From unhoused to a life of giving back
Small businesses play a vital role in uplifting our communities. In fact, small businesses account for 44% of U.S. economic activity and create two-thirds of new jobs created. When it comes to making an impact and giving back, no one exemplifies that more than Emilio Daniel Vasquez, the mastermind barista behind Coffee Cart Boys.
Coffee Cart Boys is a Los Angeles-based, minority-owned catering experience that works to uplift communities while serving beverages and sweet treats. Emilio’s story is a testament to the power of passion, overcoming adversity, and giving back.
Emilio faced significant challenges from a young age, including homelessness and food insecurity. However, these hardships inspired him to create Coffee Cart Boys, a business aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty in his community. His experiences overcoming adversity fueled his determination to improve his life and the lives of others. Emilio’s perseverance and dedication drive him to work hard and give back by providing equal pay and assistance to those in need.
Growing up in a diverse family with an immigrant parent, Emilio witnessed his parents’ resilience and determination to overcome poverty. He learned the importance of perseverance, self-confidence, and humility. Emilio saw boundless opportunities for his business to create a positive impact on his community and individuals’ lives by providing food to those experiencing homelessness.
Overcoming imposter syndrome with coaching and support
Emilio describes his experience with the Intuit IDEAS program as transformative. Being a part of the program, which gives entrepreneurs free access to Intuit’s AI driven expert platform and products, along with business counseling and executive coaching, allowed him to experience immense growth by taking the knowledge and skills that he needed to move his business to the next level.
Empowered by his Intuit IDEAS journey, Emilio has a newfound sense of ownership over his company. The program helped him unlock new opportunities because he was able to leverage new strategies and tools he obtained through the IDEAS program, such as Mailchimp. With the support of the Intuit expert network and his businesses coaches he learned to maximize the benefits of Intuit’s products and now has the ability to better market his brand and attract new customers. He is grateful for having a steady client flow, effective marketing strategies, and confidence and commitment to do good business and help his community.
Emilio has run into his share of challenges running his business as a first-generation entrepreneur. He faced imposter syndrome and a lack of motivation on his path to success. However, with the guidance of his coaches through the Intuit IDEAS program, he now inspires aspiring and fellow entrepreneurs to maintain a positive outlook, have self-belief, and acknowledge their progress. Vasquez’s journey demonstrates that setbacks and challenges should not hinder one’s passion and drive to make a positive impact on the community.
Emilio’s story of resilience, positivity, and success will inspire many small business owners to believe in themselves, their passion, and their devotion to their communities’ well-being. His story exemplifies the power of progress and the need to support small business owners who are the backbone of our community. If you’re looking to cater your next event in Los Angeles, check out Coffee Cart Boys.
About Intuit IDEAS
IDEAS stands for Invest, Develop, Empower, Accelerate and Scale.
Intuit IDEAS is a program empowering small business owners in cities across the United States to help improve entrepreneurs with their functioning, efficiency, earnings, and capital readiness.
Through Intuit IDEAS, small business owners receive free access to Intuit’s AI-driven expert platform and products, including QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and TurboTax. In addition to support from Intuit’s expert network, Intuit IDEAS participants also receive business counseling, executive coaching, and a grant to help them grow their businesses. Small business owners are boosting their revenue by an average of 23% and saving 16.5 hours monthly, enabling them to focus on growing their businesses and make a bigger impact in their communities.