This is part of our series of advice to young entrepreneurs where Loan Mantra staff share commencement advice to new college graduates interested in starting their own businesses.
Graduates,
This is the month when you toss your caps into a world that’s both uncertain and full of possibility. You’ve completed your studies, likely some exciting entrepreneurship courses. But nothing has prepared you more for the everyday challenges and excitement of being a future business owner than this era marked by rapid change: AI breakthroughs, economic shifts, a global pandemic in your rearview mirror, and a business landscape being reshaped every day. Still, here you are, ready to write your next chapter.
Let me tell you something from someone who’s been in the trenches for decades, from investment banking and business school to small business finance (and running their own business): It’s exciting to be where you are. You have cutting-age technology to help you disrupt your chosen industries like no other generation before you.
New Entrepreneurship Graduates: The State of the 2025 Class
According to the latest EY and JA Worldwide study, nearly 65% of Gen Z college graduates say they are either entrepreneurially inclined or already working on a startup idea. Many of you see starting a business not as a dream, but as your realistic career path and a faster route to impact and independence. You see yourself at the helm of a startup company.
But there’s always a challenge. Here’s yours. While your ambition is higher than ever, your access to capital is not. Just 21% of aspiring Gen Z entrepreneurs report feeling financially prepared to launch a business. Many of you are graduating with substantial student debt, and face high interest rates and a tight lending environment where banks are more cautious than ever.
At Loan Mantra, we hear these kinds of concerns daily. Do any of these sound familiar:
- How can I secure funding with limited collateral or credit history?
- How do I compete with established businesses who are already using AI and automation, or have large-scale marketing budgets?
- Where do I start...really?
The truth is, starting a business today isn’t easy. But it is possible with the right tools, network, and entrepreneurial mindset.
Charleston Roots, National Vision
Nearly a decade ago, I moved from New York City to Charleston, South Carolina—a city steeped in tradition but full of entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, Charleston ranks among the top 10 U.S. metro areas for small business job growth, with local startups contributing heavily to the area's 2.7% GDP growth last year. From King Street retailers to digital-first startups in North Charleston’s tech corridor, this city shows how innovation can thrive even in smaller markets.
My move to the Low Country was also about striking it out on my own with a new business venture. I left a career in investment banking in downtown Manhattan for a life in Charleston as an entrepreneur. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if I was brave or downright out-of-my-mind. But I knew I wanted to help small businesses.
Over the last decade, living in Charleston has taught me this: resourcefulness matters more than resources. You don’t need a trust fund to make your mark. You do need grit, good advice, and a willingness to learn from and to connect with your community.
What New Entrepreneurship Graduates Really Need to Succeed
Here’s what I believe every 2025 graduate who wants to build a business should focus on:
- Start Small & Think Smart
MVPs aren’t just for Silicon Valley. Test your idea. Validate your assumptions. Validate again (and again). Then scale. Loan Mantra began with one single client. We‘ve grown into a national operation with global possibility. - Get Financially Fluent
Understanding cash flow, credit, and lending will set you apart time and again. Our financial resources are always available to keep you educated. Plus, our platform can connect you to the right lenders and save you from making costly mistakes of time and money. - Find Mentors, Not Just Investors
Your first investor might be a family friend, but your first mentor could be the difference between failure and finding a product-market fit. My advisory board is made up of individuals who aren’t afraid to tell me when I’m wrong, push me every day of the year, and encourage new ways of thinking. They keep me accountable to organizational mission and a shared vision. - Be Digitally Native, With Discipline
AI and automation can help you scale faster than ever. But--and this is coming from a fintech founder--it’s important to remember that tech is a tool, not a strategy. Focus on solving real problems for real people. - Own Your Story
Consumers care about your purpose. They care about a brand value. Many of your consumers will care about the people in your boardroom with you. So, start with the end in mind: what does your business stand for? What impact will you have? And, most importantly, how will you measure your impact?
It Depends
My favorite accounting professor at Oxford, Tomo Suzuki, used to say there is one great truism in life and economic theory: It depends. In lectures, he would play devil’s advocate with accounting principles, forcing us to consider all the pricing models, politics, and history that could complicate mathematical factors. The same is true with entrepreneurship. There is always risk involved in starting a business. Statistically, most startups don’t make it past five years. A startling number won’t even make it beyond one year. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to be a statistic. I’ll repeat what I stated earlier: It’s exciting to be where you are. Your generation has access to unprecedented information, tools, and networks. You are digital natives who value authenticity, innovation, and social good. That combination is powerful and it turns the odds in your favor.
At Loan Mantra, we’ve seen thousands of businesses owners grow their ideas from the back of the napkin into multi-million-dollar enterprises. Some started just like you—fresh out of school, with passion and a plan. And we’re here to help guide you.
A Final Thought
You are graduating into a world that needs small business owners. You are the job creators, the community builders, and the problem solvers. So go open that coffee shop, launch an app, start a franchise, or develop a patent. The next chapter in American entrepreneurship? It has your name on it.
Congratulations, Class of 2025.
