Our Impact
Annually, CAMEO’s 300+ members serve about 84,000 very small businesses with training, business and credit assistance, and loans. These firms — largely startups with less than 5 employees — support or create 101,000 new jobs in California.
Small businesses have a multiplier effect on their local economies 2 times that of national chains
These small businesses create a total of $7.5 billion in economic activity
Over 70% of clients served are low- to moderate-income underserved microbusinessesLearn more about us or view recent news and events.
Why Our Work Matters
Xiomara Rosa-Tedla & Dagne Tedla, UnoEth
After a trip to Ethiopia to visit family, Dagne Tedla brought a leather messenger bag as a gift for his daughter Xiomara. After countless compliments and inquiries from friends and strangers about the bag, Dagne suggested the two should start a business. Initially, Xiomara resisted as she was focusing on her corporate career and busy personal life. Soon after, friends and co-workers asked when Dagne was heading back to Ethiopia and asked if they could place pre-orders!
Lashawnda Scaccianoce, Delight Your Senses
Lashawnda Scaccianoce has been passionate about food and feeding people since she was young. In fact, she was only 11 years old when she had her first catering “job”. As a mother of 5 children, she has always participated in her community. She has served on school PTOs and volunteered with various community-based organizations, including the Rotary and Children’s Services Network. In her previous career, she was a pre-school and substitute teacher.
Mina Wilcox, Art Mina
Mina Wilcox comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Her grandfather was a printmaker, and her parents ran a restaurant in Japan. So, with her husband’s encouragement of her artistic abilities, and despite the challenges of having English as her second language, she decided to open her own business in 2014. Art Mina features her beautiful hand-printed artwork on California Eco-Friendly items.
Tana Harris, Harris Hoisting
Tana Harris had been in the construction industry for nearly 20 years when she started thinking about starting her own business. In 2013, she attended Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center’s introductory business class. What started as just an idea came to fruition as Harris Hoisting, the only African-American woman owned hoisting company in the city of San Francisco.
Wanda Blake, Wanda’s Cooking
Wanda Blake’s cooking apprenticeship started in her mother’s kitchen. It then continued in the kitchens of great aunts, aunties, grandmas, and cousins. In 1981, Wanda attended City College of San Francisco to study hotel and restaurant management. In 2015, she launched Wanda’s Cooking.
Reina Morales & Agustin Gomez, Tingo’s Plumbing
Despite the language barrier, Reina Morales and Agustin Gomez have been able to bring their business to success with the help of the New Women’s Business Center.
Gladys Mondragón, Sunshine Organics
Gladys Mondragon is co-owner of Sunshine Organics farm in Watsonville. With the help of Tania Zuniga from Kitchen Table Advisors, she has been able to expand production and bring stability to her business.
Lorenzo Rota, Volare Aerial Imaging
Lorenzo Rota recently graduated from West Business Development Center’s Startup Mendocino program. He provides specialized drone services for agriculture and construction.
Jorge Ochoa, Leonora Goat Dairy
Meet Jorge Ochoa, owner of a goat dairy farm called Leonora Goat Dairy. Jorge grew up in Mexico where his family has a rich history of working with animals on a farm. When he came to the United States, he wanted to carry on his family's legacy and start a farm of his own. He heard about our services on the radio, and reached out to us to be a co-pilot in his new venture.
Denise Doss, Niecy’s Delight
Meet Denise Doss the owner of Niecy’s Delight. She specializes in production of a pound cake recipe developed by her 103-year-old Grandmother, Carrie Doss of Littlerock, Arkansas. She currently produces three flavors, Pure Vanilla, Classic Lemon, and Forever PineappleAre You An Entrepreneur or Micro Business Owner Looking for Support?
Apply for a loan through one of our member organizations.
Upcoming CAMEO Events
View our full calendar of micro business events in California ›
Micro Business News
Highlights from our MicroBiz blog, Must Know from CAMEO, and op-eds on the micro business field.
March 23, 2023
2023 Summit and MILES | Take Action on Responsible Lending
March 15, 2023
2022 CDFI Fund Awards: Congrats to the Recipients!
March 6, 2023