As certified by the U.S. Treasury, Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund
of the American adult working population has a criminal record
ex-offenders are released from prison every year
of employers will not contact a job applicant who has an arrest record
They're Hardened
Starting a business is hard. There are only two types of entrepreneurs—those who have been knocked down and those who are about to be. Our borrowers have already been down, multiple times, and are now modeling how to get back up.
They're Coachable
Mentored businesses survive 2x longer than those which aren’t (source SBA 2020 study). At Entre Capital, we combine competitively priced loan products with business mentoring and developmental assistance. We live this together.
They Pay It Forward
We don’t ask it; just hear it. All of our borrowers define success by the financial opportunity they’re creating for their brothers and sisters. We prime the pump—our borrowers carry the water.
Entre Capital is the wholly owned CDFI subsidiary of The Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). The values and success of PEP underpin our success.
Since its inception in 2004, PEP has served over 3,000 incarcerated men in the State of Texas with a comprehensive in-prison and post-release re-entry program providing a true second chance through personal accountability and life transformation.
One hundred percent of PEP graduates are employed within 90 days of prison release at an average starting wage 68 percent above the minimum wage.
Over 500 businesses have been launched by PEP graduates with several generating annual revenues over $1 million.
PEP graduates have a three-year recidivism rate of 8 percent compared to the national average of 62 percent (Bureau of Justice Statistics, July 29, 2021).
With decades of collective experience in finance, industry, and community relations, Entre Capital is uniquely qualified to provide seasoned advocacy to returning citizens. Our contributors include bank presidents, loan officers, C-suite executives, authors, and entrepreneurs.
“Everyone loves Habitat for Humanity, but that doesn’t mean we all need to work on houses to build our community. There’s something extra powerful that happens when we can utilize our real vocational skills in kingdom service.”
—Entre Capital contributor
Impact Investors
As a non-profit entity, we offer social impact investors an immediate multiplication: every $1 tax-deductible donation translates to $2 of impact.
Bank Partnerships
Entre’s CDFI certification facilitates leverage through our partner banks, as our borrowings satisfy all regulatory requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act.
Credit Transformation
We go where no traditional lenders have gone before by wrapping developmental services around commercial loan products.
Pay It Forward
As our portfolio amortizes, we multiply again. Rinse, repeat.
It starts with money. But our success is measured by yours.
Flexible terms
Collateral-based pricing
No penalties or hidden fees
Startups—no problem
Include organizational costs
Business planning and budgets
QuickBooks Online reseller
Bookkeeping assistance
Monthly reporting
Volunteer advocates
Technical resources
Cover your six
Are you a returning citizen in Texas looking to start or grow a small business? Fill out a loan application today. Want to volunteer or invest? We’d love to talk.
