Episode 48: Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

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Entrepreneurs participating in Renaissance’s training, networking and mentor-ship programs to launch their micro-enterprises

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“We really are working with those communities that are underserved and underrepresented by coming in and giving them the tools so that they can launch, and grow their business, and turn their passion to profit.”

In this episode, we feature the voices of Sharon Miller the Chief Executive Officer, and Tim Russell the Program Director of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. Today’s episode is part of our efforts to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses and entrepreneurs that make up the economic fabric of our neighborhoods.

We wanted to feature the voices of the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center who’s 30-year mission is to provide intensive entrepreneurship training, networking, and mentorship to support the launch and growth of women-owned businesses through their US Small Business Administration San Francisco Women's Business Center and to find out what they’re doing to help our entrepreneurs survive the economic meltdown. Let’s hear from Sharon and Tim on what they and their regional team at Renaissance are doing to help small business owners survive and thrive during the pandemic

Sharon Miller

Sharon Miller has served as the CEO of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center for 21 years. Under Sharon’s leadership, Renaissance has grown into a Bay Area regional organization with four Centers in South of Market and Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco, Richmond (serving the Alameda to Contra Costa County), and East Palo Alto (serving San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties), introduced new Spanish-language, women-focused, and industry-specific training programs, and helped clients to secure more than $30 million in the capital. She serves on the Steering Committee of the CA Association of Women's Business Center and the board of the Morris and Ruth Cowan Foundation.

Tim Russell

Timothy Russell is the Program Director for Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, where he is responsible for overseeing program staff, consultants, and operations in San Mateo, Alameda, and Santa Clara Counties. He serves on the advisory committees of JP Morgan Chase, Downtown Streets Team, and Working Solutions and is also the Senior Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hayward.

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

The mission of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is to empower and increase the entrepreneurial capacities of socially and economically diverse women and men and thereby strengthen our communities through the creation of sustainable new businesses, new jobs, and the promotion of financial self-sufficiency.

In 2020 Renaissance immediately pivoted our service delivery to online and phone to meet the immediate needs of our clients. We enhanced our programs with additional support to help clients navigate and access available resources, expanded our technology training and access, ensuring that clients have e-commerce websites, and skills in online marketing and social media created online marketplaces and helped clients secure over $18M in the capital.

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is poised to help thousands of individuals achieve personal, financial, and social transformation through the power of small business. Participate in an orientation to kick off your business. Find out more about financing opportunities and upcoming events.

Review a Snapshot of Renaissance’s Work with Small Businesses

Donation/Volunteer

You can support empower entrepreneurs and change lives by donating to Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center to support their ongoing efforts to help micro-enterprises in the San Francisco Bay Area. Help entrepreneurs with your expertise as a mentor, advisor and volunteer

Videos

To find out more about Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center’s Programs:

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“Renaissance is completely dedicated to entrepreneurship and our focus is helping to provide access to people who don’t have traditional access to training resources and networks. So that’s where we come in. People come to us with great ideas, a ton of passion, and then we provide training access to capital access to markets and access to networks”

— Sharon Miller, CEO, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

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