Entrepreneurship is woven into the fabric of the Bay Area; the history of this region overflows with examples of innovation, bold investment, and technological breakthroughs. However, this narrative leaves out communities of enterprising low-income, BIPOC, and immigrant women whose talent and grit match that of any founder in any industry with those businesses rarely attracting the same recognition or funding.
La Cocina increases the index of opportunity and business ownership and assets for low-income entrepreneurs across the Bay Area and models it for the country and beyond. While many business development organizations’ commitment ends with completion of curriculum and the launch of a business, La Cocina takes a much longer view. Our program design and our sustained support to graduates are unique approaches to business development, with long-term economic sustainability as their explicit goal.
Business ownership means these systems-impacted entrepreneurs can employ their neighbors, send children to college, purchase homes, and pass valuable assets to the next generation.
Here's the demographic of the people we service:
At La Cocina, 60% of entrepreneurs are mothers. As their businesses grow through our incubation program and graduate support, we witness first-hand how they put kids through college, provide jobs, support local vendors, build community, and make their leadership visible to future generations.
