Main Street Launch

09/12/2023

We're thrilled to announce that our client is officially open for business! Proud owner LeRocman Hall shared the powerful story of how and why he decided to start his business:

The Culture SF is my dream come to life - a place where our community can come together, connect, and embark on a journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. As a passionate Black entrepreneur, my mission is to create a safe haven, where everyone feels welcomed, inspired, and empowered to achieve their fitness goals.

This journey started during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic when I faced a personal setback of being laid off. Undeterred, I turned my passion for fitness into a personal training business, and now, with the grand opening of The Culture SF, I want to offer something even more extraordinary to our community.

At The Culture SF, we are committed to making a positive impact on the health and wellness of our community through three essential pillars:

· Fitness: Our state-of-the-art facility boasts a wide array of fitness programs tailored to your unique needs. Whether it's one-on-one personal training or a place to workout, we are dedicated to helping you unlock your full potential.

· Nutrition Coaching: We firmly believe that proper nutrition is the cornerstone of overall well-being. Our coaches will help guide you on making healthier food choices, empowering you to live your best life.

· Community Connection: The Culture SF is more than just a place to work out; it's a vibrant community where we uplift and motivate one another. Together, we will create a supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged to embrace their fitness journey.

08/02/2023

Join us on Wednesday, August 30th to learn about small business loans, presented by the USPAACC Western Region. This workshop will talk about the SBA-Community Advantage Loan Program eligibility and what Main Street Launch loan officers look for in a business loan applicant.

Get ready to level up your small business with expert advice on loans and financing options.

04/17/2023

Want a delicious piece of New Orleans in San Francisco? Check out our client Sandy's SF in the Haight! Their grand opening is this Thursday, April 20th.

Owner and New Orleans native Peterson Harter hopes to bring a taste of the Big Easy to San Francisco

04/12/2023

Juntos con Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce presentamos Capital para Tu Negocio: Conoce tu prestamista local! Este taller explicará el proceso de acceso al capital, las distintas opciones de préstamos para pequeñas empresas disponibles, y la diferencia entre un banco, la SBA, y un prestamista alternativo. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/olcc-2023-taller-capital-para-tu-negocio-tickets-609752535247

12/20/2022

🎉 Congratulations to our graduating cohort of Entrepreneurs-In-Residence! These talented EIRs have put in 6 months of hard work to build up their businesses for success. We had a great time celebrating their accomplishments!

12/14/2022

Find unique gifts from local small businesses with San Francisco Economic Development Alliance - SFEDA's Shop the Bay Guide!

A stage for extraordinary products from San Francisco's Bay Area small businesses. Shop the guide this holiday season to support underrepresented entrepreneurs.

09/28/2022

Our client, Tony Beaman, president of Oakland-based Hacking Solutions, spoke with Public News Service about the impact of the California Rebuilding Fund loan he received from Main Street Launch.

"It was completely a lifeblood for our company," said Beaman. "We've grown significantly, we've been able to hire. We brought on several new clients. It set us up to really springboard our growth going forward."

A renewed lifeline for small business owners still struggling after the pandemic - as the California Rebuilding Fund has announced it is making an additional $15 million available to fund fixed-rate low-interest loans. The fund had almost run dry after making $80 million in loans over the past 2 yea...

09/07/2022

Attention Orange County small business owners! Gain valuable resources for your business at the OC Small Business Conference in Garden Grove on September 30th. We'll be there to share more information about our lending programs.
More information and registration here: http://ociesbdc.org/OC-CON

08/31/2022

Meta Boost program is bringing a free training event for small businesses of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area on September 15th at Bespoke at Westfield Center, 845 Market St Suite 450, San Francisco.

Register today to learn more about how you can use Meta’s tools and resources to grow your business. For more information and how to register, visit: https://metaboostsanfrancisco.splashthat.com/

08/04/2022

Grant opportunity! Applications now open for grants up to $10,000 - apply ASAP since this opportunity closes after 100 applications have been submitted. Learn more:

The California Dream Fund Grant program supports small businesses through financial assistance.

07/27/2022

Check out the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC's webinar series on business finances!

Over a five-week period, learn from finance experts on obtaining capital for your business, boosting your business' credibility, and navigating federal funding. Join one or join them all!

Over a five-week period, learn from finance experts on obtaining capital for your business, boosting your business' credibility, and navigating federal funding. Join one or join them all! 1. Preparing to Start Making Your EIDL Payments | Aug 3 @ 3PM • Don’t get penalized by missing your EIDL pay...

03/10/2022

🎉 Congratulations to our 2021-22 cohort of Entrepreneurs-In-Residence! We had a blast celebrating with everyone last weekend.
Photo/Film: Preserve Studio

02/17/2022

Thrilled to be a part of this important initiative!

RP Earlier this week, Mayor Breed announced that $2.3 million in loans from our African American Revolving Loan Fund have been forgiven for Black-owned and Black-serving businesses in SF. This will also allow funds to “revolve” and go back into the community, making $1.3 million more available in zero-interest loans for other small businesses.

As our Executive Director Kate Sofis noted, this is an investment in the future and long-term economic recovery of Black businesses. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Mayor Breed and OEWD have designed small business relief programs with equity at their center, prioritizing the businesses most impacted by COVID-19, and those that anchor our communities culturally and economically.

We are grateful for the continued support of and the generosity of Aneel Bhusri (), CEO of which made this loan forgiveness possible. Starting with $1.5 million from the City, the revolving loan fund has since expanded to $6.3 million mostly through philanthropic donations.

Read more: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/All-of-it-forgiven-Dozens-of-S-F-s-16924831.php

01/19/2022

$10,000 small business grants available! Must be an active Uber Eats partner to qualify.

LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families.

12/22/2021

Congrats our clients! The fried chicken at Lena's Soul Food Cafe and the celery salad at Daytrip are among the Chronicle's top dishes of 2021 🤩
https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2021/best-food-sf-bay-area/

Restaurant critic Soleil Ho ate at dozens of restaurants across the San Francisco Bay Area in 2021. Here are the dishes that stood out, including spinach dip bread, curry puffs, smashburgers and a garlic butter pizza.

12/20/2021

Are you an aspiring food entrepreneur? Learn more about La Cocina's upcoming incubator cohort and sign up for the orientation session here:

How to Start a Food Business in San Francisco: An Orientation to La Cocina Wednesday, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm This workshop is designed to walk you through how to start a food business in San Francisco, in addition to talking about what we do at La Cocina and our Incubator Program. You will receive a pa...

12/10/2021

Thanks to a Wells Fargo grant, we can help more small businesses like Jazzy Grounds in East Oakland start and grow.

10/27/2021

The holiday giving season is almost upon us, and we know many will soon make decisions about their year-end gifts. If you are ready to search for that special present for your team members, gratitude gifts for your board, or holiday party favors, look no further. Shop the Bay businesses can supply volume and ship nationally. Many have wholesale prices too!

A stage for extraordinary products from San Francisco's Bay Area small businesses. Shop the guide this holiday season to support underrepresented entrepreneurs.

10/25/2021

Does your business have a holiday special to promote? Apply to be featured in Small Business Majority's holiday gift guide!

We are excited to announce the return of our digital small business holiday gift guide in time for Small Business Saturday. Last year nearly 10,000 visitors shopped from more than 450 small businesses on the guide. This online directory is a great way for you to freely promote your business and your...

10/22/2021

Join Small Business Majority to learn more about the California Rebuilding Fund and how your business could benefit from this program. Main Street Launch is a participating lender.

A webinar for small business owners to learn how the California Rebuilding Fund meets their long-term capital and recovery needs.

10/21/2021

Check out our new client, Daytrip, in Temescal. Their grand opening is today!

Daytrip aims to feel like a funky dinner party with a wine shop, weekend pastries and...

09/29/2021

Comcast has launched a nationwide program in support of BIPOC small business sustainability, and 100 Oakland businesses will receive $10,000 grant awards!

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund provides monetary grants to help small businesses owned by people of color (POC) grow as they navigate the challenges of the pandemic. The Investment Fund is the latest extension of Comcast RISE (Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment), the multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in 2020 to provide POC-owned, small businesses the opportunity to apply for marketing and technology services from Comcast Business.

Oakland's five Chambers of Commerce are hosting a PRE-APPLICATION training for those who want to be ready to apply when application opens October 1, 2021.

Comcast Corporation launches nationwide program in support of BIPOC small business sustainability! 100 Oakland businesses will receive direct grant awards Learn More! The Comcast RISE Investment Fund provides monetary grants to help small businesses owned by people of color (POC) grow as they naviga...

09/27/2021

Grant applications now open! Salesforce has created a $1 million fund to provide $10,000 grants to San Francisco small businesses. Check it out and find out how to apply.
http://salesforce.com/sfsmallbizgrants

09/17/2021

On October 5-6, join the City Administrator’s Small Business Summit, a virtual event that aims to demystify doing business with the City & County of San Francisco for local small businesses and suppliers. Learn more and register below:

Join us online on October 5-6, 2021 Interested in doing business with the City? Join our 2-day virtual Small Business Summit to understand how the City procures goods and services, where to find opportunities, and attend tailored technical assistance workshops. Register for free Event Schedule Day 1...

09/08/2021

Our client Cassava is inviting investors to help them reach new business goals! Learn more about their fundraising campaign here:

Invest as little as $100 in startups and small businesses. Wefunder is the largest Regulation Crowdfunding portal.

09/03/2021

Get your fried chicken fix this weekend! Thrilled to see so many of our clients on this list: Minnie Bell's Soul Movement, Lena's Soul Food Cafe, Bakesale Betty, and Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken 🍗

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/best-fried-chicken-sf-bay-area/

The best restaurants serving fried chicken in the San Francisco Bay Area, as recommended by critic Soleil Ho.

08/27/2021

If your business is in a low-income area, you may qualify for up to $15,000 in federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advances. These “advances” are like grants, and do not need to be repaid. You do not have to qualify for or accept a loan to receive the advances. Learn more here:

The official website of the City of Oakland. Find out about meetings, request City services through OAK 311, or contact the Mayor and City Council.

08/25/2021

Veteran Business Project, National Veterans Transition Services (REBOOT), the Rosie Network and Mills College will be co-hosting a Restaurant Survival Workshop on Wednesday, September 1st at 1:30 p.m. Join this webinar to learn about factors linked to restaurant success and how you can thrive in this industry as a business owner.

Join the Center for Transformative Action and ROSIE Talks for an hour long conversation with restaurant industry leaders and veterans.

07/28/2021

If your business or nonprofit is in a low-income area, you may qualify for up to $15,000 in federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advances. These advances are like grants, and do not need to be repaid. You do not have to qualify for or accept a loan to receive the advances.
Much of Oakland below I-580 qualifies as a low-income area. If you have not previously applied for EIDL, apply now! To help eligible businesses apply, the City is hosting free, in-person application workshops in East Oakland and West Oakland.

The official website of the City of Oakland. Find out about meetings, request City services through OAK 311, or contact the Mayor and City Council.

07/09/2021

0% interest loans now available for San Francisco small businesses! Mayor London Breed 倫敦．布里德 announced the SF Small Business Recovery Loan Fund to help boost the local economic recovery. Apply here: https://bit.ly/mainstreetloan

06/18/2021

The Warriors and United Airlines are partnering to launch Franchise Fund, a program that opens up new business opportunities for Bay Area minority-owned small businesses. Small businesses are encouraged to apply by July 1st for training, funds and resources. Learn more and apply here:

Franchise Fund

06/16/2021

We funded Dennis and Monica's Sunset neighborhood wine shop and eatery in December 2019, when they were building out the space for their new business. Needless to say, it's been a rocky ride for these startup business owners. We're thrilled that Palm City is finally able to open their doors to the community!

Palm City is opening for indoor and outdoor dining in the Outer Sunset for the first time...

06/14/2021

1 in 4 small businesses report they may not survive past three months without funding or market changes, and 10% of small businesses are still temporarily closed one year into the pandemic. It's not surprising then that Small Business Majority's new polling shows small businesses support a variety of policies outlined in the American Jobs Plan that could create new business opportunities and stimulate the economy. Read more: http://ow.ly/DAgu50F3k88

06/11/2021

Grant opportunity for SF small businesses! SF New Deal has launched a micro-grant program providing grants of $2,500 to 400 small businesses. Applications close June 30th.

SF NEW DEAL Small business DEBT RELIEF GRANT program     Nominate your favorite SF small business or apply for your own business to receive a grant!SF New Deal is excited to launch a micro grant program to give $1,000,000 to small businesses in San Francisco. Small businesses are the foundation o...

06/09/2021

Filing and paying taxes properly will save you and your business time and money in the future! Join the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center on Wednesday, June 16 for Tax Tips for Micro-Businesses to learn what you need to file to be compliant with federal tax laws, simple ways to calculate estimated payments, recording keeping best practices, how COVID-19 legislation might affect your taxes, and more.
Register here:

Filing and paying taxes properly will save you and your business time and money in the future! Join us to learn what you to to file to be compliant with federal tax laws, simples ways to calculate estimated payments, recording keeping best practices, how COVID-19 legislation might affect your taxes,...

06/07/2021

So excited for our client Reign Free of The RedDoor Catering! We love to see entrepreneurs supporting other entrepreneurs. This effort contributes to building a more robust ecosystem for Black entrepreneurship in Oakland, which is vital for our community.

The owner of Red Door Catering will be sharing a 5,000 square foot commercial kitchen in West Oakland with other Black-owned food businesses.

06/04/2021

Grant opportunity for small businesses! Selected entrepreneurs will receive $10,000 and mentorship.

Apply Now! The Stacy’s Rise Project™ supports female-founded businesses through funding, mentorship and community. Applications for the 2020 Stacy's Rise Project are now open.

05/28/2021

Small businesses are critical for an inclusive and equitable economic recovery. We’re glad California is once again leading the way to support small businesses that make up the backbone of our economy. We're a participating lender with the California Rebuilding Fund because it helps close the funding gap in California & supports this critical segment of our economy. Learn more: www.CALoanFund.org

The California Rebuilding Fund is a loan program to support California’s small businesses—especially those located in economically disadvantaged and historically under-banked areas of the state

05/26/2021

As businesses open back up, there are many questions to navigate. Do you have the right precautions in place? Is your landlord giving you a break on rent? Do you have enough cash to keep the lights on?

Get support from Alliance for Community Development to figure out the best steps forward for you and your business.
https://www.alliancecd.org/covidnavigation.html

The Alliance is offering free COVID-19 resource navigation to entrepreneurs, business owners, freelancers, nonprofits, collectives, and whoever else may find it useful.

05/10/2021

Applications for the SBA's Restaurant Revitalization Fund are now open. The program will provide $28.6 billion in grants to independent food service or drinking establishments – including restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, caterers, brewpubs, taprooms and tasting rooms. Get more information on how to prepare an application from these local resources:

The official website of the City of Oakland. Find out about meetings, request City services through OAK 311, or contact the Mayor and City Council.