Mission

Entrepreneurship serves as a vital pathway for individuals with disabilities, offering avenues for economic independence, self-determination, and societal inclusion.

San Francisco Disability Business Alliance was founded in 2020 and is the only community benefit organization in the Bay Area that is solely dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs with all types of disabilities.  Our ultimate goal is to empower the Disability Community to create viable small businesses, achieve self-employment, and participate fully in the local economy.

What we do

SFDBA understands and values the unique challenges and strengths of individuals with disabilities. We implement a specialized curriculum and high-touch support model, addressing critical topics such as disability etiquette, inclusion, cultural awareness, and full accessibility—providing all supporting materials in accessible formats. We offer cohort-based training, 1:1 mentoring and tailored technical assistance with a focus that each participant’s goals and barriers are directly addressed and celebrated.

Programs

  • Future Entrepreneur Cohort

    Cohort based model to teach and mentor individuals interested in starting a business. Guidance with business plan writing, financial literacy, marketing basics and access to essential resources relevant to their business.

  • Disability Owned Business Enabler

    Tailored assistance to small business owners aligning with their goals and ensuring that barriers are addressed. 1:1 mentoring, guidance to navigate the system and access resources that they need to develop and grow their business.

  • Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Annual Event

    Event gathering the disability business community and featuring a panel of business owners sharing their journey, awards remitted to innovative entrepreneurs and a networking reception with exhibits from local vendors.

  • Accessibility Awareness Iniitative

    Campaign to educate business owners about the benefits of creating accessible physical and digital spaces and, in particular, how they can increase their customer base and revenues, enhance brand loyalty, and create opportunities for a larger, untapped market.