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Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center presents

Small Business

BIG IMPACT

Recognizing The Best Small Businesses In The Bay Area

Date

Thursday, October 1st, 2026
6:00-9:00 PM
Place
San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street
Honoring
Kevin & Julia Hartz
& Sandor Straus
  • 00Days
  • 00Hours
  • 00Minutes

Forty-one years of one stubborn idea: communities are transformed for the better when small businesses are thriving.

For four decades, Renaissance, alongside our partners, community members, and volunteers, has worked to expand access, provide resources, and level the playing field for small businesses in the Bay Area.
Now we get to celebrate them, and the village of support that makes it possible.

Every ticket funds training, one-on-one consulting, access to capital, and the network that keeps showing up long after the class ends.

40+

YEARS IN THE BAY AREA

22,000+

BUSINESS LAUNCHED & GROWN
14,000+
JOBS CREATED

$320M

ANNUAL LOCAL SPENDING

THE EVENING

Shop the marketplace, stay for the fun!

6:00 PM

   Marketplace opens

   Renaissance entrepreneurs sell what they make. Bring a card,
   support a business, and meet the people behind them.


6:00 PM

 
   Bites and drinks

   Free food and drink from some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area.
   All of them Renaissance alumni.

7:30 PM

   Program and fireside chat

   The evening's program includes an intimate conversation with Eventbrite founders
   Kevin and Julia Hartz, and our Entrepreneurs of the Year, a tribute to board member
   Sandor Straus, and the Fund-a-Need, plus awards, and more throughout the night!


9:00 PM

 
   Evening Wraps Up

Get in front of the Bay Area's small business community.

Sponsorship puts your brand in the room with founders, funders, and civic leaders, and your name on an evening that celebrates the people driving local growth.

Packages include VIP seating, program recognition, and prominent logo placement throughout the venue.

Questions about sponsorship? development@rencenter.org

Lead

$50,000

Presenting

$40,000

Rain Maker

$25,000

Dream Maker

$15,000

Trailblazer

$10,000

Risk Taker

$5,000

Ground Breaker

$2,500

GOOD TO KNOW

FAQ

Is there parking

Free parking in the adjacent lot and on nearby streets, with security on-site throughout the evening. Rideshare drop-off is on Henry Adams Street.

What should I wear?

Business casual. Dress it up or keep it comfortable, whatever suits you is perfect.

Is dinner served?

Food comes from the free entrepreneur marketplace, where you can graze from a range of Bay Area vendors, with dessert served during the program. There’s a full bar as well. Vegan and vegetarian options are available throughout. Since the food is marketplace-style rather than a seated dinner, there’s no set menu, so come hungry and explore!

I can't attend. Can I still help??

Yes! You can make a gift, sponsor a table for Renaissance clients, or shop the entrepreneur directory year round. Every purchase puts money directly into a local small business.