San Francisco SoMa/WBC Archives - Page 18 of 19 - Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

Steps To Create A Business Budget (8/11/25)

Understanding the importance of budgeting for your business finances is essential for effective decision-making. A well-structured budget offers a clear view of projected income and expenses, helping to prevent overspending, allocate resources strategically across various areas, and manage cash flow, ensuring sufficient funds to support daily operations. Learn the essential steps to create a business budget that supports smarter financial planning and sustainable growth.

Our services and programs are open to all entrepreneurs. All Renaissance WBC/SOMA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Not a Renaissance client? Please send us a text message to connect with you: (415) 894-9779

Facilitator: Judith Vargas

It is a program created by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) to provide the tools and resources necessary for diverse small entrepreneurs in California to access financing opportunities and achieve success for their businesses.

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center participates in the SCALE program as a Resource Partner. Through this initiative, we will connect you with a wide network of partners who can provide all the resources necessary to prepare a loan application.

All clients must register for classes via your client portal account. Here’s how you can do it.
Already a Renaissance Client?

New to the Renaissance Community?

Get started by filling out a client interest form and attending an orientation.

*All clients must complete an interest form and attend orientation before signing up for classes.*

Renaissance WBC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the SBA. All SBA programs or cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested, at least 2 weeks in advance. Contact: Women Business Center wbc@rencenter.org, (415) 894-9779.

Business Finance Check-In (WBC 08/25/2025)

Every business needs a moment to pause, reflect, and realign and this is your space to do just that. Whether you’re just getting started or already running your business, this session is a chance to check in on your progress, pinpoint areas that need support, and explore if it’s the right time to bring in cash, capital, or financial resources.

Gwendolyn Wright, Renaissance Consultant, will walk you through key business knowledge topics such as types of financial statements, costs of goods sold, profit margins, average customer value and talk about what it means to be “Loan-ready.” Not everyone needs money right now, but knowing when and how to access capital could be the difference between staying stuck or growing strong.

This roundtable is part strategy, part support, and all about helping you make informed moves for your next step, money or not.

Our services and programs are open to all entrepreneurs. All Renaissance WBC/SOMA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Not a Renaissance client? Please send us a text message to connect with you: (415) 894-9779

Facilitator: Gwendolyn Wright.

Gwendolyn Wright is the Managing Consultant of The Wright Consultants. Her mission is to start and grow businesses, increase entrepreneurs’ access to capital, and improve their financial acumen. She has extensive experience, in e-commerce, retail, and wholesale to manufacturing and distribution, consulting, and coaching small and medium size businesses for over twenty years. She has earned a reputation for having a contemporary management style, combining finance, marketing, and project management skills with entrepreneurial vision and discernment. She works well with companies in various stages of development from start-up to planned growth. She is excellent at creating sales and business development strategies. Sweet spots of focus include the food industry (restaurants and cafes, specialty retailers, and small craft foods and beverages) and the fashion industry (designers and tech, apparel, and accessories- especially jewelry). Clients are located nationwide from San Francisco to New York City. International projects include Italy, Cambodia, and Australia. Continuous market research and trend analysis have taken her around the globe to London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Panama, Johannesburg, Accra, Paris, and Tokyo. She was awarded the Small Business Finance Advocate of the Year Award by the Small Business Administration and participated in a congressional trade mission to South Africa and Ghana with Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Education includes Bachelor of Arts, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, Graduate study, Business Administration, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, Commercial Lending Graduate School, Corporate Banking Division, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. She is one of the best small business consultants and coaches in the industry!

All clients must register for classes via your client portal account. Here’s how you can do it.
Already a Renaissance Client?

New to the Renaissance Community?

Get started by filling out a client interest form and attending an orientation.

*All clients must complete an interest form and attend orientation before signing up for classes.*

Cash Flow Management: Money Smart for Small Businesses (WBC 08/25/25)

The Managing Cash Flow module encourages the participants to focus on cash flow management as an essential competency of business ownership.

FACILITATOR: David Hincapie

David Hincapie is a Lender Relations Specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s San Francisco District Office. He has been with the SBA for seven years, supporting lenders and small businesses across the region.

Note: Our services and programs are open to all entrepreneurs. All Renaissance WBC/SOMA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

All clients must register for classes via your client portal account. Here is how you can do it.

Already a Renaissance Client?

New to the Renaissance Community?

Get started by filling out a client interest form and attending an orientation.

*All clients must complete an interest form and attend orientation before signing up for classes.*

¿Por qué es importante la presencia en línea?(WBC 08/19/25)

En el mundo digital actual, una sólida presencia en línea no es opcional, ¡es esencial! Únete a Alma Galvan, del Better Business Bureau, en un seminario web práctico y atractivo sobre cómo fortalecer la visibilidad, la credibilidad y la interacción de tu negocio en línea.

Esta sesión cubrirá:
– El poder de las reseñas en línea: cómo gestionarlas y responder eficazmente
– Mejores prácticas para comentar e interactuar en redes sociales
– Lo que todo sitio web empresarial necesita para generar confianza e impulsar las conversiones
– Cómo los motores de búsqueda y las fichas locales (como el Perfil de Empresa de Google) influyen en tu visibilidad
– Consejos para convertir el tráfico digital en clientes fieles
Tanto si estás empezando como si buscas mejorar tu presencia en línea, este seminario web te brindará las herramientas y la información necesarias para prosperar en el mercado digital.

Facilitadora: Alma Galvan

Alma Galván es Especialista en Marketing y Comunicaciones en Better Business Bureau (BBB), con servicio en el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco y la Costa Norte de California, y Portavoz Nacional en Español de BBB. Durante los últimos 18 años, se ha dedicado a impulsar la misión de BBB de fomentar la confianza y la integridad en el mercado. Con más de 15 años de experiencia en marketing, Alma se destaca en el desarrollo y la ejecución de campañas y programas impactantes que impactan a la comunidad de pequeñas empresas. Firme defensora de las pequeñas empresas, Alma ha participado activamente en proyectos comunitarios como el Proyecto de Inclusión y el Programa Hispano SBDC. Su experiencia se extiende a los medios de comunicación, donde colabora frecuentemente en segmentos de televisión y radio locales y nacionales, promoviendo el mensaje de BBB de empoderamiento del consumidor y prácticas comerciales éticas. Desde que comenzó su carrera en BBB en 2005, se ha comprometido a empoderar tanto a consumidores como a empresas. Contacte con Alma para saber más sobre su labor en la promoción de prácticas comerciales éticas en BBB.

Nuestros servicios y programas están abiertos a todos los emprendedores. Todos los programas y servicios de Renaissance WBC/SOMA están disponibles para el público general sin discriminación.

Todos los clientes deben registrarse para las clases a través de su cuenta en el portal de clientes. Así es cómo puedes hacerlo:

¿Ya eres cliente de Renaissance?

Inicia sesión en tu portal de cliente y accede al calendario en la parte superior de tu pantalla.

¿Eres nuevo en la comunidad de Renaissance?

Comienza llenando este formulario de interés y nos pondremos en contacto para crear un portal de cliente.

*Todos los clientes deben completar un formulario de interés y asistir a una orientación antes de inscribirse en las clases.*

Renaissance WBC se financia en parte mediante un acuerdo de cooperación con la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de EEUU. Todas las opiniones, conclusiones o recomendaciones expresadas son las del autor o autores y no reflejan necesariamente el punto de vista de la SBA. Todos los programas de la SBA o programas copatrocinados se extienden al público sobre una base no discriminatoria. Se realizarán adaptaciones razonables para personas con discapacidad, si se solicitan, con al menos 2 semanas de antelación. Contacto: Women Business Center, wbc@rencenter.org, (415) 894-9779

Financial Management: Money Smart for Small Businesses (WBC 09/15/25)

The Financial Management for a Small Business module provides an overview of business financial management and is designed to help participants to understand how financial management can benefit their business.

FACILITATOR: David Hincapie

Note: Our services and programs are open to all entrepreneurs. All Renaissance WBC/SOMA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

All clients must register for classes via your client portal account. Here is how you can do it.

Already a Renaissance Client?

New to the Renaissance Community?

Get started by filling out a client interest form and attending an orientation.

*All clients must complete an interest form and attend orientation before signing up for classes.*

Concepts Of Digital Marketing (WBC 08/12/25)

Join the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for an insightful webinar on the fundamentals of digital marketing and how businesses can leverage online tools to grow their brand and build consumer trust. This session will cover key topics, including social media strategies, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing best practices, and the role of AI in modern marketing.

Whether you’re looking to increase your online visibility, engage with customers more effectively, or enhance your marketing efforts with AI-driven tools, this webinar will provide practical insights to help you navigate the digital landscape while maintaining integrity and credibility—hallmarks of a BBB Accredited Business.

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your online presence and stay ahead in the digital marketplace!

Facilitador: Alma Galvan

Alma Galvan is a Marketing and Communications Specialist at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California and the National Spanish Spokesperson for the BBB. For the last 18 years, she has dedicated herself to amplifying the BBB’s mission of fostering trust and integrity in the marketplace. With over 15 years of marketing experience, Alma excels in developing and executing impactful campaigns and programs that impact the small business community. A strong advocate for small businesses, Alma has been actively involved in community projects such as The Inclusivity Project and The Programa Hispano SBDC. Alma’s expertise extends to the media, where she frequently contributes to local and national TV and radio segments, furthering the BBB’s message of consumer empowerment and ethical business practices. Since the start of her career with BBB in 2005, she has been committed to empowering consumers and businesses alike. Connect with Alma to learn more about her work in promoting ethical business practices at the BBB.

Note: Our services and programs are open to all entrepreneurs. All Renaissance WBC/SOMA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Business Prep (WBC 8/14/25 – 10/16/25)

This isn’t just a class—it’s a journey in small business training designed to help you build confidence and move your business forward. Through weekly lessons, hands-on assignments, and expert guidance, you’ll gain the skills and clarity to take actionable next steps. Whether you’re just starting out, need guidance, or want to create a solid business plan, Business Prep equips you with the tools and support to turn your entrepreneurial vision into reality.

Who is this course for?

In this 10-week series you will:

Week 1. Create your mission and business plan outline
Week 2. Explore operations and management essentials
Weeks 3-4. Master marketing basics and customer engagement
Week 5. Strengthen operations for efficiency and growth
Week 6. Build leadership skills for hiring and management.
Week 7. Manage finances and understand financial statements
Week 8. Learn to plan ahead with financial forecasting
Week 9. Address risks, insurance, and growth strategies
Week 10. Finalize your plan and prepare for the next steps

What you’ll learn

Facilitator: Tara Cruz

Tara Cruz is a strategic business consultant with a passion for helping others chase their dreams. Her journey began when she left a high-profile management position in the Bay Area, diving headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship in 2017. Despite facing numerous challenges, Tara’s resilience and determination have led her to become a respected foundation setter for aspiring business owners.
In 2017, Tara took a leap of faith by restoring a 2,200 square foot building, transforming it into a thriving business space. This experience, coupled with her background in marketing, management, and startups, has equipped her with invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial process. Tara’s expertise lies in assisting clients with business alignment, marketing strategies, and branding.
As a strategic consultant, Tara is known for her ability to bring clarity and focus to business owners’ visions, aligning their goals with actionable plans for success. She creates safe spaces for creativity, futuristic thinking, and calculated risk-taking, playing a pivotal role in shaping the direction and success of business development.Throughout her career, Tara has demonstrated an ability to adapt and pivot, particularly during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her diverse skill set and experience in rebranding have made her an asset to businesses looking to navigate uncertain times and emerge stronger.When she’s not guiding entrepreneurs towards success, Tara cherishes spending quality time with her three children and grand-dog, finding balance between her professional passion and personal life.

Note: Our services and programs are open to all entrepreneurs. All Renaissance WBC/SOMA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

All clients must register for classes via your client portal account. Here is how you can do it.

Already a Renaissance Client?

New to the Renaissance Community?

Get started by filling out a client interest form and attending an orientation.

*All clients must complete an interest form and attend orientation before signing up for classes.*

Café y Comunidad: Autocuidado y emprendimiento (WBC 08/11/25)

En esta sesión exploraremos la importancia del autocuidado al emprender un proyecto y cómo el estrés impacta nuestro sistema. También practicaremos ejercicios para fortalecer nuestro bienestar.

Facilitadora: Susana Cardenas

Todos los clientes deben registrarse para las clases a través de su cuenta en el portal de clientes. Así es cómo puedes hacerlo:

¿Ya eres cliente de Renaissance?

Inicia sesión en tu portal de cliente y accede al calendario en la parte superior de tu pantalla.

¿Eres nuevo en la comunidad de Renaissance?

Comienza llenando un formulario de interés y nos pondremos en contacto para crear un portal de cliente.

Renaissance WBC se financia parcialmente mediante un acuerdo de cooperación con la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de EE. UU. Todas las opiniones, conclusiones y recomendaciones expresadas son las del/de los autor(es) y no necesariamente reflejan la opinión de la SBA. Todos los programas de la SBA o programas copatrocinados se ofrecen al público de forma no discriminatoria. Se realizarán adaptaciones razonables para personas con discapacidad, si se solicitan, con al menos dos semanas de antelación. Contacto: Women Business Center, wbc@rencenter.org, (415) 894-9779.

Access to Capital Panel 2025 — Event Recap & Key Takeaways

Posted on 06/24/202504/03/2026 by chrisb

Bringing the Funding Conversation to Life

Last week, our Renaissance Women’s Business Center teamed up with the San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and packed Golden Gate University’s School of Law with more than a hundred Bay Area small business owners. Three lender-led panels, an open Q&A, and a buzzing networking break turned access to capital from theory into practice by connecting real business owners with real answers to help them grow.

"The energy in the room was inspiring. From the three dynamic panels featuring lending experts to the resource tables hosted by lenders, entrepreneurs left feeling more informed, empowered, and supported in navigating their funding options.”

Lucero DeLeon, WBC Program Director

Panel discussions were broken up into three back-to-back sessions so attendees could hear directly from every corner of the funding landscape:

Community lenders explained how relationship-centred micro-loans can get a young business moving.
CDFIs and mission-driven funds showed how social impact can strengthen an application, even when collateral is thin.
Regional commercial banks outlined what they need to approve larger, lower-rate loans once revenues and records are solid.

Between sessions, attendees circulated through resource tables, swapped cards with lenders, and compared next steps with peers.

Four Lessons for Loan Readiness

For those who couldn’t attend, we’ve distilled much of the information shared into four key points every small business owner should hear.

Know your business and prove it!
Before a lender even thinks about rates or terms, they ask themselves a simpler question: A one-page business plan (or tight slide deck) should answer that in two minutes flat. Lay out the problem you solve, the audience that pays for it, the specific way money flows in, and the milestones you expect to hit next. When those pieces sit in one clear, skim-able document, a lender can trace the logic of your growth without flipping pages or decoding jargon, and that early clarity builds trust.
Lead with a precise request.
“Some money for growth” seldom lands well because it forces the lender to guess at everything that matters. Open with a single sentence that states the exact dollar figure, how you will deploy each tranche, and the timeline for paying it back. Specifics show discipline: you have run the numbers, matched the loan size to the project, and already mapped the path to repayment. That precision lets the lender line up the right product—term loan, line of credit, or micro-loan without a volley of follow-up questions.
Be documentation-ready. Even if you are pre-revenue.
Missing paperwork stalls underwriting, but “documentation” doesn’t have to mean years of statements. If your business is still in its early stages, show what you do have: tidy bookkeeping exports, three-to-six months of business-bank activity, any signed invoices or purchase orders, solid (realistic) projections, plus your personal tax returns and a simple net-worth sheet. Save these alongside licenses, incorporation papers, and insurance as PDFs in one shared folder. When an underwriter asks for a follow-up item, you can respond in minutes, not days, and keep the momentum on your side.
Start the relationship long before the application.
The easiest approvals often begin with a simple hello, long before any paperwork is involved. That doesn’t have to mean polished quarterly reports or endless coffee meetings. Drop into a free lender webinar, shake hands at a community fair, or send a short email every few months that says, “Here’s one win, one challenge, and one thing I’m working on next.” If you run a booth at a local market or host a soft-launch pop-up, invite the loan officer. Doing so helps turn your numbers into a story they can see. These low-lift touches move you from stranger to familiar face, so when you finally submit an application, it feels like a continuation of an ongoing conversation, not a cold call.

Looking for Your Next Step?

The day’s message was consistent: clarity beats complexity. Show lenders a solid plan, a specific ask, organized documents, and a relationship that started before deadline day, and you’ll walk into your next loan-readiness conversation on firmer ground. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us. Now, let’s turn these insights into a well-deserved “yes.”

Renaissance offers business-planning classes, one-to-one coaching, mentor matching, marketing and finance workshops, and pitch practice. Whether you’re polishing an idea, tightening operations, or preparing to raise capital, our programs give you the skills, network, and confidence to move forward.

Click here to get started today!

Tienes una idea de negocio? Conoce nuestros programas de estudio pregrabados (WBC 10/29/25)

Renaissance y el Women’s Business Center han diseñado tres programas pregrabados, orientados a la planeación de negocios. Estos programas están dirigidos a emprendedores que desean estudiar en un horario flexible y a su propio ritmo.

¿Cuáles son nuestros programas?

Tu negocio a tu tiempo – Programa para estructurar tu idea de negocio

Este programa está pensado para personas que tienen una idea de negocio pero no saben por dónde empezar o cómo darle forma. A tu propio ritmo, aprenderás a transformar esa idea en un proyecto real, con bases sólidas y enfoque estratégico.
A lo largo del programa, te guiaremos paso a paso para definir tu propuesta de valor, identificar a tu cliente ideal, analizar el mercado, establecer metas claras y diseñar un modelo de negocio funcional.

Con herramientas prácticas y ejemplos reales, podrás construir una visión clara y ordenada de tu emprendimiento, sin presiones de tiempo y adaptado a tu estilo de vida.

Ideal para quienes quieren emprender con propósito, claridad y estructura, sin dejar de lado sus responsabilidades actuales.

Publicidad y mercadeo – básica para tu negocio

Este programa está diseñado para emprendedores y pequeños empresarios que desean dar visibilidad a su negocio y atraer más clientes, sin necesidad de ser expertos en marketing. Aprenderás los fundamentos esenciales de la publicidad y el mercadeo aplicados a negocios reales, con estrategias prácticas, accesibles y efectivas.

Exploraremos cómo identificar a tu público objetivo, crear mensajes que conecten, elegir los canales adecuados (redes sociales, medios tradicionales, marketing boca a boca, etc.) y diseñar campañas que generen resultados. También conocerás conceptos clave como posicionamiento, branding, propuesta de valor y promoción.

Ideal para quienes quieren impulsar su negocio desde cero o fortalecer su presencia en el mercado con recursos limitados pero bien aprovechados.

Finanzas básicas – para tu negocio

Este programa está diseñado para emprendedores, propietarios de pequeñas empresas y profesionales que desean fortalecer la salud financiera de sus negocios desde los fundamentos. A través de conceptos claros y aplicables, aprenderás a gestionar ingresos y gastos, establecer presupuestos, calcular precios correctamente, manejar el flujo de caja y tomar decisiones financieras informadas.

Dominar las finanzas básicas te permitirá tener un mayor control, proyectar crecimiento y tomar decisiones con seguridad.

Ideal tanto para quienes están iniciando como para quienes buscan organizar mejor sus finanzas y hacer crecer su negocio de manera sostenible.

No esperes más, ¡inscríbete hoy mismo! Únete a nuestra orientación para conocer los detalles de cada uno de estos programas, cómo puedes participar y cuáles son los requisitos.

Para registrarse, utiliza el siguiente enlace: https://wkf.ms/4bi177q

Facilitadora: Nancy Aguilar

Nota: Nuestros servicios y programas están abiertos a todos los emprendedores. Todos los programas y servicios de Renaissance WBC/SOMA se ofrecen al público sin discriminación.

Todos los clientes deben registrarse para las clases a través de su cuenta en el portal de clientes. Así es cómo puedes hacerlo:

¿Ya eres cliente de Renaissance?

Inicia sesión en tu portal de cliente y accede al calendario en la parte superior de tu pantalla.

¿Eres nuevo en la comunidad de Renaissance?

Comienza llenando un formulario de interés y nos pondremos en contacto para crear un portal de cliente.

Tag: San Francisco SoMa/WBC

Steps To Create A Business Budget (8/11/25)

Business Finance Check-In (WBC 08/25/2025)

Cash Flow Management: Money Smart for Small Businesses (WBC 08/25/25)

¿Por qué es importante la presencia en línea?(WBC 08/19/25)

Financial Management: Money Smart for Small Businesses (WBC 09/15/25)

Concepts Of Digital Marketing (WBC 08/12/25)

Business Prep (WBC 8/14/25 – 10/16/25)

Who is this course for?

What you’ll learn

Café y Comunidad: Autocuidado y emprendimiento (WBC 08/11/25)

Access to Capital Panel 2025 — Event Recap & Key Takeaways

Bringing the Funding Conversation to Life

Four Lessons for Loan Readiness

Looking for Your Next Step?

Tienes una idea de negocio? Conoce nuestros programas de estudio pregrabados (WBC 10/29/25)