Some businesses lean on BBRC once, at a single turning point. Tanesha Sims-Summers and her husband Clem Summers came back again and again — through an accelerator early in the journey, a stabilizing loan during COVID, a national showcase with Square, and support through a recent equipment crisis with their food truck, Miss Poppy. Nine years in, Tanesha credits that ongoing relationship with helping their business grow with clarity and confidence at every stage. Here’s her story.
Built on a Strong Foundation
Although I have a professional background in banking and marketing and we built our business on a strong foundation, operating a business is very different from advising one. Once you are on the other side of the table, the challenges become real, personal, and daily.
From early on, we knew that growing something larger than ourselves would require discipline, structured guidance, mentorship, and access to capital. Education alone is not enough. Applied knowledge is power — and applied knowledge requires financial support.
As a woman founder in the food and beverage space, there were many things I simply did not know. We needed honest feedback, strategic direction, and support navigating access to capital during critical growth moments.
BBRC became that real-life support system.
A Relationship That Started Early
One of our earliest experiences was participating in the Renasant Roots accelerator about three and a half years into business. That small classroom structure provided individualized attention and included a $5,000 seed stipend, which helped us strengthen our banking relationship and financial foundation.
There When It Mattered Most
During COVID, when my husband’s corporate position was eliminated, BBRC partnered with the City of Birmingham to offer the Birmingham Strong loan. That low-interest capital was pivotal to our ability to pivot and stabilize during an extremely uncertain time.
A Partnership That Kept Growing
BBRC supported us through:
More recently, through BBRC’s strong network and reputation, we were selected for Square’s national holiday market initiative in Washington, D.C. Square chose approximately a dozen reputable small businesses across the country, and our relationship with BBRC positioned us for that opportunity. The experience was fully funded and provided brand exposure beyond our local market. Square also gifted each participating vendor a new POS device valued at approximately $500, in addition to covering travel and event-related costs, which represented thousands of dollars in investment.
BBRC also invested in small businesses during the World Games by supporting a custom small business shopping village that amplified local brands to a global audience.
Their support goes beyond advice — they actively create opportunities.
Beyond the Numbers
But beyond the numbers, BBRC helped us:
They challenged our thinking. They helped us course-correct. They provided perspective during economic shifts, inflation spikes, supply chain challenges, and operational setbacks.
Most recently, when we faced a major equipment crisis with our food truck, Miss Poppy, BBRC stepped in with support that relieved significant financial pressure and allowed us to focus on sustainability and growth instead of survival.
What Nine Years of Partnership Looks Like
Because of BBRC, my business is now grounded in clarity and strengthened by confidence. We know our community believes in us enough to invest in our future, and that belief empowers us to pour back into other small businesses by sharing our journey in real time.
Advice to Fellow Entrepreneurs
I would recommend BBRC to other business owners because you cannot do this alone. Business ownership is not meant to be done in isolation. It takes community. It takes seasoned leaders with wisdom, access to capital, real resources, and trusted networks who can help you navigate both the sweet wins and the salty storms of the journey.
