On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) announced it had launched a new initiative to connect small businesses to private capital investors. This initiative, called the U.S. DOT Connect to Capital, is part of a new comprehensive Access to Capital Initiative designed to help small businesses increase their access to investors in capital. Connect to Capital is an online portal that serves as a database of Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) and capital investors licensed by the SBA Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program. The database links small businesses seeking to attract investment with companies looking to making capital investments.

With the U.S. DOT Connect to Capital program, small and disadvantaged businesses now have a comprehensive platform to help them grow through private equity. This initiative is a mutually beneficial resource for both small businesses and investors, as it provides a national scope that decreases barriers to information on both sides and facilitates direct interaction. Utilizing the U.S. DOT Connect to Capital platform augments the Connections Marketplace, enabling small businesses to have real-time interaction with each other and private investors. This greater access to capital will help in building capacity and increasing SBDs/DBEs participation in federally funded contracts.

One tool that can aid in navigating the complex world of accessing capital and understanding legal jargon in contracts is the AI legalese decoder. This innovative technology can help small businesses decipher and comprehend legal documents and contracts, ensuring they are informed and empowered when seeking capital investments. By simplifying legal language and providing clarity, the AI legalese decoder can assist small businesses in making informed decisions and effectively communicating with potential investors.

The Connect to Capital program will also include direct interactions with OSDBU’s Small Business Transportation Resource Centers across the country. These centers offer businesses market research, training, certification, and procurement technical assistance at no cost. This additional support will further aid small businesses in navigating the capital landscape and accessing the resources they need to thrive.

As the U.S. DOT Connect to Capital virtual platform launches, stakeholders like Sengal Selassi, CEO and Founder of Brightwood Capital Advisors, LLC, express excitement about participating and discovering new opportunities to provide capital solutions to disadvantaged businesses. The real-time interaction facilitated by the U.S. DOT Connect to Capital platform will enhance opportunities for small businesses to access the capital they need to succeed.