Houston-based Laveer Logix recently received a $260,000 working capital loan from LISC to expand its capacity to serve federal agencies and fuel growth through new contracts. The loan was supported by the Abbott-LISC Initiative to Support Diverse Businesses in Health and the LISC Entrepreneurs of Color Fund supported by JPMorganChase.
The word “Laveer” appeared to entrepreneur Desurai Wilson in a dream.
When she learned it meant turning into the wind while sailing, it seemed to capture the essence of her emergency management consulting company founded in 2006. “I thought it was so symbolic for a small business because we are not able to catch the wind and just to go forward and go straight. As long as the wind carries us, especially in the space that we're in, we have to turn into the wind. We have to compete; we have to be on our game.”
Formerly known as GMC Consultants, Wilson’s company Laveer Logix, headquartered in Houston, works with state agencies like the Texas Health and Human Service Commission to help people navigate the aftermath of a disaster. The business provides case management and outreach services to individuals who need housing and other assistance in the wake of catastrophic events that require relocation. “We help to build people and communities back up, and we keep citizens informed about their benefits and their rights,” Wilson said. “Most of my family have been entrepreneurs, and I just have a heart to care for those in need.”
Laveer Logix recently received a $260,000 working capital loan from LISC so it could expand its capacity to serve federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and grow its business through new contracts. The loan was made possible through the Abbott-LISC Initiative to Support Diverse Businesses in Health, supported by Abbott, and the LISC Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, backed by JPMorganChase. Both initiatives are dedicated to investing in under-resourced small businesses, ensuring their growth and sustainability. Additionally, Laveer Logix previously benefited from a $280,000 growth capital investment from LISC through the Diverse Supplier Grant Initiative, supported by JPMorganChase, which covered costs related to federal contracting and business development consultants, IT software, marketing, and insurance coverage.
Wilson wasn’t planning to launch a company with nearly 10 full-time staff when she decided to start consulting. But with the uptick in Texas emergencies in recent years, from Hurricane Harvey to unexpected winter storms, she saw an increase in the number of people impacted by disasters who lacked the resources to withstand the shocks. Government agencies brought Laveer Logix in to support large programs that usher people through the process of declaring assistance, and the business scaled up organically.
“A lot of times, for people that are in underserved areas, you can't just send them a link in an app to fill out online,” Wilson said.
During the pandemic, it became especially apparent that isolated, underserved, low-income communities without access to technology are not able to easily apply for services to recover. Elders and undocumented individuals are particularly vulnerable to predatory activity.
“This is our niche. We are able to go into areas that other people just don't or won't serve,” Wilson said. Still, despite the enormous value of its work, Wilson struggled to secure financing as she began to expand. Even though she had worked with a traditional bank for more than a decade, Laveer Logix ran into difficulty when trying to qualify for a loan. Loan officers didn’t understand the model. Laveer Logix also explored opportunities with investors but struggled to find interested parties who shared the company’s mission. “They liked the money that was being made, but you really have to have a heart for the services that we are providing,” Wilson said.
Ultimately, through a partnership with her national bank, she found LISC, which responded with flexible and affordable financing tools. “At a time when natural disasters and other relocation events are occurring with more frequency than ever before, the company’s disaster management services are critical for low or moderate income, BIPOC, and other impacted communities,” noted Charlene Franke, an underwriter with LISC Strategic Investments, explaining the rationale for the investment. The LISC loan helped Laveer Logix bring on new staff and consultants and usher in a marketing rebrand to better show up in the marketplace.
“There are a lot of industry-specific challenges that Laveer Logix has faced in this consulting space and getting funding for things that are more speculative than other types of industries or businesses like bringing on consultants to support federal contracting and conference attendance,” said LISC Business Development Officer David Johnson. “LISC saw value in the company’s ability to provide specialized services across different areas and markets with a nimble approach.”
Partnering with LISC helped Wilson understand the full picture beyond credit scores or assets. “LISC is not only a financial partner,” she said. “The staff educated us on the realm of lending. They educated us on the health of the business, what it needs to look like, so we are able to secure funding.
“LISC put us at ease during the process,” she added. “We weren't made to feel guilty when maybe our finances did not show a high profit. LISC understood our mission.”