Innovative Entrepreneur Maria Flores Transforms Family Recipe into Successful Business
Maria Flores, a San Antonio entrepreneur, has leveraged her grandmother’s cherished chorizo recipe, achieving remarkable success since she launched Hess Street Foods in 2023. Inspired by the quality of her family recipe, Flores sought to share it with a broader audience, leading to the inception of her small business.
Support from Launch SA
To transform her home-based trade into a fully functioning company, Flores reached out to Launch SA, a business support hub established by the city of San Antonio. This strategic move paid off as she not only commenced her food venture but also clinched the first place in H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best contest, winning a prize of $20,000 within just months of her launch.
Expanding Reach
Today, Flores proudly manages three different chorizo paste products available in 144 H-E-B locations across Texas, as well as in specialty shops like Pullman’s Market at the Pearl. She attributes her rapid early success significantly to the guidance and resources available at Launch SA.
Growing Business Community
During a recent event at Launch SA held at the San Antonio Central Library, Flores shared her entrepreneurial journey with approximately thirty fellow business owners. Clad in a casual tan jacket adorned with a monarch butterfly pin, she inspired attendees by urging them to seize their business momentum. “A lot of the mentors I met here just encouraged me, pushed me,” Flores remarked. “They said, ‘Hey, Maria, don’t let it sit. You’re living in momentum right now,’” she added, highlighting the importance of timely support for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Launch SA: Evolution and Impact
Launch SA, which began over a decade ago as Café Commerce, has undergone significant changes, including a recent relaunch in -2023 under new management by Geekdom. This co-working facilitator aims to enhance local startups and small businesses. Launch SA now hosts about 75 events per quarter, transitioning from a previously annual schedule that offered a similar number of events. This shift is indicative of its commitment to fostering entrepreneurial development in San Antonio.
Enhancing Entrepreneurial Support
Matthew Espinoza, the current executive director of Launch SA, noted that the new programming reflects a heightened demand for resources related to small business management and startup operations. Espinoza explained that the challenge lies in differentiating the needs of scalable startups from smaller business operations, and Launch SA is working to provide tailored resources to meet these diverse requirements.
A Decade of Development
The initiative originated in 2012 when then-mayor Julián Castro convened a Small Business Task Force to strategize local economic support. The partnership between the San Antonio Public Library, the economic development department, and Acción Texas, which became LiftFund, led to the establishment of Café Commerce, focusing on aiding aspiring business owners. Since its transformation into Launch SA in 2016, the organization has continued to evolve, leading to its current configuration aimed at increasing support for local entrepreneurs.
Significant Achievements
Since Geekdom took over management responsibilities in late 2023, Launch SA has hosted numerous impactful events, addressing the aspirations of more than 1,000 entrepreneurs in the past fiscal year. Over 2,500 participants have engaged in these events, and more than 30 entrepreneurs have received vital funding connections, securing a total of $60,000 in financial support for their ventures.
Conclusion
“This city welcomed my grandparents, and now they’re welcoming me and my kids, and they’re making my dream a reality,” Flores expressed, emphasizing her deep appreciation for her community. Her success story not only symbolizes her dedication to quality and tradition but also illustrates the power of supportive entrepreneurial networks like Launch SA in fostering a vibrant business culture.
