We are very excited to announce that Isabel Guzman, the Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development attended the Startup Mendocino pitch competition Gala. Appointed in March, in her role she has launched the Entrepreneurship Task Force — a diverse group of leading entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders from across the state. She will be expanding the group, and the initial members include Nely Galan, founder Galan Entertainment and author SELF MADE; Charles Hudson, Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures; Bismarck Lepe, CEO of Wizeline; Teddy Liaw, CEO of NexRep; Irma Olguin, CEO of Bitwise Industries; and Carmen Palafox, Partner of Make in LA.
Says Guzman, “ Through our engagement with the Task Force and listening sessions throughout the state, government can connect directly to the idea generators — especially the women, people of color and heartland entrepreneurs and small businesses who face disparate barriers, who are sidelined from capital and markets, and who are challenged by a real “pay gap†reflected in lower revenues, number of employees and payrolls.â€
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more.
Guzman had this to say about Startup Mendocino, “Startup Mendocino was hugely successful as not only further demonstrated that innovation comes from every zip code in California, but also helped local entrepreneurs accelerate in Mendocino. Proud to see our GO-Biz grantee, West Business Development Center, have impact with the state resources they were awarded as part of the Technical Assistance Expansion Program.”
Tickets for the Startup Mendocino Competition Gala Are Now on Sale
This family-friendly event takes place in Ukiah at the Mendocino College theater on August 25th. Tickets are $10 and include beer, wine, refreshments, local food and prizes — and most importantly, a chance to cast your vote to determine who will win the grand prize for Startup Mendocino. Click here to buy tickets now.
Startup Mendocino is a Business Bootcamp and Pitch Competition designed to spark new thinking about what is possible in Mendocino County through entrepreneurship. Startup Mendocino is sponsored by the West Business Development Center, America’s SBDC, The John and Sandra Mayfield Economic Development Fund at the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Adventist Hospital, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Economic Development and Financing Corporation, Mendocino College, North Coast Brewery, Harvest Market, The John Pack and Linda Francis Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Ukiah Chambers of Commerce, Mendocino Coast Chambers of Commerce, Willits Chambers of Commerce, The Coast – KOZT, and the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity.
Startup Mendocino is supported by the Small Business Administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Business & Economic Development.
As always, to sign up for free business advising from WestBDC go here
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