 10 years into her career in health-care administration when she realized her work-life balance was unhealthy; she resigned from her job just weeks before she turned 30. It was important for her to take back her life, health, and happiness not only for herself but for her family as well. After a solo trip to Martinique in January 2018, she returned home inspired to connect with the land, plant life, and social issues that heavily impact black and brown communities and all people’s perception of food. Her business is a reincarnation of her healthcare career in a more sustainable way. Since 2018, she has developed earth-born brands owned by her parent company, LifeLeaf Organic Farms. Her original two ventures, Viva Leaf Tea Co. and FarmerJawn Agriculture are based in regenerative agricultural values with a goal of traceable and transparent origins of 100% Organically Dope foods. Christa has also begun expanding her hemp farming knowledge with the goals of destigmatizing cannabis and impacting regulation related to unfair incarceration surrounding the plant.
Weckerly's Ice Cream
9 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Joined April 2016
Received a $2,000 loan from the Aunts & Uncles and a personal $10,000 loan from an aunt to purchase equipment for their first brick and mortar ice cream shop
Nestled in a restored textile factory among artists, craftspeople, chefs and bakers, Jen and her husband Andy Satinsky make ice cream slowly, one batch at a time. All the milk comes from the organic dairy at Camphill Village in Kimberton, PA and each flavor is inspired by the seasons and crafted with local ingredients from small farms throughout South Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Visit their shop on Girard and find their ice cream sandwiches at locations including Mariposa Food Co-op, Green Aisle Grocery, and Rally Coffee. More locations listed on their website.
Weckerly’s has paid their loan in full, and in 2023 made the decision to sell their business.
Zsa's Ice Cream
6616 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA
Joined April 2017
Received a $12,000 loan for labeling and packaging
Zsa’s is owned by Danielle Jowdy, and is known for producing "Seriously from Scratch" ice cream and ice cream sandwiches using regional high-butterfat, grass-pastured dairy and house-made inclusions and baked goods. Their signature offerings include Black Magic Ice Cream (coffee ice cream with bits of chocolate cake folded in); Buttered Brown Sugar Peach Ice Cream; and Sweet Cream & Dark Chocolate Wafer Ice Cream Sandwiches. Their pints and sandwiches are distributed to local markets including Weavers Way Co-op, Swarthmore Co-op, Green Aisle Grocery, and Kimberton Whole Foods, and can be purchased directly at the Headhouse Farmers' Market from May-November.
Former Borrowers
Alice Alexander
Joined February 2019
Received a $12,000 loan for marketing using a value-aligned firm
Alice Alexander is a size-inclusive, ethically-made women’s apparel brand led by Mary Alice Duff with a mission to empower today's woman to wear clothes that express both her style and her values.
The aesthetic is often described as print-driven, colorful, body-aware and a touch irreverent. The collection is manufactured in Philadelphia and is designed for the modern woman who wants to make a statement.
Bright Yellow Creamery
Joined February 2018
Received a $6,000 loan to purchase a new ice cream cart and expand marketing
Owner Steve Dorcelien crafts small-batch ice cream from scratch in Philadelphia without GMOs, high fructose corn syrup, sugar syrups, carrageenan, or artificial coloring and flavoring. All of their flavors are made from scratch starting with organic dairy from Pennsylvania grass-fed cows at Trickling Springs Creamery and include Sea Salt Honey, Cinnamon, Ginger + Lemongrass, and Java Cookies. Hire Bright Yellow Creamery to serve at private events, buy a cone at the Rittenhouse farmers’ market on Saturdays, or pick up a pint at Green Aisle Grocery.
Steve has paid off his loan in full, and has left Philadelphia to get married.
Brightyellowcreamery.com
Primal Supply Meats
1538 E. Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia
1531 N. 31st st, Philadephia
1317 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia
Joined June 2017
Received $12,000 loan to purchase a bandsaw and new shelving and to maintain funds while expanding the business. At the time of the loan, the business did not have a retail store. Now they have three locations.
Butcher Heather Thomason sources whole, pasture-raised animals from our regional farmers to provide Philadelphia consumers with high quality humanely-raised meat. Through their subscription service, the Butcher’s Club, members pick up weekly shares.
Taco Angeleno
5019 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia PA
Joined November 2016
Received $12,000 loan to overhaul cart and install electric box for the use of small appliances
Owner Vanessa Jerolmack serves bright and flavorful food inspired by the taco carts she misses from LA — her hometown. Patrons can enjoy specialties like tinga chicken and vegan tacos, homemade chips and salsa, and simple cheese quesadillas in an outdoor dining space with picnic tables, raised beds and an area for kids to play.
Update: Vanessa has paid off her loan and has closed her business to be a full time mom.