Small Business Spotlight

In 2019, former educator Kristi Yawata launched Brisbane Lunch Truck to bring quality modern American comfort food to her close-knit community. Serving hot sandwiches, house-made soups, and scratch-made desserts, Kristi paired hearty comfort classics with high-touch customer service and a 100% compostable, eco-friendly footprint in Brisbane, CA.

Operating an outdoor restaurant came with steep physical and financial hurdles, from unpredictable seasonal weather to traditional banks turning down restaurant startups. To navigate these challenges, Kristi partnered with the San Mateo SBDC and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, where participating in their online and in-person education, intensive workshops, and networking events proved invaluable.

Gaining critical training in financial planning and scaling strategies, Kristi built a thriving neighborhood staple and is now preparing to transition into a permanent, full-scale indoor restaurant.

Read the full success story on our blog →

Upcoming at the San Mateo SBDC

SF Tech Week Kickoff: Pitch & Connect

Are you ready to fund, feature, and connect your startup? Join us on Monday, Oct 5 for an interactive mid-morning session designed to launch your tech week with real momentum.

Whether you are looking to secure funding, refine your pitch, or expand your professional network, this event offers actionable insights and active pitching opportunities alongside founders, ecosystem partners, and seasoned investors.

Co-hosted by:

San Mateo SBDC, Women’s Business Center, & Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

Panelists:

Anita Darden Gardyne, Sebastien Torre, & Porter Wong

This event is part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem.

Date: Monday, October 5

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: 275 5th St, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA

Marketing Mondays: Digital Magazine Platforms

Expand your market footprint. Discover how interactive brochures, digital lookbooks, and web-ready catalogs can elevate your brand equity and connect you with global clients.



WHY ATTEND?

• Build shoppable, clickable publications audiences love.
• Share your brand globally across web and social channels.
• Drive higher engagement with immersive digital assets.

Led by San Mateo SBDC advisor Margaret Jackson.

💻Sept 28 from 10:00am-12:00pm

Recipe for Success: Monthly Meetup for Home-Based Food Makers

Ready to take your cottage food product to retail shelves or a restaurant space? 🍳✨

Join us on the second Thursday of every month (August – December 2026) for an interactive, high-value virtual meetup featuring expert mentorship, hands-on learning, and targeted networking with fellow food entrepreneurs.

Leading our monthly sessions is Chef Mani Niall—a seasoned culinary entrepreneur, baker, author, and food product development expert. Mani brings a wealth of real-world experience to the table. His rare combination of culinary artistry, commercial R&D experience, and business savvy makes him the ideal guide for food makers at any stage of growth.

October meetup is next month on 10/8/2026 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am.

Opportunities from Our Community Partners

Renaissance Annual Gala – Celebrating 41 Years



Join us for an evening of delicious bites, meaningful connections, and a lively marketplace as we celebrate 41 years of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center empowering small business success across the Bay Area.

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We want to hear about your latest successes—whether you’ve hired a new employee, increased your sales, secured a loan, or reached a personal business milestone. Please take just 2 minutes to share your milestones with us.