Impact
SFDBA has been growing steadily, providing technical assistance to over 100 Disability-Owned Businesses since its creation, training 20 future entrepreneurs in 2024, hosting a successful and sold-out event during Small Business Week and gathering over 100 attendees to the Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Event.
Success Stories
Cesar Ramos
Owner - Beautiful Losers Barbershop
SFDBA helped Cesar get a $35,000 grant from the California Department of Rehabilitation to pay for most of the build-out of the barbershop.
SF Chronicle article (Nov 2023) - He used to be homeless. Now he cuts hair for mayors under an S.F. BART tunnel
Zachary Leyden
Co-founder of Ocean View Stables
High quality equestrian services for all ages
Leadership through horsemanship Program designed for corporations, military organizations, veterans, and inner-city at-risk youth
Free equestrian services for Veterans
SFDBA is on the Board of Directors for Ocean View Stables and Peter DeHaas (2nd left) always enjoys visiting the stables.
Zach (left) is a strong advocate for the work we are doing and participated in our FoundAble speaker series in 2023.
Paris Mason
Founder - Birthing Mothers Self Care Initiative
Empowers new moms and uplifts postpartum families by offering self-care baskets, access to resources and inclusion in a nurturing community.
“Thank you, SFDBA, for blessing the Birthing Mothers Self Care Initiative with your mentorship, guidance, and generosity! Through your actions with my nonprofit, I now truly understand the meaning of resilience and dedication.”
Connie Chu
Self-published Author
Connie is an Asian American disability advocate author from San Francisco, CA. Connie has self-published 20 books, from poetry and women’s empowerment to science fiction. Her books are available on Amazon.
Connie attended the SFDBA 2023 Future Entrepreneur Cohort. In 2024, the Alliance helped her secure a $5000 fellowship through Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), enabling her to teach peers with disabilities how to self-publish their writings. Additionally, Connie is receiving ongoing technical assistance from SFDBA to run her small business.
Afatasi
Self-employed visual artist, futurist and storyteller
Design wearable art, fine art textile/tapestry creation, and recycled metal sculpture. Investigating the nexus of being a proud generational San Franciscan of Black-American and Sāmoan descent.
Afatasi was a FoundAble panelist at the San Francisco Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Annual Event in 2023 and gave inspiration to the future entrepreneurs attending the event. Afatasi also sold her work at the event and SFDBA purchased one of her works for the Inclusive Business Award.
Eric Vance
General Manager of Keys Jazz Bistro
KEYS is a sanctuary in the heart of San Francisco’s North Beach where artists and listeners connect as they share jazz music, food and drink together. KEYS supports local artists at all stages of their pursuits.
Make yourself uncomfortable to grow your success
Eric participated to the SFDBA FoundAble Speaker series during the 2024 San Francisco Bay Area Entrepreneurship annual event and gave inspiration to the audience. He was also awarded a boost award for his advocacy and efforts to make KEYS accessible to all audiences.
Chef lulu
Owner of Casa Borinquena
“Born with a passion for food, I took a leap of faith and opened my doors in 2018 after completing my culinary training at CCSF. What began as a pop-up soon became my lifelong dream realized. After 3 years of experimenting and growing, I made the bold decision to embrace plant-based cooking, making Casa Borinqueña the first and only Puerto Rican plant-based restaurant in California.”
Chef Lulu was a FoundAble panelist at the 2024 Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Event organized by SFDBA at the Elks Lodge and Casa Borinquena catered SFDBA’s Small Business Week event.
Brian Davis
“ProfessorB Media” - Owner of Niners Radio 49
Having my own business gives me the independence and autonomy to embrace my love for sports, statistics, and history.
Independent Media Freelancer, Broadcaster
Podcast updates on the 49ers team
Conducts interviews with NFL personalities
Commentator for college baseball games
Brian attended the SFDBA Future Entrepreneur Cohort in 2023 and is receiving ongoing technical assistance for his small business. He won the SFDBA Boost Award for his goal to inspire the youth to get into sports and learn how to be more innovative.
