Visa has introduced Visa & Main, a new platform aimed at empowering small business owners across the United States by addressing critical challenges such as access to capital, customer acquisition, and the adoption of modern business tools through capabilities integrated across Visa’s network.
According to Kim Lawrence, Regional President of North America at Visa, small businesses are vital to local communities and contribute nearly half of the country’s economic activity. Visa & Main is designed to connect Visa’s products and internal expertise with the knowledge of its clients and partners, offering flexible financing options, customer acquisition strategies, and technology support to meet small business owners’ needs locally and at community events.
The platform supports small businesses in three key areas: Business Capital, Business Connect, and Business Essentials.
For Business Capital, Visa is establishing a $100 million working capital facility with Lendistry, a community-focused lender. This initiative addresses a significant barrier for small business growth, as 43 percent of businesses reported financing challenges, according to the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey. Everett K. Sands, CEO of Lendistry, emphasized that accessible capital provides an essential boost for businesses to expand and seize opportunities. Visa’s investment aims to connect more undercapitalized entrepreneurs with the necessary resources. Visa & Main plans to expand this offering with additional grant opportunities and financial support programs in the coming months.
Under Business Connect, the platform assists entrepreneurs in reaching more customers, particularly during high-traffic events like the FIFA World Cup 2026™, for which Visa is the Official Payment Technology Partner. Leveraging its global network and sponsorship portfolio, Visa provides marketing support, practical resources such as signage and digital guides, and workshops. This helps local businesses gain visibility daily and during major events. An example of this support is the “Square Stops Here” hop-on hop-off bus tour launched by Visa and Square in San Francisco, designed to highlight local businesses during a busy city weekend. Theresa Bostic, Co-Founder of Kayla’s Italian Ice, an Atlanta-based family business, noted that such support, including education and visibility, can help businesses scale globally. Visa will introduce further initiatives to help small businesses prepare for and benefit from increased attention in FIFA World Cup 2026™ host cities.
Business Essentials focuses on closing the digital transformation gap, as indicated by the U.
S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey, which shows large businesses adopting advanced technologies at higher rates than smaller operations. Visa & Main facilitates access to essential tools and provides training for their effective use. These include digital payment acceptance tools within Visa’s Acceptance Network, expense management and money-movement capabilities through Visa partners, risk and fraud-mitigation solutions, digital enablement and financial education support (including AI-powered advisory tools), and everyday savings programs and offers from Visa’s small business network. At a launch event in Atlanta, small business owners experienced product demonstrations, learning sessions, and direct engagement with Visa experts, demonstrating the platform’s offerings. Lauren Hill, Owner of Full Bloom by Lauren, found the platform provided valuable insights, from digital payment tools to readiness for major events like the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Visa & Main is set to continue expanding its resources, programming, and local activations throughout 2026 and beyond.
