Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative - Oakland, California

Marcus Thomas

Uptima has been such a powerful and life-affirming experience. The curriculum changed my mindset and provide mechanisms for me to push myself to launch my business. Uptima is a family and everyone their only wants you to succeed and do good in the world. Join the team, if you can, it will only enrich your spirit, energize your entrepreneurship drive, and tune your heart to be more empathetic.

Wendy Martinez Marroquin

Uptima is much more than just a business bootcamp, it is an engaged community of diverse entrepreneurs dedicated to creating thriving businesses that give back to the community. Between practical workshops that help you speed through difficult business processes using state of the art methodology, 1:1 support from outstanding mentors, and peer mentoring sessions with business owners with similar challenges/goals, I have received well rounded support to grow both my freelance practice and small business. Why struggle alone when you can grow with a likeminded and like-hearted community? Whether you are thinking about starting a business or taking your existing business to the next level, Uptima has the support you need to get there. Give them a try! You won't regret it.

Thomas L. Rosenberg

The two words I would use to describe Uptima are: community and intent. It's a wonderful community of social entrepreneurs who think creatively to address social needs here in the Bay Area and beyond. There is always a willingness to share ideas and lessons learned to help others reach their goals. As an instructor and entrepreneur myself, I am grateful to be part of the Uptima family because I learn as much as I share.

Aaron Joseph

Uptima has become like a family to me. First I took a Freelancer boot camp. A couple years later, I decided to return and take a full year of business exploration and development classes. With their guidance, I have grown my service offerings, my client base, and even learned how to do financial projections for my business. I would literally get nauseous just thinking about looking at a bank statement or a spreadsheet full of numbers until Uptima's community supported me through redefining my relationship to money and math. It's so great to be part of a women/queer/poc/community-centered business community. I would not have made it this far in my business without Uptima and the support of its community, faculty, and leadership. I love that they hire from within the Uptima community as much as possible, and I'm proud to be able to be able to help Uptima with graphic design needs. I highly recommend their classes to every entrepreneur I know and to anyone who wants to explore a business idea and/or improve their existing business or freelance practice!

Kaylah Marin

I think it takes a special team to step in at the point that Uptima does. Whatever unmet expectations are the impetus for seeking Uptima's assistance, when they arrive tempers are high and egos are large. I am constantly impressed with their patience and delivery of hard truths. They have exceptional timing, showing best business practices by facilitating dialogue or asking question, rather than telling. Business can be very personal. I have seen Uptima respectfully hold space for unreasonable and belligerent voices, observing and responding without judgement.
Their advice and recommendations have taken into account our organizations culture. This grasp of nuance has helped some of our most difficult stakeholders listen and learn. Since we have begun working with them our internal structure has gone through a huge shift that their guidance has made possible.
Thank you Uptima. I am excited by the work we have done so far and fully committed to this process. Within weeks we had already seen improvement. Your team is special.

Lesa Hammond

I participated in Uptima Business Bootcamp from the start. It is one of the best programs available for small business owners and freelancers. The education provided is practical and taught by people who have achieved the results they teach. Each week's business development activities will move entrepreneurs closer to their goals and dreams. Results from participants have been impressives.

Rani Croager has not only created an exceptional training program. She has created a true community of committed, supportive and engaged small business owners.

Suzanne Yada

The Uptima courses changed my life and my business. Their care for the community and commitment to social justice is unlike anything I've seen in any other business bootcamp program.

Jaqui Walters

Nice space to hold events in. We went for a plant market.