In April 2014, Kenny Stuckey, an Army veteran, decided that he wanted to launch a food truck in order to be independent and to create something of his own. He and his partner Bill Voget began to research how to start a business, specifically a food truck, while selling chicken on street corners in Oakland…
This article was written by Steve Nicastro and originally appeared on NerdWallet on October 24, 2017. It is reshared here with permission. Picture this: You open up a bistro and enjoy some early success. Everyone wants to try the new hotspot. A few months later, two similar restaurants open nearby, and they take a deep…
The Bay Area is full of great resources for your business. Main Street Launch is proud to partner with Uptima Business Bootcamp. Our Entrepreneurs in Residence work through Uptima’s program, and many of our loan clients have completed the program in preparation for their loans. Uptima Business Bootcamp is dedicated to giving entrepreneurs…
In this newsletter Veteran Launch Update Credit Tip Resource For Your Business: CalSavers Thank You To Our Funders Resource For Your Business: Gusto Advising Corner: Your Business’ Online Presence Matters Meet Our Clients: Degrees Plato Resource For Your Business: Venturize Welcome To Our Newest Clients Veteran Launch Update As we wrap up our fiscal year,…
This post was originally published on July 5, 2017. Our offices were closed yesterday, in celebration of Independence Day, July 4. We want to take a brief moment to reflect about the importance of this day. July 4th has been a federal holiday since 1941, but the celebration dates back to the American…
Chuck Bragdon, retired United States Navy Chief, founded Water Saver Solutions (WSS) in 2008. What started out as a home improvement project in Southern California to help people save money and conserve water is now so much more. Water Saver Solutions is a federally-certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Chuck discovered Veteran…
Of the veteran-owned companies served by Veteran Launch, 54% have been new businesses; despite the fact most traditional lenders will not consider funding startups. New businesses help keep neighborhoods thriving, and Main Street Launch is uniquely suited to support these businesses as they work to achieve their goals. Singer said, “Veterans have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and we are thrilled to support these small business owners in starting and growing their businesses.” To learn more about the veteran-owned companies Main Street Launch supports, please visit: veteranlaunch.org/client-spotlights.
Main Street Launch is proud to support LGBT-owned small businesses. A report from NGLCC (National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) shows that the U.S. has an estimated 1.4 million LGBT-owned small businesses that create/sustain 33,000 jobs and contribute $1.7 trillion to the economy. Not surprising, California has the highest number of certified LGBTBEs (LGBT…
This post was written by Steve Nicastro and originally appeared on NerdWallet on November 13, 2017. It is shared here with permission. Small Business Saturday has become a boon for local shops: Last year, 112 million consumers spent $15.4 million at such businesses, according to American Express, the company behind the shopping holiday founded in…
This post was originally written on May 3, 2017. May is the month where we celebrate the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the U.S. and who are critically important to the our country’s future success. Asian American and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders have a large business ownership footprint in…
