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…
Katie Taylor, Vice President – Marketing & Executive Projects, interviews Andrea Ramirez, Business Outreach Manager. Andrea comes to Main Street Launch with a diverse background include affordable housing and tenants rights and GIS mapping. Click here to read Andrea’s bio. How did you come across Main Street Launch? After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2016,…
This post was written by Main Street Launch’s Manager – Data & Online Content. The Runway Project is attempting to solve the deep infrastructural problem that African American entrepreneurs lack access to seed money for their businesses. There are many crowdfunding programs around the United States that are attempting to lend to all entrepreneurs.…
At Main Street Launch our partnerships are a critically important way we support small businesses to get the resources they need to start and grow. We’re thrilled to share our growing relationship with Hack the Hood, a tech nonprofit that trains youth to build websites. The youth participants are paired with small business owners who…
In 2004 Chef Ron’s Pastries started like many business: doing small orders here and there for family and friends. In 2015 brother and sister Ron and Rhonda Persons officially launched Chef Ron’s Pastries when an opportunity to work with the Golden State Warriors came to them. Since then, the business has been steadily growing, all…
Even for local, neighborhood businesses, an online presence is critical for new customers to find you. More than 97% of customers use the internet to find local businesses. This number has been growing steadily since smartphones have become more available and mainstream. Positive reviews make 73% of customers trust a local business more than no…
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) may have the flexibility to create new loan products to better serve their communities. Concessionary loan capital is one such type of new loan product. Concessionary loans are loans that offer more generous terms than market rate loans. These terms may be lower interest rates, a longer pay-back period,…
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…
Oakland Grown is a nonprofit membership organization that services Oakland’s independent businesses, artists, and makers. They promote buying, investing, and giving locally to build a sustain a more just and vibrant Oakland economy. Oakland Grown’s members receive significant benefits (click here for their membership kit): Promote Oakland Grown members Provide workshops and events to…
With her parents’ values instilled in her as a very young child, Diana Wong has grown to model a similar successful business style when creating iCAFE San Francisco, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. She wanted to create a “warm, caring, sense of coming home,” continuing to cater to loyal patrons, in addition…
