Great news! We just wrapped up Cocinas del Monte’s February sales — and due to the focused work Javier and I have done, we increased sales by 40%. When I first partnered with Javier back in November, my goal was simple: apply Lean Startup principles to an existing business and prove that innovation isn’t just for tech — it works on Main Street too. But before we could grow, we had to stabilize. We restructured from the ground up — tightening labor models, reducing service expenses, cleaning up inventory systems, and installing financial controls that gave us real visibility into cash flow and margins. Once stabilized, we shifted into Customer Discovery. We talked to guests, tour guide operators, local partners, and observed behavior across Old Town. What we discovered was eye-opening. There are many Mexican food restaurants in Old Town. Some are busy. Some are delicious. But none are truly grounded in the history of San Diego. The largest operators specialize in Mexican “comfort food” — enjoyable, familiar, but disconnected from the deeper story of this place. That’s where we saw the opportunity. Old Town is layered history. From the Kumeyaay first peoples, to the Spanish/Mexican ranchero era, to U.S. statehood — the land holds three distinct chapters. Yet that story was not being told through food. We saw a compelling need: To authentically represent the three eras of Old Town from a culinary perspective. Not as a museum. Not as a theme. But as a living extension of Old Town — expressed through the food traditions each culture practiced. Once that direction became clear, we focused on building the brand around it: • A new logo reflecting our Californio identity • New furniture and layout to support gathering and warmth • A refined menu grounded in land, fire, and heritage • Stronger partnerships with tour guide operators to align with visitor flow • Strategic relationships with local tribal elders as we prepare to honor Antonio Garra Day on March 28th — marking a meaningful step toward representing the first era of this land with respect and collaboration

Thank you to all who came to our first “AI for Everyday” Community Workshop! What an incredible gathering. People from all walks of life showed up with curiosity, courage, and a desire to learn something new that can genuinely improve how we live, work, and grow. Today wasn’t about tech for tech’s sake. It was about real people discovering real tools. Parents learning how to save time. Students finding new ways to study and explore ideas. Small business owners seeing how AI can help them compete and create. This is how change begins — one room, one conversation, one new skill at a time. We’re just getting started. More sessions are coming, and our goal is simple: make AI practical, accessible, and useful for everyday life in our community. If you missed this one, join us next time. Bring a friend. Bring your questions. Bring your curiosity. #AIForEveryday #TheLatinoStartup #CommunityLearning #FutureReady #DigitalSkills #AIForGood #LearnTogether

Hi All, About 30% of the members are Subject Matter Experts. I have created a page in the Classroom to provide a profile so you can get to know who’s who and what expertise they bring to the table. Henry has provided this great video, see below. It is also in his profile as well, and we will begin to add more and more! I would like to do a similar thing for all the startups so as we grow, we know who’s who and what everyone is working on. David

Alejandro recently completed a 4-month Business Accelerator program and is now participating in the U.S. Bank Pitch Competition. If you support heritage craftsmanship and want to help Ruelas Leather Goods. get noticed, lets give him our votes for the Audience Choice Award. It takes 5 seconds: VOTE HERE (Closes Wednesday, December 3rd at 5 p.m. PST) Click the YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/g8DAMaaF Give the Video a "Like" 👍 That’s all it takes! Your "like" counts as a vote, and you don't even need to watch the video for it to register.