Lisa, Owner of Somewhere Out West

 When Lisa came to Opportunity Fund, she had an established retail business in Mountain View that served fire, police, and EMS workers with supplies and gear.  Her business filled an important niche in the community by serving smaller departments that were often overlooked by her larger competitors.  She started her business “the old-fashioned way,” she says, “with my own savings.”  After taking classes at the Entrepreneur Center in San Jose, she wanted to take her business to the next level by expanding into uniforms and other product lines. She came to Opportunity Fund for a $25,000 loan to accomplish this.  She remembers the helpful, professional service, but was most impressed by the business advice provided to her by the team’s technical advisor. “Having the business advisor on hand was so smart,” says Lisa, “It took me nearly 6 months to really prepare and feel ready for a loan.”  In those six months, with guidance from Opportunity Fund’s business advisor, she got her charter accounts in order and set goals for the future of her business. Only then did she feel confident about borrowing money to grow.  After her first loan, Lisa continued a relationship with Opportunity Fund’s business advisor and loan officer, and was able to get a technology grant through our eBay Foundation Techquity Program that provides cash awards to help low-income entrepreneurs purchase essential technology.  Today her business is growing, gaining 1-2 new service departments per year which purchase equipment and gear at Somewhere Out West.  She recently came back to Opportunity Fund for a smaller second loan to ensure her inventory would meet her growing customers’ needs.  “It’s so comfortable here,” she says of Opportunity Fund, and “they give great advice and perks, like the technology grant, along the way.”