UPMC Essentials for Success Event
Contract-Ready Capital: Financing Healthcare Contracts the Smart Way
Real strategies to help suppliers fund and fulfill large contracts. A no-cost program designed for small and local businesses preparing to work with UPMC and other large buyers. Learn how to evaluate contract feasibility, manage cash-flow challenges, and identify the right financing tools to support sustainable growth.
No Cost to you! Includes Lunch! All Industries Welcome!
FEATURED PANEL DISCUSSION
Financing Options for Contract Readiness
- Hear directly from banking partners, SBA experts, and an angel investor on how businesses can access the capital needed to perform large commercial and healthcare contracts.
Topics will include:
- SBA lending
- Contract CapLines & lines of credit
- Microlending options
- Receivables financing
- Key eligibility requirements
- Risks and tradeoffs of debt vs. equity financing
- When equity investment is appropriate — and when it is not
Moderator
- Dave Pinkosk: Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA – Pittsburgh District Office
Panelists
- Heather Thomas: SBA Specialist, Huntington Bank
- Rich Newell: Senior Loan Manager, Neighborhood Community Development Fund
- Dave Miller: Senior Vice President, Enterprise Bank
- Kelly Collier: Entrepreneur in Residence, LifeX – Angel Investor
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Participants will gain practical tools to evaluate whether they are financially prepared to accept large contracts, including opportunities within healthcare systems like UPMC.
Topics include:
- Understanding contract cash-flow timing
- Identifying capital gaps before accepting contracts
- Evaluating debt financing options such as lines of credit and contract lending
- Learning when equity investment may support growth or stabilization
- Avoiding financing decisions that erode contract profitability
The session introduces a contract financial feasibility tool to help businesses model pricing and capital requirements before committing to large contracts.
UPMC has a 5-year average annual spend of approximately $310 million with local suppliers (2019-25). That has resulted in UPMC having a community impact of $1.8 billion in small business spending in the past five years!