A Launchpad for Local Leaders
BBB’s Breakthrough Accelerator focuses on helping local small businesses scale their operations and strengthen their foundations. With a flexible format and access to real-world guidance, it gives participants something many early-stage entrepreneurs struggle to find: space to focus and support they can trust.
“The BBB Breakthrough Accelerator program offers an incredible platform for small business owners to grow both personally and professionally,” said Medeliza Roel of Sbay Print and Design. “What sets it apart is the emphasis on real-world application and community—you’re not just learning concepts, you’re building connections and implementing strategies that make an immediate impact.”
The accelerator blends group learning with personalized mentorship, offering more than 40 hours of guided sessions and over five unique mentorship and one-on-one coaching opportunities. Topics span operations, marketing, branding, financial planning, and leadership.
“This program felt like the greatest gift an entrepreneur could receive,” said Leslie Patino. “I remember there being points in the middle of class where I felt tears coming because I was just so grateful to be in a room with such genuine, successful, giving people.”
An Evening of Celebration and Connection
Graduation night served as both a ceremony and a community gathering. The event featured cocktails and delicious food by graduates of the program, such as Majestic Mix Bartending, Mielimón Bakery, Love & Bake, and charcuterie by Fabilous. Local musicians provided the soundtrack to a night filled with laughter, storytelling, and shared pride.
It was a celebration of growth, but also of accessibility. On-site childcare from Destination Baby Co. was available throughout the program, a thoughtful solution that allowed parent entrepreneurs to participate fully without sacrifice. That same spirit of inclusion shaped the entire accelerator experience.
Support That Sticks With You
The event brought together program partners including the City of San Diego, GoDaddy’s Empower program, JPMorgan Chase, SCORE San Diego, Snell & Wilmer, LifeGuides, and the Evolution Room. Their collective investment in the cohort reflects a growing movement in the region: backing small businesses as engines of innovation and equity.
Matthew Fehling, BBB President & CEO, addressed the graduates with a message that underscored the night’s importance. “This evening isn’t just about completing a program. It’s about recognizing the hard work, the sacrifice, and the determination that brought each of you here,” he said.
That sentiment was echoed by Samantha Scholl, BBB’s AVP of Innovation & Entrepreneur Programs, who described the graduation as a moment of “momentum in motion.” As she put it, the joy of seeing entrepreneurs pitch ideas, rebrand businesses, and open storefronts speaks volumes about what’s possible when the right resources meet real ambition.
What’s Next for the Breakthrough Program
Applications for the next cohort are now open, with hybrid learning sessions set to continue at ignite sparked by BBB and online.
Entrepreneurs pay only a $99 program and materials fee. With included benefits and in-kind donations, the program is valued at over $5,000.
Participants receive a $1,000 business development grant upon successful completion of the program, a meaningful boost for those navigating the realities of running a business in today’s economy.
As the first group of graduates heads back into the world with new tools and connections, one thing is clear: the BBB Breakthrough Accelerator is helping reshape what local business support looks like in San Diego.
Interested in joining a future cohort or supporting the program?
Learn more at ignitesparkedbybbb.org
