George Cook and Ken Martin realized that the type of community and relationship banking that built the main streets all across this country has been disappearing at an alarming rate. George, a sixth-generation community banker, and Ken, an investment banker with main street business experience, decided they wanted to do something about it. In 2017, they launched Honeycomb Credit, a locally-focused crowdfunding platform that helps business owners tap into their local communities to raise capital. Today, the Pittsburgh-based Honeycomb Credit has helped small businesses here and across the country to access the loan proceeds they need to grow their companies.
George Cook comes from a long line of community bankers. His family has operated a small community bank in the Somerset, PA area for approximately 130 years. While he was earning his MBA at Dartmouth College, he met Ken Martin, an investment banker and main street business owner who would eventually become his co-founder in Honeycomb Credit. They both realized from their own experiences that there was a growing hole in the small business banking segment, due to the declining numbers of community banks across the country. Their goal was to bring back relationship banking to the small businesses that needed it most.
In 2017, George and Ken set out to create a locally-focused crowdfunding platform. Utilizing the guidelines set forth in the JOBS Act of 2012, which relaxed securities regulations and made it easier for small businesses to raise capital, they built their own tech-enabled, scalable funding portal. Honeycomb Credit works with qualified, locally-owned businesses that need expansion capital. By tapping into their existing customer bases and surrounding communities, while leveraging Honeycomb Credit’s expertise and platform, these business owners are able to raise the loan proceeds that they need to grow their companies.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!
YOU CAN REACH ME AT:
Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano
Phone: 412-336-8247
YOU CAN REACH GEORGE COOK AT:
Website: https://www.honeycombcredit.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeycombcredit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeycombcredit
Twitter: https://twitter.com/honeycombcredit