Start Up is pleased to announce the selection of five recipients for the 2006 Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program (MBP) equity awards.

Start Up clients Adrienne Bachleda, DaNesha Fuller, Yolanda Rhodes, Áurea Rodriguez, and Valerie Wiley will each be awarded $2,230 to use for essential business development activities, such as marketing, technology purchases, website development, inventory, or professional services. All five recipients will also be participating in the Start Up Business Incubator program and receiving advanced services specifically designed for entrepreneurs with existing businesses.

The Women and Company MBP is designed to afford low- and moderate-income women microentrepreneurs the opportunity to achieve greater business success by providing cash awards that may have a measurable impact on the development of their businesses. A rare and unique financial resource, equity awards can boost an economically disadvantaged enterprise otherwise experiencing severe limitations on business development because of little or no access to capital. Start Up was one of only fifteen Local Partners selected for the 2006 Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program. A total of 125 equity awards were disbursed through the Microenterprise Boost program and its Local Partners to women microentrepreneurs across the country.

“Women and Company is proud to participate in this program because we believe all women should have the opportunity to achieve their financial goals,” said Lisa Caputo, President and CEO, Women and Company. “More and more women are finding they can begin to achieve financial independence by starting their own businesses, and these grants can have a practical and immediate impact as they strive to grow these businesses.” Women and Company is a division of Citigroup that provides access to financial education and resources for women. The Women and Company MBP is managed by Association for Enterprise Opportunity, a national membership association for the microenterprise development industry representing hundreds of microenterprise development programs nationwide.



Equity Award Winners


Adrienne Bachleda, of Bachleda Consulting, provides goal-based wellness programs for individuals facing chronic conditions and will use the award to grow her client base, partner with other organizations, and expand current services.
DeNasha Fuller, founder of a small family child care home, Taletah Day Care, plans to invest her award money in an Individual Development Account, a matched savings account program provided by Lenders for Community Development to encourage and provide financial independence for low income investors saving for higher education, home ownership, a small business, or retirement. Her savings will be matched 2 to 1 in the IDA, which she will use to grow her business.
Yolanda Rhodes will update the website and marketing materials and increase staff support for her performing arts business Yolanda Rhodes Bookings, which offers live performance art programs in Bay Area public and private venues.
Áurea Rodriguez, owner of Leche y Miel Christian Bookstore & Gifts, plans to expand her inventory and purchase a Point Of Sales system to enable credit card and check sales.
Valerie Wiley hopes to improve profitability of her marketing organization Imark Professionals LLC, by purchasing a production printer for in-house publication of graphic design projects and marketing materials.


Equity Award Winner Profile: Adrienne Bachleda

Adrienne’s home-based company, Bachleda Consulting, provides goal based wellness programs to help individuals facing chronic conditions learn to make changes in their lives and improve their health. She offers one-on-one coaching and small support groups to provide health education in a variety of areas such as physical activity, nutrition. These programs range from 10 weeks to 4 months in length. Adrienne’s business goals are to: increase the size of her business to a minimum of 25 clients per month on a regular basis; partner with another health and wellness or corporate organization to supplement coaching and help maintain income; and expand her services to include seminars and products.

Adrienne had been working in the high tech marketing industry for 25 years when she experienced a debilitating illness. Prevented from working for almost two years, Adrienne lived on her savings until she was ready to go back to her career – then she realized she was so unfulfilled by her current field that she couldn’t bring herself to return to the corporate world. She needed something completely new.

Three years ago at an unemployment agency in Redwood City, Adrienne saw a Start Up flier and decided to sign up for the entrepreneurship training course. While taking the course, she was impressed to see “real” people doing “real things.” The business she now operates couldn’t be better described. Taking from both her experience with health problems and a long career in marketing, Adrienne put together a business plan that formed the business she runs today. Now, working on her own time, Adrienne helps people to overcome challenges created by injury, illness, stress, and lack of motivation. In addition to conducting her services, she is actively involved in Stanford’s Healthy Lifestyle program.