Tag Archives: funding

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How to Implement Virtual Account Management (VAM)

Virtual account management or VAM is one of the most unique trends to explore in today’s banking climate. VAM is a practice where a bank will move transactions in a master physical account to multiple virtual ledgers. These include extra ledgers that work separate from others.

VAM is ideal for many reasons:

  • A bank will manage fewer physical accounts. The bank’s operations will remain consistent even with there being fewer items on hand.
  • There isn’t a need to operate many physical cash sweeps. A bank will have more time to manage other functions.
  • The money the people will invest will be secure. Their funds will be in virtual setups that do not have any physical money in them. The people can access their physical funds by request, but they will not stay in one singular place.
  • A bank will spend less money managing its accounts thanks to there being fewer physical assets to run at a time.
  • People can review their cash positions at any time. They can review their working capital reports in moments.

People can manage their financial decisions in less time thanks to virtual account management. The implementation process requires a few points to ensure it stays functional while still being accessible for everyone’s needs. The work should be about providing freedom and control while ensuring all people in a system understand what works and that they have enough support for their funds.

Review Banking Objectives First

To start, a bank must look at the goals it wishes to attain through virtual account management. It could reach any goal, from reducing physical capital to giving clients more control over their funds. The desire to increase transparency in the workplace is also essential to note. Every bank should have ideas for what it wishes to do with its funds if it wants to be successful and effective in handling its assets here.

Produce a Centralized Account

The VAM process must be fully centralized if the system will work. The bank will divide balances in a deposit account virtually instead of physically.

Each account in the VAM platform should link to a central network. After this, these accounts can use different setups based on unique parameters. The bank can select these parameters, although the client might also have some control over whatever works here. It could choose to incorporate certain payment networks, although a system-agnostic approach is ideal in this case.

Proper centralization is necessary to ensure there are set rules for how people can divide their accounts. Failing to centralize things can result in complicated rules or mixed messages surrounding whatever might work.

Establish Configurations

The virtual accounts must be established with specific configurations that fit the bank’s goal. A bank can create many subledgers surrounding different items:

  • Specific assets may move to some new ledgers. These include checking and savings assets that a customer wishes to divide in separate spaces.
  • Customers can plan additional ledgers for dependents. These include children who will have separate accounts.
  • Loans and other debts may also feature separate sections. Users can review their loan data and figure out how much they need to spend to pay back their dues. The system can also feature a calendar or planner highlighting what someone should be doing when completing one’s payments here.

Virtual account identifiers may also work. A bank can select unique identifiers for each small ledger, although individual clients might adjust them if they wish. The specifics can highlight whatever someone finds suitable for work.

Create New Rules For Each Subaccount

The VAM process also needs new rules surrounding how each sub account can work. A customer can use as many sub accounts as necessary, although they should be easy to control with unique rules for every operation one wishes to plan. A VAM setup can work with different rules for everyone’s needs:

  • Support for multiple currency types is necessary. Fiat currencies are the only ones most parties support, but cryptocurrencies may also work in some situations.
  • New interest rates may also appear in some accounts. These rates can feature different values separate from what one’s regular bank account uses.
  • People can calculate cash flow forecasts for each sub account. New rules for how each one works will be vital to their operation.

The platform should include an interface that lets the client adjust these rules as necessary. It gives the client more control over one’s funds. The effort also helps the business find smart choices for handling money.

Self-Service Helps

One idea for VAM implementation involves producing a self-serve setup. Self-service is necessary for VAM, as customers need access to ensure everything works well.

A self-serve VAM setup can include a platform where the customer can add whatever ledgers one wishes. The system must be programmed where the customer understands what is open and can create something unique and useful.

A System-Agnostic Approach

Banks can utilize various platforms, including multiple payment systems. A proper VAM setup should be system-agnostic, meaning it can work regardless of whatever system someone is trying to use at a time. The system-agnostic approach ensures full accessibility while being universal for all needs that customers may hold.

Accessibility Is Critical

The most significant part of virtual account management efforts is that they allow customers to track all their financial positions in one spot. Each position can work independently from one another. VAM lets people see how their funds are working and gives them control over their experiences, giving them the support they need over their money. The need to implement VAM well and to keep it functional is critical to the industry’s success.

It will be exciting to see how virtual account management plans work. There’s no telling where the field will move, especially since it will not be tough to incorporate the work. But it won’t be too tough to manage if everything works right.

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Grants For Women-Owned Small Businesses You Could Get In 2021

 “Women’s small business grants” is a popular search term on the web. But there is relatively little information regarding actual grants in the stories. It’s rare to find a link to a specialized grant for women-led businesses. 

If you’re looking for business grants or other free money to help you start or grow your firm, you’re not alone. Grants are available from both the public and commercial sectors, although most of the money goes to non-profit groups, and most of these programs do not give female candidates priority treatment.

Incentives exist for women who run for-profit businesses, though. This guide includes details on real grants for female entrepreneurs to utilize for running their businesses. If you’re looking for information on the internet, this should save you a lot of time. It was tough to find any awards for women-owned businesses that were both real and valuable. 

For 2021, check out these grants for women-owned small businesses.

Amber Grant

A small amount of money is awarded in the Amber Grant. But even with this point, it is easy to qualify for and apply for this grant. A women-owned business receives $10,000 a month from the Amber Grant, named for a young woman who died before realizing her entrepreneurial dreams. An additional $25,000 is awarded at the end of the year to one of the monthly qualifiers.

Cartier Women’s Initiative

Among the largest and most prestigious scholarships for women-owned enterprises, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards entail plenty of competition.

For women-owned businesses, Cartier offers two types of grants. These are the Cartier Women’s Initiative Regional Awards and the Cartier Women’s Initiative Finalists Awards (2nd and 3rd place enterprises from each zone). Each of the two runners-up will receive a grant of $30,000, while the winner will earn a $100,000 prize.

Program of Tory Burch Foundation Fellows

Each spring, up to 50 women-owned companies are selected to receive a $5,000 grant for business education through the Women’s Business Grant Competition. They will also get a Tory Burch Fellowship for one year and a five-day trip to New York City over the summer.

In addition to the workshop and networking opportunities, the trip also includes a Pitch Day event where finalists will pitch their ideas to industry leaders (pending CDC travel and event guidelines during COVID). Notably, the $5,000 prize can only be used for business-related educational pursuits.

Girlboss Foundation

Female entrepreneurs who are pursuing creative companies are supported by the Girlboss Foundation, formed in 2014. Specific to women working in art, fashion, design, and music, these semi-annual scholarships are awarded on a biannual basis. In addition to digital media exposure, the awardee receives $15,000 every six months to be used for a creative project within the next twelve months. Individuals are the only recipients of Girlboss Foundation funding; a business as a whole is not eligible.

Female entrepreneurs have access to a job market through the Girlboss Professional Network, and the Girlboss Rally is an annual event to which grant recipients are given two free seats.

Fast Pitch Competition Network of Women Founders

Non-profit organization Network of Women Founders provides financial assistance and coaching to female entrepreneurs in the United States and abroad. When it comes to funding an innovative business, WFN is a fantastic opportunity. An annual Competition Fast Pitch selects five finalists to get free grant and money services. After two voting rounds, the top five female founders are selected by the judges. Their company plans are then presented to the judges in a “Shark Tank”-style chance competition to win over $30,000 in prize and $50,000 in Career Services.

37 Angels

Since investors who assist you will have a stake in your firm, angel financing isn’t a gift in the classic sense. Entrepreneurs that need mentoring and industry knowledge in order to expand, as well as the funds to do so, may find angel investment to be a great alternative. Founded in New York City, angel investment organization 37 Angels aspires to eliminate the gender gap in angel investing. Women and men can apply for funding (albeit the portfolio of the group prefers female founders).

Apply online, and if you’re selected as a finalist, propose your idea to a group of investors in New York City. Your pitch should be reviewed within four weeks, and most angel investors receive $50,000 to $100,000 in beginning funding as well as expert advice on how to expand their business.

Halstead Grant

An annual prize, the Halstead Grant is given to emerging metal jewelers. If you’re a woman in the jeweler business, you’ll want to check out this grant. Most (but not all) of the prior grantees were female. $1,000 in Halstead merchandise and $7,500 in startup funding are included in the $7,500 award. As part of your application, you must provide a jeweler collection.

Women in Technology

A global network of female entrepreneurs, investors, and allies working to improve diversity and funding in the technology sector, Women Who Tech is the largest network of women-led enterprises, investors, and allies. Women-led tech startups receive equity-free capital throughout the year. Each grant period has a specific focus. There will be a first award period in 2021, and the theme will be Emerging Technologies. This year’s top prize is $15,000, with $5,000 going to the runner-up.

What about the Business Challenge of InnovateHer women?

 As part of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, the InnovateHer Challenge offered women across the country the opportunity to compete for grants. This program has been running since 2015 and has granted federal grants to three finalists each year.  Among the 2016 winners, the winner of first place won $40,000, second place received $20,000, and third place received $10,000.