Terry Watts recently acquired Fair Game in Sacramento, with help from a loan from Veteran Launch. “Fair Game in Sacramento, now owned by Marine Corps veteran Terry Watts, celebrates retro games with an enthusiasm that keeps their customers coming back. Their website introduces the business: ‘Think back to the days of your youth: the…
The two sisters and owners of Awesome Bars, Leah and Stefanie Melnik, were inspired to start their business after getting awesome feedback about their tasty and wholesome snacks from their family and friends.
At the end of 2013, three entrepreneurs opened Manifesta. The entrepreneurs, Lindsay Barnhardt, K.C. Lutes, and Mireya Albarra, knew that they wanted to open a hair salon, but they also wanted to serve the community.
Founded by a partnership between Marianne Lam and Jacquelyn Coo, The Storybook School officially opened on October 23, 2017. Ever since then, their school grew from two to forty students, almost reaching max capacity within one year. The Storybook School is an all-inclusive, relationship and project-based school preparing 2-5 year olds to transition into grade…
Aburaya is a restaurant inspired by punk rock and a mission to provide affordable Japanese cuisine, such as the fried chicken and more to the local community. Originally, Aburaya started as a pop-up, but settled in a more permanent location on Oakland’s 17th St after popular demand for the chicken and other dishes. They are…
Bootstrap Kombucha, located in San Diego, is a company that brews real kombucha. They business started to operate in May 2016. James, U.S. Coast Guard veteran, knew he wanted his next entrepreneurial endeavor to be centered around kombucha, and he also wanted to open a business in which his family can work together. Bootstrap Kombucha…
Growing up, David Benton, the owner of Sugarsweet Cookie and Cake Studio, was not exposed to baking. He went on to California Culinary School to become a chef. During his studies there, he took an introductory baking class and immediately fell in love with it. After the 2008 recession, he lost his job and started…
Nido opened on Oak Street in Oakland, and since then, more small businesses have opened in the Jack London Square area. When you visit their space, you get great cocktails, incredible plates of food, and a welcoming and fun ambiance. “Cory McCollow and his wife Silvia used their loan to open the doors to…
The Philoglots is a new business that opened in October 2016. Josee and her husband Gregory connected with Veteran Launch during the startup phase of their business. Her husband and partner at the Philoglots served in the Gulf War when he was 18 years old. “My experience with Veteran Launch was awesome. I had…
Vita is a boutique fitness studio specializing in yoga, pilates, and barre. They offer classes that range from gentle to power to intense cardio. Vita is a great place to pursue your fitness goals and build community. Katy Winter opened Vita in 2017 after changing careers. “I was working in finance, but I knew…