Lafayette Square Institute Wins $5 Million Grant for AI Capital Tool

The initiative, known as Access to Capital (A2C), aims to streamline how entrepreneurs identify and secure funding. By collaborating directly with the National Association of Women Business Owners, the institute plans to replace complex, time-consuming application processes with a centralized digital pathway. The project addresses a persistent economic hurdle: despite the importance of small businesses to local communities, capital frequently fails to reach those who need it most.

This funding comes from the $60 million WIN Challenge, an Aspen Digital program backed by Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal organization. The challenge selected 18 recipients from nearly 900 applicants to tackle systemic barriers in workforce participation and technology. According to Jack Moriarty, executive director of the Lafayette Square Institute, the tool is designed to remove the navigational complexity currently hindering the flow of capital. The institute will debut the initiative’s progress during the inaugural WIN Summit in New York City on October 22.