Success Stories

Besha Success Story

Besha, Inc. (Besha) started in 2016 by Rebeca Sanchez, sells all natural collagen supplement products online. These products are manufactured using a patented formula developed in Germany. Customers use the products to benefit their skin, hair, nails and joints. Collagen supplements are a very fast growing segment of the health and beauty supplements market.

In 2015, Rebecca Sanchez wanted to start an online business selling natural collagen supplements.  She also needed advice on how to launch a business with minimal capital investment. She met with a business advisor for a non-profit agency, but left the meeting feeling disillusioned. The advisor did not believe in her business idea.  

Rebecca then contacted the Alameda County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and was connected with Ron Barrett, a business advisor who has started several companies and has significant finance and marketing experience. 

After Rebecca’s first conversation with Ron, she... Read More

image of hands making cookies

Wooden Table Baking Company Success Story

Wooden Table Baking Co. is an Oakland-based bakery, dedicated to crafting the
finest Argentinian treats. They make alfajores, conitos and bonbons from scratch with high quality, all natural ingredients. They use locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible and their flour, granulated sugar, cornstarch, chocolate, potato starch and tapioca starch are all non-GMO.

“Our cookies are hecho a mano, con amor. We are a learning organization,
dedicated to growing with our employees, our business, and our community,” said Owner and Head Baker Andreas Ozzuna.

Andreas grew up baking alfajores with her grandmother, and visiting her grandfather’s deli in Buenos Aires. As a child, Andreas aspired to work in the family business, but it wasn’t until she was 41 that she decided to turn her hobby of cooking into her full time job. 

Initially she sold her alfajores door-to-door to coffee shops in San Francisco.  Whole... Read More

Mosaic Global Transportation Community Advantage

Maurice Brewster launched his corporate ground transportation business, Mosaic Global Transportation, in 2002 in Redwood City.

Maurice recalls, “I’ve always loved cars, service and sales.  So when my wife took me to a vintage vehicle show on Father’s Day, the concept hit me like a ton of bricks.”  Fourteen years later, Mosaic Global Transportation is a multi-million dollar international company, employing nearly 100 workers and operating in over 400 cities.

Maurice prides himself on the customer service his company provides: “Every order for transportation services affords us the opportunity to enhance the expectations of our clients – things like knowing our clients favorite beverage or having a favorite newspaper on the seat when they enter the vehicle.”

In 2013, Maurice wanted to accommodate several marquee clients who wanted to be billed for payment.  He required working capital to meet this challenge and approached a major national bank for a loan. He was... Read More

Trick or Treat Studios Masks

Chris Zephro was always a huge fan of horror. He decided to start his own business because he hated working for corporate America.  He wanted to do something for which he had true passion. 

            In order to understand the financial side of running a business, Chris earned an MBA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  He never wrote a formal plan for his own business.  He did write business plans for at least twenty other companies as a graduate student. 

            Chris quickly chose the name Trick or Treat studios because of its iconic connection to Halloween. 

            His favorite licensee to work with has been Halloween II.  It was his first major studio deal.  He called Universal Studios incessantly to get access to the movie licensing.  Eventually, he was granted a fifteen minute interview at a licensing expo, which ended up running two hours.  Today the Michael Myers mask produced by Trick or Treat studios is the most sold mask in the... Read More

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