Community Bank Sends Four NC Entrepreneurs to Shark Tank Summit in Las Vegas

M&F Bank, North Carolina’s only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and minority-owned bank, awarded a $10,000 grant to Greensboro business owner Nandrea Ward, founder of Outsource Marketing Solutions. The award was presented September 23 at the bank’s Greensboro branch where it was also announced that four small business owners affiliated with M&F Bank will be sent to the Clover Shark Tank Summit in Las Vegas. Both grant and summit experiences are made possible through the bank’s ongoing partnership with Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions.

The Greensboro Empowering Growth Small Business Grant marks the third of five $10,000 awards M&F Bank will distribute in 2025. The initiative aims to spur economic development by supporting small businesses across North Carolina. Outsource Marketing Solutions, which specializes in digital and traditional marketing and advertising services, will use the grant to hire an additional contractor for social media management and AI campaigns.

“It’s more than a single dollar amount that we are receiving,” says Ward. “It’s an open door to help our business community and promote generational wealth for our family. I am very excited about this opportunity and want to thank M&F Bank once again for making this possible.”

As a grant recipient, the company will gain access to a coordinated ecosystem of supportive business tools, trainings, and networking opportunities. It will receive a dedicated M&F Bank business banker to provide personalized guidance, expert advice, and tailored financial solutions as well as Chamber of Commerce memberships and complimentary technology from Clover, the world’s smartest point-of-sale system and business management platform.

Supporting local entrepreneurs is at the heart of the bank’s mission, which is why it announced at the grant ceremony that four deserving small business owners will receive an Access Pass to the 2025 Clover x Shark Tank Summit.

“At M&F Bank, our mission has always been rooted in service—and the Empowering Growth Small Business Grant is a meaningful extension of that commitment,” says Caroline Taylor, senior vice president and chief lending officer at M&F Bank. “By investing in entrepreneurs, we’re not just supporting individual businesses—we’re fueling broader economic opportunity. After all, when small businesses grow, communities thrive.”

“Access Pass is a powerful opportunity for everyday dreamers and doers to take bold steps toward their dreams,” says Nicole Valentin-Smith, vice president of strategic client engagement and corporate social responsibility for Fiserv. “By removing financial barriers, we’re giving entrepreneurs the freedom to focus fully on the summit experience. This opportunity allows anyone to turn a dream into a reality, and we’re proud to support M&F Bank customers on their entrepreneurial journey.”

The following attendees were selected to receive free summit access and hotel accommodations:

• Saichelle McNeill – The WashRoom Laundry Service
• David Daniels – Daniels Distributors One Corp
• Perry Tankard, II – INTHEMIX Productions
• Dr. Elma Hairston – Dynamic Images International

“Commerce has the power to move the world forward—to uplift communities, drive economies, and transform lives. We’re committed to ensuring that all businesses, large and small, can be part of this force that propels us toward the future we all envision together,” says Neil Wilcox, head of corporate social responsibility at Fiserv. “M&F Bank’s mission to serve underrepresented people and communities aligns well with our efforts to support small businesses and make a meaningful impact.”

Founded in 1907 in North Carolina, M&F Bank is the second-oldest African American owned bank in the United States. With more than $500 million in total assets, M&F Bank is the eighth-largest African American owned financial institution in the U.S. and is the only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and minority-owned bank in North Carolina. The bank’s mission is to promote personal and community development by providing capital to small- and medium-sized businesses in its local communities. M&F Bank serves thousands of customers and operates seven locations throughout Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. To learn more, visit MFBonline.com.

The Clover x Shark Tank Summit isn’t just an event—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow. The purpose of the Summit is to equip business owners with the right tools to solve the top five reasons small businesses fail. Taking place in Las Vegas from September 28–30, entrepreneurs will have the chance to spark ideas, make connections, and take their business to the next level. Most significantly, recipients have an opportunity to pitch their business idea to Sharks for up to a $50,000 investment. 

With the Access Pass program, 125 lucky small business owners had a chance to enter a contest where they had to submit a “Tell Me Without Telling Me” social media video describing their business. Winners received their summit registration ($1500 value) at no cost and free hotel for the duration of the event. This program was an opportunity for entrepreneurs to be creative in a new way. Access Pass ran over two waves and has officially ended.

Limited tickets for the Clover x Shark Tank Summit can be found on Eventbrite.