Impact finance firm working with local lenders and community-based organizations to support entrepreneurs and regional jobs
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (December 18, 2025) — Working alongside New Mexico-based lenders and organizations, Mission Driven Finance announced investments in three businesses in the state. Through a new statewide lending program, the firm supports organizations addressing critical needs across the state—from expanding access to health care in rural and Tribal communities to preserving local journalism.
“New Mexico entrepreneurs are tackling some of the state’s most pressing challenges,” said Mission Driven Finance Co-founder and CEO David Lynn. “We’re working with local lenders and community-based organizations to get growth capital to entrepreneurs of small to medium-sized businesses that are in the missing middle between microloans and conventional bank financing.”
Reviving Traditional Adobe Building & Supply
Avanyu LLC is a Native woman-owned construction company based in Pueblo de San Ildefonso, where CEO Liana Sanchez is an enrolled member. Initially founded to provide general construction services for Tribal housing authorities, Avanyu has expanded to focus on the highly specialized niche of adobe preservation.
Avanyu secured capital to expand its capacity to make traditional adobe bricks and purchase specialized equipment, enabling the company to fulfill a large contract for the expansion of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe.
Expanding Medical Transport Services
Medi-Connect, a veteran-led non-emergency medical transportation company based in Sandoval County, secured financing to purchase two new ambulances and medical supplies, as well as to hire more emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
“In New Mexico, people are dying waiting to get to regular appointments,” said Medi-Connect Co-founder Ed Jones. “Mission Driven Finance provided the capital to help us expand medical access to rural and Tribal communities.”
Preserving Democracy Through Journalism
CTRL+P, Inc., a New Mexico-based publishing company operating nm.news, received working capital to refinance high-interest debt.
“The decline of local journalism during the pandemic has created an information void filled by misinformation,” said Founder and Publisher Pat Davis. “This loan from Mission Driven Finance helps us free up $10,000 monthly, letting us hire sales staff and invest in technology.”
Deepening Presence in New Mexico
To better serve local entrepreneurs, Mission Driven Finance has invested in dedicated staff presence in New Mexico since 2024, including Crystal Sevilla, senior manager of borrower services at Mission Driven Finance.
“We’ve been building relationships and understanding the unique challenges facing entrepreneurs here,” said Sevilla. “Our approach is to listen and figure out how we can complement the work already happening in local communities. The best impact happens when an influx of capital works with local knowledge and relationships.”
In addition to Advance, Mission Driven Finance is also conducting market research on the child care ecosystem in New Mexico and continuously exploring opportunities to grow Native access to capital through its Indigenous Futures Fund.
“We’re here to support and strengthen the ecosystem that already exists,” echoed Stephen Nunes, managing director at Mission Driven Finance. “When we partner with local leaders, we can collectively serve more New Mexico businesses and deploy more capital to entrepreneurs who need it most.”
Small business and nonprofit leaders interested in growth capital can visit missiondrivenfinance.com/loans to take the first step in applying for a loan.
About Mission Driven Finance®
Mission Driven Finance is an impact asset management firm dedicated to building a financial system that ensures good businesses have access to sufficient, affordable capital. Built from the ground up with a single purpose—to make it easy to invest in your community—all of their funds and structured products are designed to close financial gaps that will close opportunity gaps. They work with local and national investors to help them create the impact they want and work with businesses and community partners to help them get the capital they need. Mission Driven Finance was launched in 2016 in San Diego, CA, and is a Certified B Corporation. In 2025, Mission Driven Finance was selected again for ImpactAssets’ IA 50 Fund Manager list*, a category for experienced impact fund managers with a minimum three-year track record. Learn more at missiondrivenfinance.com.
Mission Driven Finance, LLC is an Exempt Reporting Adviser. CRD # 295160/SEC#:802-114710
*Please visit impactassets.org/IA-50/#criteria to review the IA 50 Fund Manager list selection criteria and methodology.
The experiences of borrowers are shared above. No compensation was provided in connection with the experiences shared.
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Media contact:
Wilda Wong
wilda@missiondrivenfinance.com
858-480-6511
