Lynisha Senegal’s Work to Redefine Investing and Community Wealth in Fresno — and Beyond

Lynisha Senegal's career began as a small business owner in Fresno, where she faced many of the same challenges she now helps other entrepreneurs overcome. Starting out with a 540-credit score, no savings, and no Wi-Fi, Senegal had to teach herself everything she needed to know about starting a business. “I spent hours at my local Starbucks reading everything I could to teach myself what it would take to successfully run my business,” she recalled.

Today, Senegal is the founder of Vision View, a firm focused on supporting small businesses in the Central Valley. Her impact is growing beyond Fresno, having recently spoken at the United Nations as a global voice for rethinking economic opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Her journey is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: Traditional investment models don’t work for businesses in places like Fresno. Senegal’s experiences as a small business owner, coupled with her broader vision, have shaped an approach that puts people first, not just financial metrics or past track records.

Lynisha argues that there isn’t a lack of capital in Fresno, but that the rules that govern how capital is invested needs to be rewritten.

Senegal’s work challenges the conventional investment model, which often overlooks businesses in underserved areas. Traditional investors tend to focus on financial profiles, credit scores, or a proven history of success — criteria that can exclude entrepreneurs with immense potential but who may not have the track record that traditionally signals their readiness.

"Opportunity investing is about recognizing the potential in people who may not have the traditional investor credentials but possess the drive to succeed," Senegal explained. “Here in Fresno, we have entrepreneurs with strong local networks, big visions, and who work harder than anyone I know, but they often lack the financial track record or assets that typical investors are looking for.”

However, Lynisha points out that there’s another crucial piece of the equation: accountability from the entrepreneur. “At Vision View, much of our work revolves around helping small businesses to be ready to leverage investment once they receive it."

But beyond systems and strategies, Lynisha emphasizes a critical factor: mindset. “A lot of small businesses in Fresno think they’ll never have access to the resources they need to grow their businesses,” she said. “I remind them — there’s a world of resources out there, but the question is: Are you ready to receive them?”

After 20 years of working with small businesses, Lynisha knows that the critical knowledge entrepreneurs need often remains locked behind closed doors. To bridge that gap, she created Bootstrap Economics, a board game designed to simplify the complex challenges of entrepreneurship. The game distills vital business lessons into a practical journey. “This is about breaking down the overwhelming aspects of entrepreneurship into manageable steps,” Lynisha explained. “It’s about helping entrepreneurs ask the right questions — whether that’s about financing, systems, or other key success factors — and giving them the tools to thrive.”

The Bootstrap Economics framework evaluates entrepreneurs across four core dimensions — Scarcity, Choices, Ingenuity, and Access — to assess how founders are navigating constraints, making decisions, leveraging creativity, and engaging with support systems. Rather than focusing solely on credit scores or revenue history, the Readiness Calculator provides a more holistic view of where an entrepreneur truly stands and what they need to grow.

To address the gap between opportunity and preparedness, Senegal developed the Bootstrap Economics Formula and Readiness Calculator, a new tool designed to measure entrepreneurial readiness and growth potential beyond traditional metrics.

The tool is now being used alongside Vision View’s technical assistance and training programs to help entrepreneurs identify strengths, gaps, and next steps — creating a clearer pathway between investment, accountability, and sustainable growth.

A key milestone in Senegal’s work is the acquisition of a $2 million building in Fresno, which now serves as a hub for local small businesses. Part of the Fresno DRIVE’s Wealth Creation Initiative, the project helps business owners build equity in the property, turning it into a tool for community wealth-building. “Now the building is worth $4 million,” Senegal proudly said. “For many of these entrepreneurs, it’s the first time they’ve had equity in commercial or residential real estate.”

Senegal’s own success in acquiring the building highlights the power of Opportunity Investing. “For years, I pitched the idea, and while there were offers, they were pulled back. But an investor saw what I saw in the project — not just through traditional financial metrics, but through what I had built over time — through my social networks, my business, and my support of other businesses.”

Her goal is clear: to create a new model of investment that benefits communities, not just investors. “We’re not just investing in buildings or businesses, we’re investing in people,” Lynisha said. “That’s what makes this model sustainable. When you invest in people who are invested in their communities, you create long-term, lasting change.”

To learn more about Vision View, click here.