AltCap Borrower Leans On Relief Funding To Stay Afloat
Yogurtini’s Isaac Collins reflects on the importance of community support during COVID-19
Isaac Collins was ready to pay off the Country Club Plaza location of his local self-serve froyo franchise, Yogurtini. His and Yogurtini’s names, often linked synonymously with entrepreneurship and “success story,” he’d been featured in media and sought after for speaking and coaching opportunities to share his story and small business journey with other aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals. However, when the pandemic hit, his business took a hit.
“In the beginning, I thought ‘everything is going down; everything I worked so hard for is coming to an end,’ we had no clue what to do,” he said. “We closed for about 10 days and used that time to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to pivot.”
“To get this money from a local Kansas City organization really means a lot. It’s a testament to AltCap and the other supporters who donated to the fund and their efforts to help make this possible.”
Isaac heard about The KC Region Small Business Relief + Recovery Loan Fund from a press conference AltCap president Ruben Alonso participated in alongside Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and other community partners. A friend of his gave him a heads up that this relief fund was launching and encouraged him to investigate it.
“I got funds from AltCap before the government started issuing federal relief. We used the recovery loan to keep our people paid and help with bills,” he said, adding that he was also able to build relationships—and eventually even become good friends—with the team.
The relief and recovery support Isaac received from The KC Region Small Business Relief + Recovery Loan Fund allowed him to hold on to his team as they worked together to find the best methods to serve their customers, leveraging the power of social media to stay connected and transparent with the community and his Yogurtini patrons. The team went through a series of pivots from curbside pickup to opening with pre-portioned cups and closing off inside seating to adhere to social distancing and capacity regulations.
“To get this money from a local Kansas City organization really means a lot. It’s a testament to AltCap and the other supporters who donated to the fund and their efforts to help make this possible.”
While Isaac has since been able to reopen Yogurtini and welcome back his patrons—he’s since opened a third Yogurtini location in Overland Park, Kan.— his team has systems and processes in place to help keep everyone safe.
Regarding his hopes for the future of his business, Isaac said the pandemic caused him to “look at what’s important.” His priority is taking care of his family and then focusing on serving the community. “I love my community. If I can provide for my family properly then I can reach back and help my community.”