Spotlight Walter Mendenhall IV, Access to Capital Manager

Q & A: An interview with Walter Mendenhall IV on his new role as Access to Capital Manager. Walter Mendenhall is a graduate of the Community Business Academy, Instructor, and Business Coach. He founded and serves as Executive Director of Male Mogul Initiative, a transformative educational and opportunity program for Chicagoland teens.

Q: What is your history with Sunshine Enterprises?

A: I joined Sunshine Enterprises in 2018 when I graduated from the Community Business Academy (CBA). I had already been working on Male Mogul Initiative but was really able to develop the “for-profit” side of the organization through the CBA program. In 2019, I became an Instructor at Sunshine Enterprises and have since taught the West Side, South Side, and North Side cohorts. I also provide 1-on-1 business coaching for Sunshine Enterprises alumni. Now I’m the new Access to Capital Manager.

Q: Why were you selected as the Access to Capital Manager?

A: I want to share my first-hand knowledge with CBA alumni and empower them to access capital. Male Mogul Initiative is a transformative mentoring organization that teaches, develops, and helps teens apply character, academic, and entrepreneurial skills. In early 2020 we were forced to halt because Chicago Public Schools were shut down during the pandemic. We primarily operated out of CPS locations so this was a big blow. 75% of our revenue was gone and the rest was jeopardized. It seemed like a dire situation but I was able to keep the business afloat and expand our opportunities to sustain communities affected by COVID-19. Through research, I was able to learn about funding opportunities and how to access them. I raised over $100,000 to keep the Male Mogul Initiative afloat. I want to share my first-hand knowledge on how I accomplished this with the community.

Q: What do you do for entrepreneurs as an Access to Capital Manager?

A: In my role, I get to develop practical plans to help businesses access capital. I base my plans on the growth plan structure that I picked up while going through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. I use these elements to develop personalized plans to help entrepreneurs access capital. By helping entrepreneurs determine what type of capital is best for them, and where that capital is located, I get to create personalized plans catered to each business’ growth opportunities.

Q: What do you want entrepreneurs to know about getting access to capital?

A: There are some foundational things that entrepreneurs need to know. It’s very important to keep a track record of sales - whether it’s 3 months or a year’s worth of data- you need to keep your records. People want to see consistency. Even if you have small successes or big successes, you need to track your story. Your business has a story and it’s important to know how to tell that story. The more provoking the story, the more appeal it generates. Keeping good records helps you tell that story.

Q: What are 3 words you would use to describe Sunshine Enterprises?

A: Innovative, Collaborative, Close-knit