When Stormi Banks first turned a $50 summer allowance into a profitable flower pot hustle, she wasn’t thinking about equity or scale. She was just a kid with a plan—and an instinct for opportunity.
Today, that same instinct powers Pink Print, a grant writing and funding agency that’s helped clients secure more than $18 million in non-dilutive capital. Her mission: empower minority women entrepreneurs to grow businesses without taking on debt, giving them access to money they don’t have to pay back.
But Banks isn’t just a grant strategist—she’s building a movement around ownership, education, and belief.
From Flower Pots to Financial Empowerment
Banks’ entrepreneurial story started early. During one summer as a child, her mother handed each sibling $50 and challenged them to use it however they wanted.
“I asked to go to Home Depot,” Banks recalls. “I bought flowers, soil, and terracotta pots—and I sold them. Then I paid my brothers to find customers. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was my first business.”
That experience cemented an early principle she’s carried into adulthood: depend on yourself, build from what you have.
Years later, she was running a successful mobile hair business—until COVID-19 shut it down. The loss forced a career pivot, but it also revealed something deeper: Banks had outgrown the identity she was holding onto.
“I realized I wasn’t just a hairstylist. I had subscribed to a label,” she says. “But our identities don’t have to be fixed. They’re just skill sets. You can apply them in multiple ways.” This mindset shift became the foundation for what would become Pink Print.
The Hidden Potential of Grant Funding
In a startup landscape dominated by venture capital and bootstrapping culture, grant funding remains one of the most underutilized tools—especially among underrepresented founders.
“Grants allow entrepreneurs to stay lean,” Banks explains. “They give you access to capital without diluting ownership or taking on financial liability.”
Pink Print operates as a full-service grant writing agency, offering both done-for-you services and educational programs. The firm not only identifies opportunities and submits applications but also teaches clients why certain strategies are used—helping them build messaging that positions their businesses as fundable.
“People assume grants are rare or only for nonprofits,” Banks says. “But there are microgrants and funding pools specifically for small businesses, creatives, even musicians.”
One platform she recommends for beginners? Hello Skip, a user-friendly resource for finding grants from $500 to $100,000. “It’s not just for the big players. It’s for the entrepreneur who’s just getting started but wants to stay smart financially.”
Scaling Through Education and Community
Pink Print didn’t launch with paid services. It started with free Instagram Live classes, followed by webinars, and eventually a growing community of business owners eager to learn.
That early emphasis on education still anchors the company’s business model. Banks and her team host live training sessions every Thursday, provide funding alerts, and maintain a private community for ongoing support.
The goal is clear: make funding approachable, understandable, and repeatable. “Grants aren’t one-and-done,” she says. “There’s no cap to how many you can receive. We help our clients create sustainable systems—not one-time wins.”
Leading From the Inside Out
Scaling a service-based business required Banks to grow in ways she hadn’t anticipated. From hiring her first VA to now managing a full operations team, her greatest challenge wasn’t technical—it was internal.
“I had to become the kind of leader who could carry the vision,” she says. “It wasn’t just about helping clients anymore. It was about inspiring a team, creating systems, and embodying the culture we want to build.”
That emotional intelligence extends to her client work. Consultations at Pink Print often evolve into confidence-building sessions—sometimes more therapy than strategy.
“We always ask: Why not you?” Banks shares. “People doubt they deserve funding before they even apply. That’s the real work—reframing their mindset.”
Breaking the Rules—and Rewriting the Playbook
To Banks, success has little to do with following convention. “Living an unconventional life means breaking the rules,” she says. “It means dreaming big, failing publicly, and not being ashamed of the journey.”
That philosophy is embedded into Pink Print’s brand—equal parts high-level expertise and grounded community support. Her clients aren’t just taught how to secure funding. They’re encouraged to reimagine what’s possible for themselves.
For Those Ready to Start: A Community Giveaway
To support aspiring founders looking to explore grant funding, Stormi Banks is offering free access to her members-only community through a special partnership with the Unconventional Life podcast.
The giveaway includes:
- Weekly live grant classes
- Real-time grant alerts and opportunities
- Educational resources for first-time applicants
To enter, the Giveaways tab. The giveaway remains open for one week after the episode airs.
Connect with Stormi:
- Instagram: @stormibanks_
- YouTube: PinkPrintFirm
