At Makahakama Foundation, we believe entrepreneurship is one of humanity’s most powerful drivers of progress and equality. The pursuit of new ideas, fueled by creativity and a commitment to serving others and solving real-world problems, doesn’t just build businesses—it builds communities, creates jobs, and fosters financial stability.
Yet the path of entrepreneurship is anything but easy. Nearly half of all new businesses don’t survive beyond 5 years, and for those without access to mentors, tools and capital, the odds of failure are even higher. Many promising entrepreneurs—particularly in underserved communities—struggle to establish the infrastructure necessary to scale and sustain their businesses.
We saw an opportunity to bridge this gap by equipping entrepreneurs with the financial knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions—whether it’s hiring employees, securing capital or investing in growth. We thought we could complement the critical work of local organizations devoted to supporting these entrepreneurs, such as CDFIs and technical assistance centers. So we decided to test our idea.
Introducing LaunchPad
In 2024, we launched LaunchPad, a pilot program in partnership with The Acceleration Project (TAP), a national mentorship network for underserved entrepreneurs. We began by pairing a small group of Bay Area entrepreneurs with culturally competent bookkeepers. Over several months, these entrepreneurs worked 1:1 with these bookkeeping professionals to set up and navigate accounting software—an essential foundation for business success.
The impact was profound. At the end of the program, we hosted a showcase where entrepreneurs shared their journeys and reflected on how the program had transformed their understanding of their financials. By giving them access to professional bookkeeping support, we empowered them to establish strong financial operations, setting them up for long-term success. At the end of the program, one of our participating entrepreneurs Lorrie of Addison Street Salon observed, “I transitioned from acting as a business operator to a business owner, thinking more strategically about my business decisions.” And Princess of The Final Sauce noted that “I felt that I began operating in the light, and realized that I had been operating in the dark and making decisions without really understanding my financial health.”
Scaling Up in 2025
Having received this validation, we are thrilled to relaunch LaunchPad in 2025 with a bigger vision: to scale our impact and expand access to more entrepreneurs across California. Our ultimate goal? To create a replicable, scalable model that can serve entrepreneurs nationwide.
If you’re an aspiring undeserved entrepreneur in California looking for financial guidance to grow your business, we invite you to apply here today!