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Tag: San Francisco SoMa/WBC

Start Smart (WBC 07/08/25 -07/29/25)

This class will meet for 2 hours IN-PERSON once a week for four weeks.
If you are ready to start a small business or are very new to business, this class is for you! Start Smart is a four-week course where you will learn the basic tools and business fundamentals needed to start up successfully. You will work with a Business Model Canvas (a visual hands-on tool) to get your ideas down on paper, test, refine and confirm concepts, and adjust your conclusions about customer needs.

Outcomes:

  • Learn how to define your vision
  • Create a mission statement
  • Assess your skills, passion, and resources
  • Craft a business strategy to match your reality
  • Test the viability of your products and services

Class Ground Rules

As a Start Smart participant, you agree to:

  • Complete all required readings and submit assignments between classes
  • Select ONE business idea for which you will complete all course assignments
  • Submit a Business Model Canvas by the last class and conduct a short presentation
  • Tuition: No cost.

Noted: 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.

Instructor: Erika

Ericka Scott is the current Director of District Projects with the San Francisco African American Arts & Cultural District (SFAAACD). Ericka is a San Francisconative and has served in various capacities in the area of economic development
throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Ericka studied American Studies with an emphasis in Urban Development at UC Berkeley.
Ericka is a graduate of the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and has been a consultant and Entrepreneur instructor for 19 years, supporting over 200 entrepreneurs to develop their business plans, build business strategies and
perfect the art of business presentations. In 2018, Ericka founded Honey Art Studio, a business that uses art to build relationships, provide creative ways to explore social justice, a healing space and a safe atmosphere for ‘non-creatives’ to tap into a fun and relaxing form of self-expression. Throughout her many endeavors, Ericka’s primary mission is to provide resources and tools to bridge communities, empower and inspire others.

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

Log in to your client portal and access the calendar at the top of your screen

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’s Business Center at wbc@rencenter.org, (415) 348-6227.

 

Start Capital Roundtable: For Established Businesses (WBC 06/25/25)

Are you at the stage where you’re ready to access capital and launch your business? Join us for our monthly session—Start Capital: Growth-Ready Business Roundtable.

This session is tailored for entrepreneurs who are prepared to launch or grow their business and ready to secure funding. If you’re still in the ideation stage or working to solidify your business plans, we encourage you to join when you’re ready for this critical step.

Securing capital can be challenging, especially with predatory loans and limited awareness of funding options. The right knowledge and guidance are critical. During this interactive session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask capital-related questions directly to Gwen Wright, an industry expert. Gwen will share her experiences, explore various funding options, and provide actionable advice specific to your business stage, helping you secure capital and fuel your 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: 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!

 


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?

Log in to your client portal and access the calendar at the top of your screen

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.*

POWERED BY SBA - U.S Small Business Administration

 

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.

Apparel Manufacturing Today (WBC 06/09/25)

Can sewn products be made locally? Why are so many made offshore? How will import tariffs impact your options?

Explore your production options, and learn about minimums, price quotes, lead time, payment terms, and social and environmental compliance. We’ll also discuss the special requirements of producing in California, and what cannot be made in the US.

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.

Facilitator: Lana Hogue.

Lana Hogue has worked in garment manufacturing for over 35 years. With extensive experience in production, quality control, and operations both in the U.S. and offshore including Asia, Mexico & Central America, South America, and Caribbean Basin. Ms. Hogue has worked as an employee or consultant to hundreds of companies from start-ups to $15 billion in sales. Her background includes management of product development and production at Betabrand, Triple Aught Design, Tea Living, Biscotti Inc., and Esprit, as well as business systems analysis at Byer California and Gap Inc. Having worked for 6 years on a compliance project with the Department of Labor, she is well versed in California garment labor law. Lana currently serves as Director of Supply Chain at Qhipas Shoes. While also conducting a workshop series on ethical sewn-product manufacturing at www.garmentindustry411.com.

 

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

Log in to your client portal and access the calendar at the top of your screen

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: wbc@rencenter.org (415) 894-9779

Intro to Fashion as a Business (WBC 06/02/25)

What (or who) is your brand identity? Learn what to consider in your business planning, including customer profiling and competitor research.

Sewn products are traditionally INVENTORY businesses. What are your options? What is the timeline and investment?

Are you ready to be a project and finance manager? Learn what roles you’ll be taking on and which are your best value-add.

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.

Facilitator: Lana Hogue.

Lana Hogue has worked in garment manufacturing for over 35 years. With extensive experience in production, quality control, and operations both in the U.S. and offshore including Asia, Mexico & Central America, South America, and Caribbean Basin. Ms. Hogue has worked as an employee or consultant to hundreds of companies from start-ups to $15 billion in sales. Her background includes management of product development and production at Betabrand, Triple Aught Design, Tea Living, Biscotti Inc., and Esprit, as well as business systems analysis at Byer California and Gap Inc. Having worked for 6 years on a compliance project with the Department of Labor, she is well versed in California garment labor law. Lana currently serves as Director of Supply Chain at Qhipas Shoes. While also conducting a workshop series on ethical sewn-product manufacturing at www.garmentindustry411.com.

 

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

Log in to your client portal and access the calendar at the top of your screen

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: wbc@rencenter.org (415) 894-9779

Verizon Digital Ready Grant Sesión Informativa (Español)(WBC 06/11/25)

En esta sesión de treinta minutos, brindaremos información general sobre cómo solicitar la beca Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. La fecha límite de solicitud es el 30 de Junio de 2025.

Explore la plataforma Verizon Small Business Digital Ready (enlace: http://tiny.cc/renaissancewbc). Ofrece eventos virtuales en vivo, cursos a la carta y otros recursos valiosos. Verizon ofrece actualmente la oportunidad de obtener una beca de $10,000. Crear una cuenta y ver los videos hace que los clientes sean elegibles (aunque la beca no está garantizada). Renaissance SoMa se ha asociado con Verizon para que estos recursos sean más accesibles para nuestra comunidad de pequeñas empresas.

Importante: NO utilice el modo incógnito al crear su cuenta ni al ver los videos. Por favor, complete la encuesta al final para que el video se considere completo.

Nuestros servicios y programas están abiertos a todos los emprendedores. Todos los programas y servicios de Renaissance WBC/SOMA se ofrecen al público de forma no discriminatoria.

Facilitadora: Susana Cardenas

Todos los clientes deben registrarse en las clases a través de su cuenta del portal de clientes. Aquí le explicamos cómo hacerlo.
¿Ya es cliente de Renaissance?

Inicie sesión en su portal de clientes y acceda al calendario en la parte superior de la pantalla.

¿Es nuevo en la Comunidad Renaissance?

Para comenzar, complete el formulario de interés y asista a una orientación.

*Todos los clientes deben completar el formulario de interés y asistir a la orientación antes de registrarse en las clases.*

Verizon Digital Ready Grant Informational Session (WBC 06/11/25)

In this thirty-minute session, we’ll provide general information on how to apply for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready scholarship. The application deadline is June 30, 2025.

Explore Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform (link: http://tiny.cc/renaissancewbc). It offers virtual live events, on-demand courses and other valuable resources.Verizon is currently offering a chance to be awarded a $10K grant. Creating an account and watching videos makes clients eligible (though the grant is not guaranteed). Renaissance SoMa is partnering with Verizon to make these resources more accessible to our small business community.

Important: DO NOT use incognito mode when creating their account or watching the videos and please take the survey at the end for the video to count as complete

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.

Facilitator: Susana Cardenas

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

Log in to your client portal and access the calendar at the top of your screen

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: wbc@rencenter.org, (415) 894-9779

Access To Capital Panel (WBC 06/13/25)

Understanding how to fund your business should not be overwhelming. Access to Capital Panel is here to connect small business owners with valuable information about funding opportunities, helping you move forward with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, this is your chance to ask questions, build connections, and gain clarity.

You will hear from three types of lenders-community based lenders, private funders and commercial banks-through a series of thoughtful panel conversations. Expert facilitators will guide the conversation, breaking down what lenders are looking for and how you can prepare to apply.

Let’s make access to capital something every small business owner can count on.

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.

 

POWERED BY SBA - U.S Small Business Administration

 

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

Using SWOT analysis to find your sweet spot (05/29/25)

This introductory session focuses on using SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to identify your competitive advantages and stand out to potential customers. Business owners seeking capital, improved marketing, or a competitive edge will benefit from expert insights and feedback. Prepare by listing your primary competitors and their websites.

To Sign up for the Event:

  • Visit http://tiny.cc/renaissancewbc
  • Create a free account
  • Search for this webinar under “Learning” -> “Learning by Resource” -> “Events”
  • Register!

(Please DO NOT USE INCOGNITO MODE when creating your account or watching videos).

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.

 

 

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

Cybersecurity: more than just passwords! (05/27/25)

This intermediate-level session will cover cybersecurity best practices to help business owners protect their information from cyber threats like phishing, malware, and identity theft. Industry expert Rachel Theka of Thrive Consulting will guide attendees on securing their businesses in a digital world. Participants should have a business website and a POS system for digital payments. After the session, it is recommended to attend related sessions on e-commerce and website usability. Rachel Theka, with 13+ years of experience in cybersecurity, business strategy, and leadership, will share her expertise to help businesses prevent, identify, and respond to cyberattacks.

To Sign up for the Event:

  • Visit http://tiny.cc/renaissancewbc
  • Create a free account
  • Search for this webinar under “Learning” -> “Learning by Resource” -> “Events”
  • Register!

(Please DO NOT USE INCOGNITO MODE when creating your account or watching videos).

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.

 

 

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 Mastermind: Scale Your Business: Strike the Right Team Dynamics (WBC 05/28/25)

Business Mastermind: “Scale Your Business: Strike the Right Team Dynamics”

Overview: This 60minute mastermind will focus on the crucial topic of building, maintaining, and scaling a high-performing team. Chef Erika Minkowsky, Co-Owner of The Heirloom Chef, will guide participants through the key strategies she has used to build and manage two successful teams-one in the Bay Area and one in Chicago. With 25 employees under her leadership, Erika will share insights into hiring the right team members, ensuring a strong group dynamic, and addressing challenges such as team inefficiency and difficult personnel decisions.

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.

Noted: 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.

Facilitator:

Erika Minkowsky

Erika is co-owner and Head Chef at The Heirloom Chef. She is passionate about women’s health, social and earth justice, and prayer. She spent over 12 years championing worker’s rights across the county as a labor union organizer early in her career. Erika spent years studying and building community traveling around the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East, which has fueled her love of food and teaching her daughter about different cultures and traditions. Over the past ten years, she has worked as a chef and a doula and studied with fellow artists, herbalists, and healers to understand the importance of food as medicine and the best foods to help women throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

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

Already a Renaissance Client? 

Log in to your client portal and access the calendar at the top of your screen

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