New Address: Two Embarcadero Center, 8th floor, San Francisco, CA 94111     

Annika and Robert Corbin – I Like Pie

Most small business owners face some obstacles on the road to Startup, but Annika Corbin feels like their “commitment was tested on a daily basis and often the obstacles seemed like they would be impossible to overcome. Having a good idea was not enough. It took a strong business plan, proper funding, guidance from professional resources, and very thick skin.”

Shannon Saathoff, Once in a Licetime

Entrepreneur Shannon Saathoff launched Once in a Licetime in 2014 to answer the needs of parents searching for support and treatment to eradicate lice. She now has seven locations across Southern California. The Orange County Small Business Development Center (OC SBDC) presented the official grand opening for Once in a Licetime’s location in San Juan Capistrano on June 8th, 2018.

Teri Beckett, SKS Engineering and Planning, Inc.

Teri Beckett is the founder, President, and Chief Engineer of SKS Engineering and Planning, Inc. As a civil engineer, ocean engineer, and arborist leading a team of four, Teri works to ensure coastal construction projects are environmentally compliant.  

Black Entrepreneurs Making History

SÜPRMARKT started out as a pop-up produce store located in farmer’s markets, offering low-cost organic food to Olympia Auset’s community. When she decided it was time for a permanent spot, she enlisted the help of CDC Small Business Finance.

Renata Maculans, Renata’s Creperie

Renata Maculans started her dream business in a truck. Her idea was to offer people in her town inexpensive, nutritious food that was also interesting and tasty. She went to the North Coast SBDC in 2000 for initial assistance in concept development and bookkeeping setup.

Jeff Phillips and Sherry Soleski, Comet Corn

Comet Corn is a popcorn manufacturer producing flavored, organic bagged popcorn. They also vend the product at music and community festivals around Northern California.

Jeff Phillips and Sherry Soleski have created a product that appeals to the foodie-centric nature of the area.

Lamees Dahbour, Mama Lamees

Most Americans have sampled hummus, that creamy Middle Eastern blend that is the perfect complement for vegetables and crackers. Well, the Bay Area is now excitedly trying new items like musakhan: pita bread with onions, almonds, and sumac.

Cosimo Allegretta, FoodJets

FoodJets is a local franchise web and app-based platform that allows you to order food from local restaurants. You can track your delivery driver and enjoy your delicious piping hot food without delays from other orders. FoodJets delivers one order at a time.

Patricia Van Der Beek, CreArt Preschool

Originally from Brazil, Patricia Van Der Beek came to the US to make her childhood dream of starting a preschool a reality. She worked three jobs to put herself through a Master’s program in early childhood education. Then she won a scholarship that allowed her to complete a business management certificate at UC Berkeley. In 2015, with the help of the Marin SBDC, she was able to open CreArt Preschool.