by EGBI Tech Team | Nov 7, 2017 | News & Events
by EGBI Tech Team | Oct 24, 2017 | Success Stories
Sitotaw Degefaw, EGBI’s recent graduate of the Emerging Enterprises Training Progam, wanted to open a butcher shop similar to his family’s shop in Gonder, Ethiopia. His desire was for a place where his customers could get fresh, high quality beef and also a place of community for people from East Africa that now live in the Austin area. In October, Sitotaw made his dreams come true with the opening of Salam’s International Mart & Café at 10009 North Lamar Blvd, Austin Texas 78753 (less than a mile north of Rundberg Ln).
Salam’s offers grass fed beef perfect for people who are looking for a healthier option or who delight in a raw meat cuisine. According to the American Grass Fed Beef Organization, this meat is lower in total fat than grainfed animals, lower in calories and contains extra Omega-3s, which may reduce cancer risks.
Along with his butcher shop, Salam’s has a dine-in area where visitors can enjoy traditional Ethiopian food such as Injera, Kurt, Tibs, Kitfo and Ethiopian coffee. Visitors who can’t stay to eat can pick up their favorite Ethiopian spices to prepare their own meals at home.
Sitotaw graduated from EGBI’s program in June, which propelled him forward to meet his business goals. “Taking the classes helped open my mind. I knew having enough money wasn’t enough to open a business. Studying at EGBI gave me the info to move in the right direction.” Sitotaw described how Joni Foster, EGBI’s Program Director, helped him face his many hurdles in their one-on-one coaching sessions. “She connected me to the supplier that slaughters the specialty meat according to my countries custom.” The advice Sitotaw shares with other entrepreneurs is to save money, as financing a business can be a big challenge when starting a business.
by EGBI Tech Team | Oct 17, 2017 | News & Events
We want to thank everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and sponsored our 7th Annual Celebrating Success fundraiser. Each year this event honors the achievements of our clients and their contributions to the local economy.
We were joined by our amazing mistress of ceremonies, comedian, and former rocket scientist, Shayla Rivera, Austin Community College Board of Trustees & Celebrating Success Committee Chair, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Ph.D., and Consul for Political and Economic Affairs, Jorge Salcido Zugast. We heard inspirational video testimonials from our clients with ATX Co-op Taxi and Barbon’s Barbershop. Christina Paz, owner of Siller Preferred Services, led the audience through her entrepreneurial journey and relationships created along the way through EGBI’s support.
Celebrating Success luncheon also included a business expo, where EGBI clients had an opportunity to showcase and sell their products and services. We were so excited to bring this opportunity to our clients. We have been nurturing our family-owned businesses through education and resources. This was a great way to continue our support by connecting them with a number of community leaders, business consultants, professionals and other entrepreneurs.
We also had the opportunity to honor our volunteer of the year, Fernando Labastida. As a staff of three, EGBI relies on volunteers as expert instructors, support, and more. We wanted to acknowledge all of our volunteers’ efforts and assistance throughout the year.
We want to once again thank our sponsors for all your support in helping us connect individuals to the resources and education they need to make them successful business owners. We are proud to announce that more than half of our sponsors were EGBI alumni.
We appreciate the continued support of sponsors, donors, community partners, and volunteers in our efforts to create, grow and sustain successful grassroots businesses, contributing to Austin’s economy and the prosperity of their families.
Thank you to our Title sponsor:
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor:
Thank you to our Gold Sponsors:
Barbra Boeta, Judy & Al Lopez, Statefarm – Agent Alejandra De la Torre
Thank you to our Silver Sponsors:
Austin Community College, BB&T Bank, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Digi.City, El Paso Oncology and Internal Medicine*, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Ph.D., PeopleFund, The Critical Update*
Thank you to our Bronze Sponsors:
Austin STEM Academy*, Balam Construction*, BCO Consulting Group*, Chago’s Caribbean Cuisine*, First Citizens Bank, Law Office of Mario Flores, Method Hair Salon*, Peacock Salon*, Ranger Dash Productions*, Red Carpet Productions*, Round Top Bank, Siller Preferred Services*, SouthStar Bank, Tamale Addiction*, The Law Office of Ana Estrada*, Victory Framing*
*EGBI Clients
by EGBI Tech Team | Jul 27, 2017 | Success Stories
Las Mangonadas opened it’s doors in December of 2016 to serve customers a variety of their forty homemade flavors of ice cream, cakes and pastries made daily, fruit cups, and other tasty snacks. Claudia Sanchez, the co-owner of Las Mangonadas, learned about the business from her uncle, Alfredo Sanchez, who was already an entrepreneur. Claudia gained experience through a similar business she helped her uncle with in Illinois until she decided to move back to Austin. Both created the Austin business to provide the assortment of sweet to salty munchies that also include corn cups, smoothies, Doritos locos, and so much more. In business for less than a year, they have already started to see growth in sales.
Claudia first became connected with Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) when she attended Curso Empresarial, EGBI’s series of workshops taught in Spanish by local subject matter experts who have years of experience dealing with start-up businesses. “The workshops helped with the general vision of business and learning from the experience of other attendees and instructors. I was motivated that running a business was not going to be easy, but with tenacity it was going to be possible.” Claudia continues, ” I continue to receive assistance from EGBI anytime I contact them. They are always ready to help with resources, their knowledge, and encouragement. ”
by EGBI Tech Team | Jun 15, 2017 | Success Stories
Tamale Addiction is famous for being fresh, organic, local, and delicious! Since it first set up at a farmer’s market in 2010, these tamales have managed to collect a following of Tamale Addicts and in the process increasing their production from 80 tamales their first week to now 9000 tamales on a Monday through Friday work week. Their flavors have spread fast through markets and coffee shops around Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio, and major events as ACL Music Festival, Old Settlers Music Festival, Food and Wine Festival, Formula 1 at COTA, etc. Recently these savory meals have made it into local retail stores. Now their product can be found in Wheatsville Co-op, Royal Blue Grocery, People’s Pharmacy, Fresh Plus, and Thom’s Market. You may even be lucky enough to spot a Tamale Addiction food truck in an office campus near you!
Owner Adrian Paredes and his wife Mariana’s experience in the food industry started in 2009. After a failed venture with Mexican desserts, a new opportunity randomly aroused when a farmer’s market director asked them if they could make and sell tamales (they didn’t know how, but they said “yes”). Over the next days, Adrian and Mariana called every family member they knew to collect recipes, tips, and tricks about making tamales. They worked all week to prepare 80 tamales for their first market. Those tamales were sold out within an hour. The couple rose to the task before them: going organic and local and create vegan and vegetarian options for their customers. They had found the magic! This is when Tamale Addiction was born.
Due to rapid growth, Adrian Peredes sought out training and consulting services from the Economic Growth Business Incubator to develop a business plan and financial projections. “I am so grateful for the training, support and networking EGBI has given my business. The business has been such a great adventure for my wife and I.” – Adrian Paredes.
