BIPOC Owned
Tracie Shelton
Alamo Kitchens
Tracie Shelton joined the Break Fast & Launch program intending to increase her knowledge to support her small business clients and possibly to gain some insight for her “one-day” business.
Impact Minority Owned
Small Business. Big Impact.
We are proud of our clients who add vibrancy to our communities while creating a pathway to prosperity for themselves, their families and their employees.
At LiftFund 26% of our client base includes startups contributing to the local economy and making a difference in their communities.
Read about our clients’ entrepreneurial journey and get inspired by their passion, commitment and resiliency.
BIPOC Owned
Michelle Quiroz
Reserva Coffee Roasters
Michelle and Danny Quiroz began their small business journey with curiosity and a passion for great coffee. “This really started as an experiment [between] me and my husband,” Michelle said. “We were fascinated by the science behind fresh coffee and how to make the best cup possible.”
Pilar Gonzalez
DipIt by Pilar
As a divorced single mother of three, Pilar Gonzalez worked a variety of jobs to provide for her family, but magic happened when she stepped into the kitchen. Using her family’s recipes, she launched Dip it by Pilar — a line of gourmet yogurt-based dips made with fresh ingredients like cilantro, jalapeño, and chipotle — in 2006.
BIPOC Owned
Guillermo Rodriguez Vasquez
Wild West Boots
“My dream was to be an engineer when we lived in Mexico, but that took a back seat when we moved here 20 years ago,” said Guillermo Vasquez. Guillermo has been a small business owner since he moved to the U.S. The biggest obstacle he and his wife had to overcome when starting their small business was to understand credit and the impact it has on an individual. During the recession, Guillermo realized he needed a good cre
BIPOC Owned
Freda Paz
Calling Card
“I always wanted to be a designer,” said Freda, “But after I had two kids, I needed flexibility in my schedule.” Freda used her creative skills and previous advertising experience to start a graphic design business, The Calling Card, that would serve the growing number of local professionals and businesses in downtown New Orleans. Freda soon realized that she could not manage a growing business alone, so she turned to LiftF
BIPOC Owned
Ricardo Ortiz
Monte Bravo Transport
The training and discipline Ricardo received as a Marine prepared him for many challenges and rewards in life, including entrepreneurship. “I don’t see things as obstacles, only as complications that I must find a solution for,” said Ricardo. It is with this determination that he turned his experience as a truck driver into a business opportunity. He has over eight years’ experience in the transportation industry and is
