How Lending and Learning Empower Small Business Growth
Small businesses thrive when given access to both capital and knowledge. This blog explores how lending provides stability, while learning sparks innovation—highlighting Ace High Co. as an inspiring example. Discover how small business owners can gain the resources, tools, and confidence they need to grow sustainably in today’s digital economy.
How Does Capital and Knowledge Transform Small Business Growth?
At Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), we know that when small business owners have access to both capital and knowledge, real transformation can happen. That’s why Ripple’s recent catalytic contribution will help unlock a ripple effect of economic opportunity for underserved small business owners and power a new accelerator designed to help them adapt and thrive in the evolving digital economy.
Ripple’s support will reach small businesses across the country—like Ace High Co., a Michigan-based haircare company that proves what’s possible at the intersection of lending and learning.
The Story Behind Ace High Co.
How Did This Small Business Get Started?
Ace High Co. began like many small businesses—scrappy, inspired, and built on late nights. Founders Christian Kettenbeil and Nate Hamood started out experimenting with hair product formulas in the basement of Nate’s family’s coffee shop after closing each night. Their first break came when a local barber began carrying their products—soon followed by a wave of positive YouTube reviews that sparked international demand.
How Did the Pandemic Challenge Their Business?
By 2019, they had a dedicated production space and retail storefront. But when the pandemic shut down barbershops and disrupted customers’ routines, Ace High faced an uncertain future.
How Does Lending Create Breathing Room for Small Business Owners?
In 2023, Ace High partnered with AOF through a flexible small business loan. That capital helped clear vendor payments, bring on an additional team member, and—most importantly—created the space to think long-term instead of constantly pivoting in response to challenges.
“The loan gave us breathing room,” Christian shared. “It not only stabilized our operations but gave us the headspace to plan—not just react.”
And now, Ace High has been approved for a new loan, building on their momentum with AOF as a partner in every step of the journey. Stories like this show what’s possible—and with Ripple’s contribution, more than 1,000 small businesses could gain the capital and resources they need to fuel economic mobility nationwide.
How Does Learning Spark Innovation in Small Businesses?
Alongside lending, learning played an even more transformative role in Ace High’s growth. Christian joined an AOF accelerator program in 2024, where he gained practical skills and resources to grow his business intentionally.
With a grant earmarked for advertising and hands-on training in digital marketing, Christian developed a new communications strategy, embraced SEO, and reimagined customer engagement through targeted email marketing.
“We’d still be in business with just the loan,” Christian said. “But we wouldn’t be seeing this kind of growth without the accelerator program, and I don’t think we’d feel as inspired as we have since completing it.”
Why Is the Intersection of Lending and Learning So Powerful?
Ace High’s journey demonstrates exactly why Ripple’s support matters. By backing AOF’s lending programs and launching the Ripple Digital Leap Forward accelerator, which will provide $500,000 in grants plus training on digital tools and stablecoin payments—small business owners gain access to the two things they need most: capital and knowledge.
For Ace High Co., that has meant not just stability, but the ability to innovate, expand their audience, and evolve as an inclusive haircare brand. For thousands of other small business owners across the country, it will mean the opportunity to move forward with confidence.
Thanks to Ripple’s trust in our proven data analytics approach to lending and learning, we’ll be able to provide many more small business owners with the right resources at the right time—creating lasting pathways to opportunity and economic mobility.
