A Survive and Thrive program, launched in partnership with Exponential Impact and the City of Colorado Springs
Applications close at 11:59PM October 31, 2025 for the Spring 2026 cohort.
Preview applications, eligibility and program details below.
OVERVIEW
Exponential Impact (XI), in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs will provide loans up to $50,000, along with mentorship and learning opportunities through the Survive and Thrive program. XI is an engine for entrepreneurial growth in Colorado Springs dedicated to developing the best entrepreneurs humanly possible. XI combines its strong network of leaders, investors, mentors, and business owners to provide impactful tools that pair access to capital with proven capacity building programming.
SUMMARY
The Survive and Thrive Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a strategic initiative led by Exponential Impact, in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs, whose core competency is in pairing funding with holistic programming to support sustainable company growth. Survive and Thrive: Accelerate COS is a non-traditional loan process, designed to bridge the financing gap for established businesses ready to scale, creating jobs and strengthening our regional economy.
This program provides up to $50,000 in loan funding to eligible businesses and holistic programming to provide participants with both financial resources and community support. If awarded funds, business owners are expected to participate in an 8-week program. Businesses participating in the program will benefit from having access to mentorship and networking opportunities, as well as in-person skill-building workshops.
In order to receive a loan, owners must participate in the XI Survive and Thrive program, this participation will come before all funds are distributed and is intended to build capacity and support leadership development. Programming includes:
WHO IS THis loan FOR?
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El-Paso County Based Small Business Entities, Non-Profits, and Sole Proprietors that fall into one or more of the following categories:
Seeking growth opportunities
Hire, train, or retain employees
Redefined business model or recapitalized
Barriers to accessing traditional capital or financing
Early or mid-stage stage businesses looking to scale
No established credit history
Temporary financial strain emerging from external circumstances
Prioritized businesses:
Show growing sales with stable or improving margins
Are ready to hire, train, or retain employees
Have clear expansion plan with realistic projections
Possess established customer base with recurring revenue potential
Can articulate clear ROI from loan funds
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Primary business activities are conducted in El Paso County with majority of employees working in El Paso County
Employ no more than 50 full-time employees
Earns less than $2,000,000 in annual gross revenue
Micro Loan: Early-stage businesses eligible for a micro loan must also meet the following minimum requirements:
At least 1 year in operation and 6+ months of documented positive cash flow
Generating consistent revenue with potential for profitability and growthClear growth plan with measurable outcomes
Evidence of market demand and customer traction
Growth Loan: More established businesses eligible for loans between $10,000 and $50,000 must meet these additional criteria:
Be in operation for at least 2 years by the application deadline with demonstrated profitability for at least 12 consecutive months
Be generating consistent revenue (over $20,000 annually) with potential for profitability and growth
Provide comprehensive financial statements showing stability and profitability
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Payday loan businesses
Pawn shops
Adult entertainment
Passive real estate investments
Home-based businesses operating without appropriate zoning and/or permits
Marijuana related businesses
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Loan applications will be open for approximately one month on a bi-annual basis, with cohort programming being held after loans are awarded. The goal is to provide a permanent financial tool while supporting the needs of applicants to support economic growth and locally owned businesses. As such, the fund will be divided into two programs, Micro Loans and Growth Loans. The no-collateral loans offer competitive low rates, 3-year terms, and no prepayment penalty.
Accelerate COS is a loan program, not a grant program. Approved loans will have a term, interest rates, and payment schedule. Submitted applications do not guarantee loan approval. Loan applications will open two times per year. Loan sizes are subject to change based on fund size and discretion of loan committee. Interest rates are subject to change in accordance with market changes, to be approved by the Executive Committee.
LOAN DETAILS AND TERMS
To qualify for a loan, businesses must be in operation at least one year on date of submission and demonstrate a minimum of 6 months of revenue generation. More established businesses, in operation at least two years, may qualify for a Growth loan. Businesses with a current Survive and Thrive loan balance are not eligible to reapply until the balance is repaid. *Loan amounts are subject to change based on fund size and discretion of loan committee
PLEASE NOTE: A successful application ultimately focuses on two essential pillars: (1) how well do you share your business's story, and (2) how detailed is the justification provided for the requested loan amount & how it will be utilized. Clear, comprehensive responses are crucial for approval - vague or incomplete information could result in denial.
Micro Loan Terms
Loan Amount: $1,000 - $10,000
Loan Term: 3 years - No prepayment penalty
Interest Rate
5% interest
Payments begin the month following final loan disbursement
GROWTH Loan Terms
Loan Amount: $10,000 - $50,000
Loan Term: 3 years - No prepayment penalty
Interest Rate
5% interest
Payments begin the month following final loan disbursement
*Interest rates subject to change in accordance with market changes and the Executive Committee.
ANNUAL Program TIMELINE
*SCHEDULE OR TOPICS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
*Please have the following information available when you begin the application. We suggest reviewing the full application and prepare your narrative statements on a separate document to be copy/pasted into the application when you’re ready to complete. See below for resources and templates.
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Business Legal Name and DBA (if applicable)
Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email
Owner Demographics
Business Phone Number, Operating Address, Mailing Address, Website
Location of Business
Business EIN or SSN
NAICS Code
Starting Month/Year of Business
Description of Business
Legal Structure
Industry
Business Ownership List
Names of all corporate officers
Number of jobs at time of application- FT and PT
Average Monthly Payroll Expenses & Hourly Wages
Number of new jobs to be created as a result of this loan
Areas of business or business knowledge you would like to improve
Description of current team, mentors, advisors, etc.
Loan Amount Requested
How will Funds be Utilized?
How will these funds support the long-term viability of your organization?
How did you hear about us?
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A successful application ultimately focuses on two essential pillars: (1) how well do you share your business's story, and (2) how detailed is the justification provided for the requested loan amount & how it will be utilized. Clear, comprehensive responses are crucial for approval - vague or incomplete information could result in denial.
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Pay off non-business debt, such as personal credit cards for purchases not associated with the business
Personal purchases or expenses such as buying a new family car or making repairs to a participant’s home
Direct financing to political activities or paying off taxes and fines
Purchase of personal items
Businesses that do not intend to hire employees, retain staff, expand operations, or reinvest in growth
Support of other businesses in which the participant may have an interest
Relocation of a business
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In the application process, you will be asked for a narrative (written explanation) about the potential impact of these funds on your business and how you plan to use the funds. This narrative is a key part of the application, often carrying equal weight to the financial data. Your narrative should vividly portray your vision, strategy, and commitment to leveraging the funds effectively for business growth. To make your application stand out, here are some ideas to help writing the narrative portions:
We recommend providing specific, measurable, and realistic details about how the funds will be used.
Use this narrative as a platform to demonstrate your passion and dedication to the success of your business, and impact in our community.
Share stories that convey your unique journey and the significance this program will have in your entrepreneurial path.
Highlight the community benefits your business brings, as your success reflects positively on the economic growth of Colorado Springs.
In essence, your narrative is your canvas; paint a clear, compelling picture of your future and the role the Survive & Thrive Program and Loan will play in achieving it. The documents listed below help to demonstrate the viability and legitimacy of the business.
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All Applicants
Character Reference Letter(s)/Letter(s) of Recommendation
Business Plan - or strong narrative within application describing: what you do, who you serve, and what your plan for growth is
Supporting document for the intended use of funds
Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Good Standing from the State of Colorado
If Corporation: Bylaws
If Partnership: copy of Partnership Agreement
If LLC: Operating Agreement
Growth Loan
YTD & Prior Year P&L Statements
YTD & Prior Year Balance Sheets
Complete Recent Tax Return
3 year Cash Flow Projections
Micro Loan
Founder/Owner Resume/CV (or similar)
Revenue & Expense Summary (6+ months)
Budget for Startup Costs
Evidence of Customer Traction
2-3 year Cash-Flow Projections
YTD P&L Statement
YTD Balance Sheet
If Available: Recent Tax Return and YTD Cash Flow Statement
Know How Your Application Will Be Evaluated
Before you apply, review the rubrics our committee uses to score applications. Understanding these criteria will help you prepare a stronger application.
Micro-Loan Evaluation Rubric ($1,000-$10,000)
Growth-Loan Evaluation Rubric ($10,000-$50,000)
TEMPLATES & EXAMPLES
Balance Sheet Template
CASH FLOW TEMPLATE
PROFIT AND LOSS TEMPLATE
APPLICANT EXAMPLES
APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Applications will be open for one month, two times per year. A review committee, consisting of volunteer community leaders, City of Colorado Springs Professionals, and XI staff, will meet to review all submitted applications, with the goal of making announcements within three weeks of submission deadline, and at least two weeks prior to start of programming. Programming will take place for 8-weeks, following funding announcements. Participants will receive their full loan following the successful completion of the program.
Applications close at 11:59PM on October 31 for the SPRING 2026 cohort
Program Orientation: January 7, 2026, 1:00-3:00 PM
7 Weekly Workshops: January 14 - Feb 25, 2026, 1:00-3:00 PM
Graduation: March 4, 2026, 5:00-7:00 PM
Know How Your Application Will Be Evaluated
Before you apply, review the rubrics our committee uses to score applications. Understanding these criteria will help you prepare a stronger application.
Micro-Loan Evaluation Rubric ($1,000-$10,000)
Growth-Loan Evaluation Rubric ($10,000-$50,000)
