Eleana Hsu is the founder of Shared Cultures, a San Francisco-based company specializing in modern fermented food products using koji. Her journey into the world of fermentation began unexpectedly after a bout of depression led her to foraging for mushrooms in nature. Discovering the transformative power of koji, she started Shared Cultures, creating innovative miso, shoyu, and umami seasonings using locally sourced ingredients. Her products are now sought after by renowned chefs and restaurants in the Bay Area. Eleana's passion for sustainable sourcing and educating the community about fermentation has established her as a prominent figure in the culinary world. Her story is a testament to the power of nature, resilience, and the pursuit of one's passion. In 2025, Eleana is moving Shared Cultures into a brick and mortar location in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood.  The grant money will help her get the location set up as a production facility.

Wafa Bahloul is the passionate entrepreneur behind Kayma, a successful Algerian restaurant and catering business. Born and raised in Algeria, Wafa immigrated to the United States, where her journey in the food industry began with entry-level positions. Fueled by a love for her native cuisine and a desire to share it with a wider audience, she founded Kayma in 2018. Kayma, meaning "nomadic tent" in Arabic, started as a food truck and quickly gained popularity. Wafa's dedication and culinary expertise led to the opening of Kayma's first brick-and-mortar location in 2021, followed by a food trailer in 2022. In 2024, Kayma expanded to San Francisco's Mid-Market Street, securing a spot in the prestigious Saluhall food court. Wafa's vision for Kayma extends beyond serving delicious Algerian food. She aims to create a cultural bridge, introducing the rich flavors and traditions of her homeland to her community. Her entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with her commitment to authenticity and quality, has made Kayma a beloved culinary destination. Wafa is using the grant money to help market her business and grow her online presence.

2023 Winner - Stephanie de la Cruz is a self-taught ice cream maker. She started making ice cream from her home in Oakland and developed her recipes from scratch, inspired by her Mexican roots. After sharing batches of horchata ice cream to her friends and family, she knew she had something that needed to be shared with the larger community. Her love for ice cream and passion for her culture has been her motivation. De La Creamery is named after her family’s last name De La Cruz.

2023 Winner - Socola Chocolatier is an award-winning chocolate company that creates artisanal handcrafted chocolates and confections inspired by the diverse flavors of Vietnam. Co-founded by Wendy and her sister, Susan Lieu, Socola has always been a family endeavor. Wendy always had a passion for chocolate and was dreaming up (and cooking up) her own truffle recipes when she was a teenager. Susan is a perfect counterpart to Wendy, because her talent and acumen was in business and marketing. Susan was always finding and creating ways for more and more people to learn about and experience Socola!

During the early days, Wendy and Susan couldn't envision what Socola has become. The two sisters started off this business by selling directly to family and friends, setting up in front of their parents' nail salon during the Santa Rosa's Downtown Market in the summertime. Today, Socola is a vibrant business with an amazing team of staff members who work together to create the most stunning chocolates at our brick-and-mortar shop in the middle of San Francisco!