Maestro Entrepreneur Center

There is still time to apply for our Accelerate Your Growth cohort for second-stage companies in San Antonio. Here are a few reasons why you should take that leap of faith from one of our graduates, Adrian Martinez of Smoke BBQ & Skybar. Learn more about this program at our website, www.maestrocenter.org.

Had an amazing time at Career Day at Poe Middle School! Inspiring the next generation and showing them the endless possibilities ahead. Thank you to the students and staff for making it a memorable day! #CareerDay #FutureLeaders #Inspiration #PoeMiddleSchool #CommunityEngagement

Grateful for the incredible leadership and dedication of our board members! ?? Their vision and commitment continue to drive our mission forward. Thank you for all that you do! #Teamwork #Leadership #Gratitude #BoardMembers #CommunityImpact

Do you know Caitlin Cowart de Leon? She is not only one of our board members at the Maestro Entrepreneur Center, representing the City of San Antonio, but she is also a Small Business Manager for the Economic Development Department, the department that supports the Accelerate Your Growth cohort for second-stage companies. The City of San Antonio has been a pivotal partner in our work and we couldn't do it without them. Learn more about this program and all of our programs at www.maestrocenter.org.

Selling your product is much more than that. It is about selling your story. As small business owners, the journey from concept to product is different for everyone. Two businesses may sell the same product or service but no two come from the same origin story. One of our favorite sessions for our Accelerate Your Venture cohort is called "Meet the Buyers." Our cohort participants have the opportunity to share what they have learned and share their story with procurement departments from around the region. They receive feedback from each procurement department, and hopefully may even be awarded a contract or bid with one of them based on their connection and ability to sell that story. Interested in our cohort programs? Visit www.maestrocenter.org.

Accelerate for Growth. Sounds like a bit of a tacky name at first, but there is something unique about the work we are accomplishing through this cohort of business owners. For many years, the Maestro Entrepreneur Center focused its efforts on businesses in the early stages of their business. And while there is a case for why that is important (there's no shortage of need for our small businesses), there is also a case for working to develop our businesses that fall into the category of second stage. Some refer to them as teenage companies, but we refer to them as the next level of entrepreneurship. This cohort, sponsored by the City of San Antonio, H-E-B, and Bank of America, focuses on the growth stage for these businesses. To join the cohort, they must be between 1-99 employees, have an annual revenue of $1M to $50M and have an appetite for growth outside of their current market. If you are interested in learning more about this cohort or our other programs, please join us on December 9, at the center. More information can be found on our website, Maestrocenter.org. We hope to see you there!

What advice would you give to the new generation of Latino professionals? That is just one of the questions our Executive Director answered for this interview with our partners at Comerica Bank about the journey that led to the Maestro Entrepreneur Center. The advice given can apply to our small business owners just as much as it can for a new generation of Latino professionals. Don't stop. Don't let age contain your enthusiasm. Don't be discouraged.

You may have heard us say this before, but we are not here to be the experts in small business. We are here to be connectors, and communicators. We are here to work towards an ecosystem of support by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Our Executive Director spent the morning with students from South San ISD and Somerset ISD and shared about the work we are doing to support small business owners, but as it says in our name, we are the Maestro-named in homage to the teachers who once walked our campus at 1811 S. Laredo and in respect for the small business owners who return to this campus to become the Maestros or teachers to other small business owners. Thank you to Very That and Barbacoa Apparel owners/founders Cristina Martinez & Catherine Contreras-Sanchez for being the Maestras at Palo Alto College on this panel. We learn from you and hope to always stand ready to support all entrepreneurs in San Antonio and our greater region. Adelante!

?? You're Invited to the Maestro Cohorts Information Session! ?? Are you a small business owner eager to master the essentials or take your business to the next level? Join us for an informative session about our programs designed just for you! ??? Date: December 4, 2024 ?? Time: 10 AM - 12 PM ?? Location: Maestro Entrepreneur Center Don’t miss out—RSVP today! https://lnkd.in/gT6YE9jX

One of our biggest accomplishments this year was working with small business owners throughout the city to complete applications and assistance for sustainability projects. From lighting upgrades to AC fixes, the Maestro Entrepreneur Center helped over $200K be awarded to small businesses. Here is a flashback to our work with Maria's Cafe. They were able to repair and upgrade their AC system using the City of San Antonio sustainability grant which will help them keep their energy bills down and fight the blistering heats during our hottest days.