reSource
BETA
For Bay Area Entrepreneurs January-March 2016 Issue No. 1
The Endless Summer of an Entrepreneur
Q&A with Antoinette Sanchez, Renaissance graduate and owner of Endless Summer Sweets
Assess Your Business Tech Savvy
Renaissance Talks About Oakland
Contents 9
Featured Program: Assess Your Business Tech Savvy Only 20% of small businesses use technology effectively. Take our self-assessment questionnaire and learn what you need to know about business technology.
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Renaissance celebrated 31 years of creating true economic opportunity at our annual event in October.
PHOTO BY GENE S SA KE ALOHA
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CEO Note: It’s Business Time
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Q&A: The Endless Summer of an Entrepreneur
2016 marks the new year and a time to make resolutions. Learn why Renaissance entrepreneurs make resolutions a year-round habit.
Renaissance graduate Antoinette Sanchez, owner of Endless Summer Sweets, tells her story and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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Renaissance Women and Men
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Classes, Workshops and Events
Prelaunch, startup and emerging entrepreneurs find assistance at Renaissance centers across the Bay Area.
Renaissance offers classes, workshops and events to grow your business, develop skills and network.
Development: 31st Annual Event
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Inside Spotlight Why Renaissance is looking into Oakland for the next big thing.
reSource Thinking Like a Startup
BETA:
After 31 years in business, Renaissance still thinks like a startup. We know the most successful businesses adapt to the ever-changing landscapes of business climate and client needs. Our publication is in BETA mode and we want your feedback! What do you want to hear about from us? Email resource@rencenter.org
CEO Note
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It’s Business Time
he New Year marks new beginnings and the opportunity for positive change. As each year comes to a close, we start thinking about how we can improve in the year ahead. Some of us commit to joining gyms, eating better, kicking bad habits, calling our mothers more or learning new skills. And then there are Renaissance people, women and men determined to put their dreams into action, ready to take their new or decade-old ideas and grow their own businesses. At Renaissance we welcome these dreamers and celebrate new beginnings year round. Entrepreneurs, eager to carve their own paths in life and ready to earn living while doing what they love, come to Renaissance to gain the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to turn their dreams into reality. While we don’t have a magic wand that transforms an idea into a successful business, we prepare people for the road ahead and save them time, effort and money which they can invest in their businesses. Renaissance creates opportunity for high-potential, hardworking entrepreneurial women and men who lack access to the training and support necessary for business success. After thirty years of developing small businesses, we’ve learned that the power of entrepreneurship extends beyond individual success – families, communities and local economies also benefit and flourish in a meaningful way.
P H O T O B Y K I M B E R LY C H A S E , L I T T L E S PA R K S M E D I A**
Small businesses are so much more than welcome additions to our neighborhoods - they are agents of social and economic growth. Small businesses source products locally and contribute to economic vitality as they create quality jobs for Bay Area residents. According to a 2015 Aspen Institute study, small business employees enjoy meaningful work, flexible schedules and opportunities for professional growth in a nurturing environment. When one person’s dream becomes a reality, it has the potential of transforming the lives of so many others.
Tip for Entrepreneurship: Make it your resolution this year to get in the habit of building habits. Scott Young, an expert on habit change and meaningful productivity, recommends trying to change one key habit a month. “If you can make the behaviors that help you excel automatic, executing at the top of your game becomes significantly easier.”
I invite you to explore the content of our new quarterly magazine which aims to connect you with your inner entrepreneur, inform you of Renaissance’s resources and show the power and impact of small businesses in our lives and communities.
Sharon Miller C EO
**Denotes Renaissance graduate www.rencenter.org
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reSource for Bay Area Entrepreneurs
Antoinette Sanchez: The Endless Summer of an Entrepreneur
Antoinette Sanchez, a Renaissance Business Planning class graduate, is the owner of Endless Summer Sweets, a scrumptious kettle corn and funnel cake company.
By Maria Kelly
Antoinette continues to use Renaissance’s business
"The most important part about being an entrepreneur is being my own boss. There’s a sense of fulfillment of knowing ‘I did this,’ especially after a difficult job. "
consulting and support resources. In 2015, she received Renaissance’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award in recognition of her business success. We asked Antoinette a few questions about her journey and advice she has for aspiring entrepreneurs. What inspired you to launch a business? How did you start? I was at Six Flags with my family when I noticed long lines at the funnel cake stand. People who had paid to get into the park were willing to spend more time and money just to get a funnel cake. I saw a business opportunity.
What are five things entrepreneurs should be ready for when starting a business? 1. The need for a lot of support. Garner as much positive, nurturing support from family and friends as you can. 2. Hard work. Get ready for nonexistent weekends. 3. Wearing many hats. 4. Work/life balance. You’ll have to decide when to take a break. I have a husband and two daughters, and I often struggle between taking business opportunities and spending time with my family. 5. Continuous learning.
Since I didn’t have a special family recipe, I had to develop my own. I practiced in my home kitchen. My family and friends became my first critics, and I used their feedback to tweak the recipe until I got it just right. I knew I had nailed it when our funnel cake was a smash hit at the SF Street Food Festival in August 2009. That’s also when I figured out the right toppings and proportions. We’ve kept the same recipe since then.
Do you have any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? What’s the latest with your business? • Define your niche—what’s unique about you or how you do something differently from others in the same industry. • Understand that the business shouldn’t be running you. It’s especially difficult when you’re growing the business. I’m still learning. We once returned from our long-coveted Hawaii trip a day early because I got a catering job at a big corporation. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get on a vendor list with them.
We are opening our very first store in 2016 on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley! Even though there was a lot of unexpected work dealing with permits, we learned so much throughout the process. A storefront will provide more credibility and brand recognition. We’ll continue to grow our corporate catering. reSource for Bay Area Entrepreneurs
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www.rencenter.org
PHOTO BY GENE S SA KE ALOHA
PHOTOS BY SARAH PEE T PHOTOGRAPH Y
• Be open to any feedback or criticism. Take it all in, digest it, and see if it makes sense to you. If different customers tell you the same thing over and over again, you have to listen, even if it’s not something you agree with. Take criticism as a way to learn.
Nothing. I learned so much from my mistakes or challenges that I don’t think I’d have known better without the experience. Everything you do is a learning experience that helps you grow. Where do you see your business in five years?
What’s the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur? Endless Summer Sweets will be a well-known brand with lots of big corporate clients. We will have two or three locations. I want to outgrow ‘small’ business, while keeping the values of a small family-owned business.
I’m my own boss. There’s a sense of fulfillment of knowing ‘I did this,’ especially after a difficult job. For example, when we served thousands of people at Outside Lands we built a restaurant in a day and then took it down.
What was your experience with Renaissance? What advice do you have for women who are starting businesses?
Renaissance gave me a great foundation and a starting point. Renaissance was also a great connector, which is so important when starting or growing your business. I was so inspired by other entrepreneurs in my Renaissance classes and the wealth of information.
Have a lot of support and knowledge. Knowledge is power. Don’t be scared to take your place in the room. What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started? www.rencenter.org
endlesssummersweets.com 2370 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
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Highlights: Renaissance Women and Men
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y o f K E L LY M C V I C K E R
Renaissance SoMa:
When Getting Your Business in a Pickle Is a Good Thing
Business Planning Class
By Kareen Boncales
Our Business Planning class helps students create
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a practical, effective business plan for their own
elly McVicker, owner of McVicker Pickles, began pickling as a hobby and as a way to give gifts to friends and family. But over time her business began to grow organically. In less than three years since she started making pickles commercially, her pickles are being distributed through Good Eggs, an online groceries service, and sold at several markets and cafes in San Francisco and the East Bay.
businesses.
Business Planning Class Create a practical, effective business plan for your business. In the class you'll address every aspect of starting and growing a business, including marketing, management, finance, tax and customer development. You will receive individual consultations, coaching on how to get funded, financial templates, and a business plan review.
Kelly was facing many challenges as a startup: from having to wear many hats (boss and sole employee), to investing in the development of her skills, to understanding her financials and finding a larger space for production. She is grateful that she found Renaissance. Through us, she was able to grow, gain confidence as a business owner and get a realistic grasp of her finances.
COST: $500 - $1000. Scholarships available. SoMa Tu. & Th. 4/5-6/23
When asked to give advice to new entrepreneurs, Kelly excitedly responded: “Take Renaissance’s Business Planning class! You can research and look at a million ways that you can fail. But just jump in! Then take a step back and get that guidance to create your business plan.”
275 5th St., San Francisco 6-9 p.m | Paul Terry
mcvickerpickles.com reSource for Bay Area Entrepreneurs
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www.rencenter.org
Renaissance Marin:
Renaissance Mid-Pen:
Marin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Secure Futures Having a grip on personal finances is an indicator for success in life and in business, yet people seldom learn financial skills. Our Secure Futures program at Renaissance Mid-Peninsula provides this essential knowledge.
Since 2013 the Marin SBDC at Renaissance Marin assisted 590 clients, created over 260 jobs, helped increase business sales by $9.7M and helped clients receive over $12.2M in capital investments. The Marin SBDC will provide no-cost one-on-one business advising to Marin residents at a new location in 2016!
Erica Darlow’s Secure Future By Crystal Rasmussen
Pelo Fitness By Miriam Karell
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elo Fitness is an indoor cycling studio with the best professional instruction, great music and top-of-the-line bikes. Pelo offers a workout calibrated to meet people exactly where they are, so anyone at any skill level can have fun and not fall behind.
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very time Erica Darlow logged in to view her bank account, her heart beat faster, her palms sweated, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She never knew what terrifying numbers, overdraft fees or late payments were lurking around the login corner.
Pelo was started by Alan Roberts, who was physically and mentally changed by adding cycling into this life and wanted to provide this opportunity for others. His vision was to make cycling classes and fitness easy, available and fun for people of all fitness levels. He developed software that lets customers register and choose their bike online (just like an airline seat). Customers can show up, climb on, ride and track their own personal progress (not compared to others in the class).
Erica felt that it was too overwhelming to even begin to try to understand her finances until she enrolled in Secure Futures. “The class really gave me the opportunity to learn about resources that I didn’t know were available before,” said Erica. With the tools she learned from the class, she created a system for paying bills, improved her credit store, and no longer feels anxiety when dealing with her money. In the three months after taking the class, Erica paid off two debts worth $2,300 and made the first $50 deposit to her Start2Save savings account that matches the deposits of low and moderate-income people. After saving $500 over the course of 12 to 24 months, our partner Opportunity Fund matches savings and gives a bonus of $500 to those who participate our partner financial coaching sessions.
Since starting his work with Marin SBDC Advisor Paul Bozzo, Pelo Fitness has turned empty space into retail space, hired 14 people, increased sales by 12% each year, acquired over $600,000 in investments, and is now opening up a new location in San Francisco. “One of the best things about working with Paul and the SBDC is that it helped me grow at a pace I could handle,” said Alan. “Paul helped me get my financial house in order, turn empty space into a retail sales opportunity, set up a solid strategic plan for future expansion, and secure the capital necessary to pull it off.”
Erica has taken advantage of the tools offered and has now created a budget, and plans to increase her savings next year. Erica advises others in her situation: “Don’t give up, it’s never too late to fix something.”
pelofitness.com www.rencenter.org/services/mid-peninsula/244 www.rencenter.org
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reSource for Bay Area Entrepreneurs
Classes & Workshops January - March 2016
register for classes at: tinyurl.com/renaissancecenter
Renaissance Orientation
G E T T I N G S TA RT E D
Are you ready to start or grow your own business? Are you thinking about it? Determine your business readiness and get the tips and resources, including an overview of Renaissance’s classes and services that can help you succeed. Cost: Free
Learn about business basics and determine the viability of your business ideas. The course covers fundamentals of marketing, operations, and finances of basic business plans. Cost: $175 (scholarships available)
LEARNING BASICS
Renaissance has helped over 10,000 Bay Area Businesses. Are you next?
Business Prep
Richmond Tuesdays 2/4-4/14
3925 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond 6:30-9:30 p.m | Robbie Kunkel
Start Smart
Define your goals and start planning your business. You will use a Business Plan Canvas to put your ideas on paper and develop them to meet the needs of your market. Cost: $120.00 (scholarships available) Mid-Pen Thursdays 1/14-2/4
Burlingame Main Library 480 Primrose Rd, Burlingame 10-1 p.m | Ron Visconti
Bayview Sat. 1/9
1325B Evans Ave., San Francisco 5-7:30 p.m. | Rose Toney
Bayview Tues. 1/15
1325B Evans Ave., San Francisco 5-7:30 p.m. | Rose Toney
Mid-Pen Saturdays 2/6-2/26
Westlake Library 275 Southgate Ave., Daly City 1-4 p.m | Ron Visconti
Mid-Pen Sat. 1/9
Westlake Library 275 Southgate Ave., Daly City 1-3 p.m. | Ron Visconti
Mid-Pen Mondays 2/29-3/31
1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto 6:30-9:30 p.m | Brian Sparkes
Mid-Pen Wed. 2/3 Wed. 2/10 Wed. 2/17 Wed. 2/24
1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Brian Sparkes 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Brian Sparkes 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Brian Sparkes 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Brian Sparkes
Mid-Pen Thursdays 3/2-3/23
Doelger Senior Center 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City 6:30-9:30 p.m | Liz Arguello
Mid-Pen Thurs. 2/4 Thurs. 2/11 Thurs. 2/18 Thurs. 2/25
1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Liz Arguello 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Liz Arguello 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Liz Arguello 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Liz Arguello
Richmond Tuesdays 1/19-2/9
6:00-9:30 p.m | Robbie Kunkel Richmond Chamber of Commerce 3925 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond
Richmond Tuesdays 2/16-3/8
3925 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond 6:00-9:30 p.m | Robbie Kunkel
Richmond Wed. 2/3
1500 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond 6:30-9:30 p.m | Bret Sweet
275 5th St., San Francisco 6:00-9:00 p.m | TBD
Richmond Wed. 3/2
SoMa Mondays 2/22-3/14
6:30-9:30 p.m | Bret Sweet 1500 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond
SoMa Wed. 1/6
275 5th St., San Francisco 11-12:30 p.m | Petra O
SoMa Mon. 2/8
275 5th St., San Francisco 11-12:30 p.m | Kareen Boncales
SoMa Tue. 2/23
275 5th St., San Francisco 6-7:30 p.m | Petra O
SoMa Wed. 3/9
275 5th St., San Francisco 11-12:30 p.m | Kareen Boncales
SoMa Mon. 3/23
275 5th St., San Francisco 6-7:30 p.m | Petra O
Start Smart for Women
Define your goals and start planning your business in a women focused environment. You will use a Business Plan Canvas to put your ideas on paper and develop them to meet the needs of your market. Cost: $120.00 (scholarships available) Bayview Tu. & Th. 2/16-3/8
1325B Evans Avenue 6-8 p.m | Instructor TBD
Developing The Art Economy
Legal Workshop:
In partnership with Run On Productions this workshop series teaches you the skills required to develop a successful cultural product, provides an intro to entrepreneurship and encourages the development of an arts economy. Cost: materials fee TBD
Legal Entity Choices for Our New Economy
Social Media (Chinese Translation available) Learn to use social media (Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest) to market your business. You’ll leave with the confidence and know-how to expand your customer base and establish a business presence online! Cost: free Richmond Tues. 3/15
3925 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond 6:30-9:30 p.m | Robbie Kunkel
Secure Futures Secure Futures is a FREE financial education and coaching program designed to help participants learn how to better manage their hard-earned money. Secure Futures includes one-on-one financial coaching sessions allowing participants to work on their specific financial needs and goals with the guidance and support of a professional financial coach. Cost: free Mid-Pen Thursdays 1/14-2/11
Taft Community school 903 Tenth avenue, Redwood City 6:30-9:30 p.m | Robbie Kunkel
Savvy Selling: Selling Smater Not Harder
SoMa Wed. 2/10
275 5th St., San Francisco 10:30-12:30 p.m | Leslie Ellis
275 5th St., San Francisco 6-8 p.m | SF Community Busines Law Center
Legal Workshop: Contracts Among Small Biz Co-Owners Disputes among the co-owners of closely-held small businesses over business decisions, money, or time commitments can seriously harm the value of the business you have worked so hard to build. Even without disputes, how do you prevent one owner's death, disability, family leave, divorce, personal financial woes, or decision to leave the business from shutting you down? Cost: free SoMa Wed. 2/17
275 5th St., San Francisco 6-8 p.m | SF Community Busines Law Center
Legal Workshop: E-Commerce Legal Protection E-commerce brings many different legal risks and opportunities together in a unique way. This workshop will explore the intersection of trademark, copyright, sales and commercial, consumer product liability, and consumer privacy rights law as you consider how to develop product disclosures, terms of use, and privacy notices on your website. Cost: free SoMa Wed. 3/16
275 5th St., San Francisco 6-8 p.m | SF Community Business Law Center
Business Planning Class Create a practical, effective business plan for your business. In the class you'll address every aspect of starting and growing a business, including marketing, management, finance, tax and customer development. You will receive individual consultations, coaching on how to get funded, financial templates, and a business plan review. Cost: $500 - $1000. Scholarships available. SoMa Tu. & Th. 1/19-4/7
275 5th St., San Francisco 9:30-12:30 p.m | Paul Terry
BUSINESS PLANNING
You do not have to love sales to sell effectively. But if you are going to maintain and grow your client/ customer base, you need to be good at sales. This workshop will show you how. In two sessions, you will learn: how to get started; presentation basics; closing the deal; and putting it all together in a repeatable system. Cost: $40
SoMa Wed 1/20
SKILL BUILDING
1500 Macdonald Ave., Richmond 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Michele Wells
SKILL BUILDING
Richmond Thursdays 1/21-3/11
Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, LLC’s, many different types of corporations, newer alternatives like co-ops and triple bottom line entities for socially responsible businesses: how do you make a good legal entity choice for your business? Did you know that the legal protection of corporations and LLC’s is NOT automatic? If they don’t pass certain tests, you may end up with nothing but a cool business name and a false sense of security. Cost: free
Clases & Talleres Enero - Marzo 2016
Renaissance Women Helping Great Women Become Great Entrepreneurs!
FOR WOMEN
Start Smart for Women
Define your dream and write a mission statement to start planning your business. You will use a Business Plan Canvas to put your ideas on paper and develop them to meet the needs of your market. Cost: $120.00 (scholarships available) Bayview Tu. & Th. 2/16-3/8
Orientación de Renaissance Este taller es para propietarios nuevos o potenciales de pequeñas empresas que desean aprender y utilizar los siete factores críticos del éxito que son clave para el éxito de una pequeña empresa. Costo: gratis
EMPEZANDO
Renaissance Women provides critical training and support to aspiring and established Bay Area women entrepreneurs. We educate and empower women so that both you and your business will be a success.
PA R A M U J E R E S
Wed 1/13 Wed 2/10 Wed 3/9
Pasos Simples Para Mujeres Pasos Simples le ayudará a comenzar, fortalecer o expandir su negocio. Al final del programa usted tendrá un plan de negocio sólido, la formación necesaria para tener éxito y el empoderamiento personal para hacerlo usted misma! Costo: $350 (Becas disponibles) Bayview Tu. & Th. 2/16-3/8
1325B Evans Avenue 6-8 p.m | Instructor TBD
APRENDA FUNDAMENTOS
Join us for an evening of mingling, storytelling and connecting with inspiring women business owners! Each event features a special guest speaker. Cost: $15 per event / $60 for series Capital One Cafe 101 Post St. San Francisco 6:30-8:30 p.m 6:30-8:30 p.m 6:30-8:30 p.m
1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield
Mid-Pen
Doelger Senior Center 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield
Tues. 2/2 Tues. 2/9 Tues. 2/16 Tues. 2/23
Thurs. 2/4 Thurs. 2/11 Thurs. 2/18 Thurs. 2/25
Sequoia Adult School 3247 Middlefied Road, Menlo Park 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Carlina Shenfield
SoMa Tues. 2/16
275 5th St., San Francisco 9:30-11 a.m | Susana Gama
SoMa Tues. 3/1
275 5th St., San Francisco 9:30-11 a.m | Susana Gama
SoMa Tues. 3/22
275 5th St., San Francisco 9:30-11 a.m | Susana Gama
Mid-Pen
1325B Evans Avenue 6-8 p.m | Instructor TBD
Renaissance Women's Network
SoMa
Mid-Pen Mon. 2/1 Mon. 2/8 Mon. 2/15 Mon. 2/22
Comience y Crezca con Confianza En esta clase usted definirá su sueño, escribirá una declaración de misión y empezará a planificar su negocio. Utilizará un Plan visual para plasmar y desarrollar sus ideas de manera que satisfagan las necesidades de su mercado. Costo: $120 (Becas disponibles) Mid-Pen Lunes 2/29-3/21
1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto 6:30-9:30 p.m | Carlina Shenfield
Mid-Pen Martes 3/1-3/22
Doelger Senior Center 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City 1-4 p.m. | Ron Visconti
Mid-Pen Mondays 2/29-3/31
Sequoia Adult School 3247 Middlefied Road, Menlo Park 6:3 - 9:30 p.m.
Featured Programs
How do you choose which technology apps are best for you?
Test Your Business Tech Savvy: bit.do/biz-tech-assess Click the button above or visit URL to download the Business Technology Self-Assessment Tool. Discover the areas where you may need more assistance.
For free business technology consultation email Fermin Alvarez: falvarez@rencenter.org
TAP: Technology Acceleration Program
$Financing Resource Center
The Technology Acceleration Program (TAP) is a new Renaissance initiative that assists aspiring and established small business owners through the process of choosing, learning, implementing, and optimizing the use of technology.
Renaissance's FRC provides financial educa-
tion, technical assistance, and access to capital services to help small business owners become better managers of their business finances and understand growth opportunities. Services include loan packaging, technical assistance, credit counseling, and training on traditional and alternative lending sources. To receive services contact Gwendolyn Wright, Managing Consultant at 415-348-6222 or gwen@thewrightconsultants.com
The program helps entrepreneurs employ systems that automate and integrate processes and to boost efficiency, productivity and profitability. You can take advantage of TAP’s workshops, consulting services and events, addressing your business’s current struggles in these key areas: Bookkeeping General Accounting Cloud Storage Workplace Software Communication Systems Customer Relationship Management Financial Management
Inventory Management Shipping Payment Processing POS Systems Payroll and HR Systems Social Media Digital Marketing WebsiteBuilding
Mid-Peninsula Small Business Incubator Renaissance Mid-Peninsula is the first and only Small Business Incubator in East Palo Alto. We offer low-cost office space and ongoing business support to emerging and established small businesses. If you are interested in joining call Crystal Rasmussen at 650-321-2193 ext. 1103 or crasmussen@rencenter.org
TAP class schedules and events will be sent via email and posted on rencenter.org. Be sure to check regularly. TAP is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
www.rencenter.org
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reSource for Bay Area Entrepreneurs
Small Business, BIG IMPACT Celebrating 31 Years of Empowering Small Businesses to Deliver Big Impact On October 7th, Renaissance celebrated 31 years of creating true economic opportunity at our annual event, Small Business, BIG IMPACT. Over 450 guests enjoyed delicious food, shopped very locally, and networked at the event hosted at the City View at Metreon in San Francisco. Renaissance graduate businesses from around the Bay Area showcased their products and services in our Pop Up Cafe and Marketplace. Renaissance was proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of our Entrepreneurs of the Year, including Established Entrepreneur of the Year Wendy Lieu, Owner of Socola Chocolatier. A refugee from Vietnam, she turned her passion for chocolates into a thriving business in South of Market. Antoinette Sanchez was recognized as the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year as she expands Endless Summer Sweets to a new storefront in downtown Berkeley. Brigette LeBlanc, a native of Bayview Hunters Point and owner of LeBlanc & Associates, LLC, a boutique event planning business, was honored with the Angela Cain Memorial Award for her business success and contributions to the Bayview community. The evening would not have been possible without the generosity of Cooley LLP, Firedoll Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Peninsula Party Rentals, Silicon Valley Bank, Sterling Bank & Trust, US Bank, and many other partners. Funds raised from the event support Renaissance’s critical entrepreneurship training and support services for lower-income emerging and established entrepreneurs. It's never too late to support Renaissance. Please make your generous fully tax-deductible gift today. www.rencenter.org Pictured from Top to Bottom: Wendy Lieu, Owner of Socola Chocolatier; Antoinette Sanchez, Owner of Endless Summer Sweets; and Brigette Renee LeBlanc, Owner of LeBlanc And Associates, LLC.
BY LILY TRIENENS PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIMBERLY CHASE, LITTLE SPARKS MEDIA**
reSource for Bay Area Entrepreneurs
**Denotes Renaissance graduate
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www.rencenter.org
Creating True Economic Opportunity
Gail Lillian, Owner of Liba Falafel
“Renaissance taught me crucial lessons about all of the moving parts of running a business. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that education. That’s why I’m proud to give back to Renaissance and help future entrepreneurs turn their small seed of an idea into a thriving business. Will you join me in supporting Renaissance today?”
Please join me in making your tax-deductible gift to Renaissance today
Donate at www.rencenter.org or call Development Associate Yusuke Wada at 415-348-6209
Inside Spotlight
Renaissance Talks About Oakland
W
ith the burgeoning growth of small businesses in Oakland, Renaissance has been invited to discuss potential partnerships with the Mayor’s Office and the Oakland Housing Authority to support the major influx of new entrepreneurs. Since the closure of Women’s Initiative and CEO Women, and considering the national statistic that over 60% of businesses fail within three years, Oakland’s need for greater entrepreneurship services makes sense.
By Boku Kodama
In the 1990s, the business landscape in Oakland was dramatically different than it is today. Before coming to Renaissance in 2012, I founded an entrepreneurship training program in 1998 called Urban FIRE. Rather than focusing on scalable businesses, Urban FIRE targeted the populations with the greatest financial needs in West Oakland. At the time, the community had a 63% unemployment rate, according to the Oakland Police Department. Even the downtown areas in the late ’90s had boarded up windows and deserted streets. My, how things have changed! Now, Oakland is home to a robust economy fueled by businesses moving from the expenses of San Francisco and the Peninsula. New tenants such as Uber and Sunset Magazine are adding to the growing econo–my. The potential for new businesses to gain traction in such a fertile economy makes Oakland one of the nation’s hotspots for entrepreneurs. And support for sustainable growth must be incorporated in order to maintain a healthy economy ecosystem.
PHOTO BY MARIN SBDC
Urban FIRE 1 & 2 Returning to Oakland in 2016! Urban FIRE is a visual, interactive entrepreneurship training program teeming with creative iteration and practical business fundamentals. It is conducted over two semesters of 12 weeks each, meeting once a week for three hours. This program is nationally awarded for its ability to help non-business individuals living in our urban economy. Cost $100-$200 (scholarships available)
Renaissance has the capability to train, advise and connect new entrepreneurs to this ecosystem.
Special Thanks to Erin Schnair, Volunteer Editor!
Erin Schnair is a content writer and editor specializing in nonprofit communications and EdTech content. Connect with Erin:
For more information or to enroll contact Lucero DeLeon at 510-221-2003 or ldeleon@rencenter.org Oakland Sat. 2/13-7/2
Oakland Housing Authority 935 Union St., Oakland 9:00-12:00 p.m | Boku Kodama
linkedin.com/in/erinschnair | erinschnair.com
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www.rencenter.org
P H O T O B Y T R I S H T U N N E Y P H O T O G R A P H Y**
Our Mission The mission of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is to empower and increase the entrepreneurial capacities of socially and economically diverse women and men, and thereby strengthen our communities through the creation of sustainable new businesses, new jobs, and the promotion of financial self-sufficiency.
Our Board Board Chair* Sandor Straus Managing Member Tigmera, LLC Treasurer, Vice Chair* Gerry Bara単ano Principal RevLaunch Company Bryan Ignozzi* Vice Chair Partner PriceWaterhouseCoopers Secretary* Craig Jacoby Partner Cooley LLP
Audit Chair Philip Frerich Region Finance Manager Vice President Robert L. Chan Former Director of Marketing and National Sales Syncor International Alison Davis Managing Partner Fifth Era Jonathan R. Dreyfus Director, Product Management, Google
Feleciai Favroth** President & CEO Skincare by Feleciai Lynn Fernandez Senior Vice President Retail Bank Administration Comerica Bank Neal Gottlieb** Founding Twin Three Twins Ice Cream Ashley Grech Area Manager - San Francisco & North Peninsula JP Morgan Chase Business Banking
Roland Pan Technology Executive Laura Thompson Principal Thompson Concepts Group Feliciano Zavala** Founder & Owner Peninsula Party Rentals *Denotes Executive Committee member **Denotes Renaissance graduate
Renaissance has helped over 10,000 Bay Area Businesses. Are you next?
Renaissance Soma 275 5th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 541-8580
Renaissance Bayview India Basin Plaza 1325-B Evans Avenue San Francisco, CA 94124 (415) 647-3728
Renaissance Mid-Peninsula 1848 Bay Road East Palo Alto, CA 94303 (650) 321-2193
Renaissance Richmond 1500 MacDonald Avenue Richmond, CA 94801 (510) 221-2000