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For Immediate Release:
Accompany Capital Reaches 300 Customer Milestone
with $10 Million in LifeGuard Insurance Protecting
NYC Small Business Owners
New Research Partnership with Resilient and FemFinance to Quantify Portfolio Impact and Financial Health Impact for Underserved Entrepreneurs
NEW YORK, September 21, 2026 - Accompany Capital, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) specializing in affordable lending to underserved small business owners in New York City, today announced that it has now enrolled 300+ customers in LifeGuard, its group life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance program, for a value of over $10 million in total insurance coverage. LifeGuard provides eligible Accompany Capital borrowers with up to $50,000 of combined Group Life and AD&D coverage – at no cost to them – in return for on-time payment of their loans.
This milestone represents a significant expansion of financial protection for NYC small business owners --particularly women- and minority-owned enterprises - -who have historically faced barriers to accessing affordable, quality group insurance products.
"Reaching 300+ customers with over $10 million in coverage is validation that small business owners recognize the value of financial protection," said Yanki Tshering, Executive Director of Accompany Capital." LifeGuard provides entrepreneurs with the security to focus on growth, knowing their families and teams are protected and we’re grateful to Paul Quintero and Ascendus for their pioneering role in working with Resilient to help to shape this game changer. What excites us most is watching how this program is changing not just loan outcomes, but the overall financial well-being and peace of mind of our clients."
Accompany Capital, in partnership with Resilient (an insurance access MGA, serving low-to-moderate income households and small businesses) and FemFinance (a research and design firm focused on financial health), have also launched a comprehensive research initiative to better understand LifeGuard's real-world impact. By documenting borrower experiences, loan officer observations, and portfolio performance over a two year period, the research will demonstrate whether and how financial protection translates into meaningful improvements in both individual well-being and portfolio quality improvement by reducing default risk.
The research will explore fundamental questions about financial health impact: Is this life insurance coverage reaching those who need it? Will the coverage amounts offer material support in the case of a claim? In what ways does the assurance of the insurance affect borrowers' sense of financial security and confidence in their ability to weather crises? Accompanying analysis will also investigate changes in repayment rates among borrowers with coverage, examine early loan performance data, and quantify the cost-benefit calculus for Accompany Capital.
"We know that credit, however well structured, is not a standalone solution for financial health,” said Carolyn McMahon, Principal of FemFinance, “This is especially true for small business owners and women entrepreneurs, who are often supporting entire families with little financial cushion. This research foregrounds the voices of borrowers themselves, to help the industry better understand the human effects of this innovative bundling of personal insurance and small business credit.”
Critically, the research also lays the groundwork for expanding the insurance product suite available to borrowers. Building on the LifeGuard foundation, and grounded in specific learnings from the research, Accompany Capital plans to experiment with introducing a curated set of affordable, borrower-relevant paid insurance products - such as enhanced life coverage, disability protection, business interruption insurance, and general business liability insurance. These expanded offerings will deepen Accompany capital's ability to address the holistic risk profile of small business owners, multiplying impact across borrower financial health, family stability, and business resilience.
"This research is important because it bridges the gap between intuition and evidence," said Maximilian Weiner, CEO of Resilient. "Lenders have long believed that financial protection products improve borrower outcomes, but rigorous data on economic impact has been limited. We're excited to help Accompany Capital quantify exactly how LifeGuard is moving the needle on portfolio quality and borrower resilience. Building on this success we are now thinking about ways that other innovative insurance products could create sustainable alternative revenue streams to enhance the portfolios of CDFIs.”
Accompany Capital plans to share these learnings and approaches with other CDFIs and community development lenders, positioning embedded insurance as a scalable path to deepening borrower impact while building institutional resilience. A case study derived from this research will be available this fall, debuting at the OFN National Conference in New Orleans.
About Accompany Capital
Accompany Capital is a Community Development Financial Institution providing affordable, flexible lending and financial services to underserved small business owners, with a focus on women and minority entrepreneurs in New York City. For more information, visit accompanycapital.com
About Resilient
Resilient is an insurance MGA focused on expanding access to affordable, quality insurance products for low-to-moderate income households and small businesses. Through partnerships with lenders, nonprofits, and impact investors, Resilient helps underserved populations build financial resilience. Visit imResilient.co.
About FemFinance
FemFinance is a woman-owned research and strategy firm that centers the needs of people in the pursuit of financial health and inclusion. Its consultancies apply human-centered design methods to deliver consumer research and strategic advising to commercial-, public-, and social-sector clients. Learn more at femfinance.org.
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Media Contact:
Catherine Ventura
Communications@accompanycapital.org
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