Secession Art & Design
“Look for mentors that can help you plan out five to ten years. Celebrate the wins, learn from your mistakes, and show up each day and make something happen.”
Sugar Sweet Cookie + Cake Studio
Growing up, David Benton, the owner of Sugarsweet Cookie and Cake Studio, was not exposed to baking. He went on to California Culinary School to become a chef. During his studies there, he took an introductory baking class and immediately fell in love with it. After the 2008 recession, he lost his job and started…
Wholesome Bakery
Open since 2009, owner Mandy Harper used her Main Street Launch loan to open her retail bakery space at 299 Divisadero Street in San Francisco. “Starting my business was a bit of an accident,” remembers Mandy. “It’s my personality to want to work for myself and do it all, and I had food allergies that…
Black Jet Baking Co.
Owned by Gillian Shaw Lundgren, Black Jet Baking Co. is a family-owned, neighborhood wholesale and retail bakery in Bernal Heights. They specialize in classic American-style desserts and are now offering breads and breakfast items. They’re always expanding their selection, so keep an eye on their menu and visit often to catch what’s new! “Since…
Vita
Vita is a boutique fitness studio specializing in yoga, pilates, and barre. They offer classes that range from gentle to power to intense cardio. Vita is a great place to pursue your fitness goals and build community. Katy Winter opened Vita in 2017 after changing careers. “I was working in finance, but I knew…
Illumino Lashes
Since its start, Illumino has been a self-supported spa service business, and Soo-Jin had never received outside investment until her loan with Main Street Launch. Sensing it was time to shift Illumino away from direct services and increase its product reach, Soo-Jin sought the loan to fund her business’ transition.
Lungomare
Growing up, Chris Pastena spent a lot of time around the dining table at his grandmother’s house, sharing food with his loved ones. Whenever he thinks of family, he thinks of food and dining, and as a result, he created his three restaurants, Lungomare, Calavera and Chop Bar, to offer people places to come together…
Nyum Bai
Coming to the United States as a refugee from Cambodia, Nite Yun opened Nyum Bai to commemorate her parents as well as celebrate Cambodian food and culture, especially its Golden Era. “Nyum Bai is a place for everyone to hang and jam out to 60s Cambodian rock music,” says Nite. “The food that the…
Jenny Lemons
“When I was working for someone else, I found myself drawn to pursuing my own art. When I decided to open the store, my business expanded beyond my dream and became a place to support other local artists, as well as myself.”
Inside-Out Bar
Seth created a new food product that was healthy and could serve as a meal supplement to give his peers and himself a better option than the meals available. Now Inside-Out Bar is a mission-driven nutrition bar company with a social impact that helps their customers fuel their bodies with a powerful food that supports good health from the inside out.