The 12th Annual San Francisco Small Business Week Starts Today!
As nearly one of 80,000 small businesses and startups in San Francisco, your business has a tremendous impact on your community and the city’s economic vitality. Together, we create an innovative and vibrant San Francisco. Know that your business is an important part of our community and neighborhood, and without it, San Francisco would not be the same. This week is for you!
Here are some ways to tap into opportunity!
Go talk to your neighbors.
There are awesome business people in this city who also want your neighborhood to thrive!
Get smarter.
Learn how the future shops and what they want.
You get out what you put in.
Partner with the chamber/ merchant association/ nonprofit that gets what you do and can help you accomplish your goal.
We hope you’ll join us at one of these great events happening during San Francisco Small Business Week to meet one of the dozens of city organizations and small business resources dedicated to your success!
San Francisco Small Business Week 2016
Schedule of Events
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Neighborhood Sidewalk Sales
Visit select neighborhoods for special shopping experiences! Go to our events page to see the full list pf participating neighborhoods, streets, and shops.
Bilingual Small Business Resources Fair
City College of SF, Mission Campus • 1125 Valencia Street • 9:30AM – 2:00PM
Educational workshops, resources to grow your business, access to capital & social media training. Free. Hosted by MEDA
Monday, May 23, 2016
Flavors of San Francisco
(Tickets Will Not Be Sold At the Door)
City View at Metreon, 135 4th Street, Fourth Floor • 5:30 – 8:30PM
Gala kick-off to San Francisco Small Business Week gathers 1,200 Small Business Owners and Community members to celebrate. Mingle and Connect with 34 Small Business Resources, 10 Government Resources and 28 Sponsors. And savor and sample food, wine and beer from 37 outstanding local restaurants, catering companies and bars.
Sponsored by: San Francisco Office of Small Business
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Awards
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place • 3:30 – 4:30PM
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will honor and recognize an exceptional small business from each of San Francisco’s 11 districts citywide.
USF Gellert Family Business Center Awards
University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain Handlery Room, 2800 Turk Blvd • 5:30 – 7:30PM
The Gellert Family Business Center recognizes two family businesses who have been established for more than 15 years and who have made a difference in the way our neighborhoods work. Join the Gellert Foundation, Gellert Advisory Board, USF President Fitzgerald and local legislators in recognizing our 2015 winners and introducing our 2016 awardees.
African American Entrepreneurs: Innovators of the Local Economy
1300 on Fillmore, 1300 Fillmore Street • 5:30 – 8:30PM
Join us to meet African American founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who are transforming our local economy. Network and enjoy one of SF’s finest African American restaurants.
Co-hosted by: SF African American Chamber of Commerce, Urban Solutions & Wells Fargo
Sponsored by: Main Street Launch
AAPI: How to Succeed as an Asian-American Business Owner
NerdWallet, 901 Market Street • 5:30 – 8:30PM
Hear from successful Asian business owners and entrepreneurs on how they started and grew their businesses. Meet and mingle with other business owners, community leaders and lenders at the networking event. Reception to follow.
Sponsored by: East West Bank
GGBA MEGA Make Contact
The Market, 1355 Market Street • 6:00 – 8:00PM
MEGA Make Contact is happening at “The Market,” last year’s SFSBW Mayor’s Honoree and recipient of Congressional and Senate Recognition. Join the GGBA, regional LGBT Chambers, Castro Merchants Association and local growers, purveyors and artisans from The Market for a vibrant networking event!
Sponsored by: The Market, Castro Merchants Association, Bay Times / Betty’s List
Latino Entrepreneurs: Their Visions and Journeys
Impact Hub, 925 Mission Street • 6:00 – 9:00PM
Join a group of Latino entrepreneurs in conversation with LAM. Listen to their success stories, their journeys and find out how they have dramatically reshaped the business landscape through their innovative ideas. This is a must attend event for anyone interested in hearing from the nation’s leading Latino business leaders.
Hosted by: LAM & Impact Hub
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
SF Biz Connect
12:00 – 1:30PM
A private opportunity for large tech companies to connect with small San Francisco businesses in the food and snack space. SF Biz Connect provides a way for purchasers to easily meet and work with small local businesses when fulfilling company orders.
Invitation Only to SF Biz Connect members.
Small Business Awards
6:00 – 8:00PM
A special awards ceremony honoring small businesses from the US Small Business Administration, the City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Economic Development Alliance. Invitation Only.
Sponsored by: Bank of America
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Small Business Conference
City College of SF, Chinatown Campus, 808 Kearny Street • 9:00AM – 5:00PM
The Small Business Conference will feature a Small Business Expo, more than 40 free workshops for Small Business owners, raffle prizes and a networking mixer at the end of the event!
These sessions are free and available to all.
Small Business Conference Reception
City College of SF, Chinatown Campus, 808 Kearny Street • 4:30 – 6:30PM
Join us for a mixer after the conference in Expo.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Operation Opportunity and Service to Success: Building Veteran-owned Businesses
San Francisco War Memorial • 9:00AM-12:00PM
We look to honor and support those who have served by helping veterans build for their future as entrepreneurs. Topics covered will include how to access capital to grow your business, getting certified as a veteran-owned business, and understanding the importance of cyber security.
Targeted to veterans but all small businesses are welcome to attend.
Sponsored by: Veterans Matchmaking
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Neighborhood Sidewalk Sales
Visit select neighborhoods who are hosting special shopping experiences for you! Go to our events page to see the full list pf participating neighborhoods, streets, and shops.
Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates, announcements, and interviews with City Resources that are here to help you! And if you’re posting anything relevant to SF Small Business Week on your pages, make sure to use the hashtag #SFSBW2016 so we can all connect back to your pages!
We’d like to thank Bank of America for joining us as the Presenting Sponsor, Comcast Business for joining us as the Small Business Conference host, and San Francisco Office of Small Business for joining us as the Flavors of San Francisco hosts for the 12th Annual San Francisco Small Business Week. We’d also like to thank the following organizations for their sponsorship and for making SF Small Business Week possible: City View at Metreon, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Wells Fargo, Airbnb, Bank of the West, Bay Area Development Company, Capital Access, Google, Kabbage, San Francisco International Airport, Main Street Launch, San Francisco Green Business, San Francisco-Marin Lawyer Referral and Information Service, Recology, CDC Small Business Finance, Endicia, Staffly, Sterling Bank, Straus Events, TMC Financing, VEDC, Visa, U.S. Bank, YP Marketing Solutions and San Francisco Business Times.
Special thanks to the 2016 San Francisco Small Business Week Committee: San Francisco Office of Small Business, San Francisco Small Business Commission, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, sf.citi, Golden Gate Business Association, Small Business Development Center, University of San Francisco, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, San Francisco Business Portal, SF African American Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Economic Development Alliance, Main Street Launch, US Small Business Administration, San Francisco Council of District Merchants Association and Mission Economic Development Agency.
