Lessons of Success: Crowdfunding Raise Fuels Tantisimo’s Restaurant Expansion

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work. Devin: What is your superpower? Ana: I would say just there are so many different ways of phrasing this now in the business community. But the idea is just knowing that you're going to be able to figure out the obstacle at some point if your vision is strong enough. Tantisimo, the Latin American restaurant led by Founder and CEO Ana Aguilar, is expanding into a full-scale brick-and-mortar location in Nashville after a successful crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit. With $84,000 raised through the platform, Ana is closer to realizing her vision of transforming the pop-up concept into a permanent restaurant. Ana shared the key to her crowdfunding success during today’s episode of Superpowers for Good. She emphasized the hard work and dedication it took to bring together a diverse group of supporters. “It was really fulfilling having those conversations and kind of proving ourselves to all,” she explained. The campaign drew investments from various sources, including her network, business partners, and customers, demonstrating the broad community support for Tantisimo’s mission of bringing farm-to-table Mexican pastries and savory dishes to Nashville. While $84,000 is a significant milestone, Ana noted that it’s just part of the larger financial puzzle. Partnering with Pathway Lending, a community development fund that supports minority-owned businesses, Tantisimo secured additional financing to cover essential build-out costs, including a liquor license and a larger space to accommodate both AM and PM service. The crowdfunding success also bolstered her credibility with lenders, as she now has 58 community investors backing her. Ana’s story showcases the power of community-driven funding and its potential to transform dreams into reality. As Tantisimo’s new restaurant prepares to open its doors, the future looks bright for this thriving business. tl;dr: * In today’s episode, Ana Aguilar, Founder and CEO of Tantisimo, discussed her successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised $84,000 on Honeycomb Credit to support her restaurant expansion. * Ana highlighted the importance of community support and the extensive preparation required before launching a crowdfunding campaign, including leveraging personal and professional networks. * She shared details of Tantisimo’s journey from a pop-up serving Latin American pastries to its forthcoming full-scale restaurant in Nashville, projecting significant revenue growth. * Ana emphasized resilience and optimism as her superpower, which helped her navigate unexpected challenges, such as a costly HVAC setback during the restaurant build-out. * She advised setting boundaries to maintain a positive mindset and focusing on problem-solving rather than dwelling on doubts to cultivate resilience in entrepreneurship. How to Develop Optimism and Resilience As a Superpower Ana’s superpower lies in her unwavering optimism and resilience. She possesses the ability to stay focused on her vision, pushing through challenges and obstacles with the belief that she can always figure out a solution. Her strength lies in maintaining a positive outlook while actively working toward her goals every day. Ana encountered a major setback during the build-out of her restaurant when she discovered the HVAC system was severely underpowered. Initially quoted at $8,500, the true cost ballooned to over $120,000. Despite this daunting challenge, Ana remained composed, trusted her ability to find a solution, and worked with her landlord to bring the building up to restaurant-ready standards. Her optimism and resilience helped her navigate this significant hurdle without losing sight of her end goal. Actionable Tips for Developing the Superpower: * Set Boundaries: Protect your mental space by setting boundaries with people who bring doubt or negativity. Spend time with those who encourage problem-solving and open your mind to possibilities. * Maintain Balance: Allow some room for hearing concerns, but don’t let them dominate your thinking. Ana suggests limiting exposure to doubts to about 10% of your mental space to avoid feeling overwhelmed. * Stay Focused on Solutions: When faced with obstacles, focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on the problem. Trust yourself to navigate challenges as they come. By following Ana Aguilar’s example and advice, you can make optimism and resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Ana Aguilar (she/her): Founder/CEO, Tantisimo About Tantisimo: Tantísimo is a farm-to-table restaurant offering small plates, craft cocktails, and experiences celebrating Latin America. We provide consistently excellent meals that tell a story and leave our guests inspired and more connected to their world. We do this with particular concern for the planet, the well-being of our team, the enrichment of our community, and the advancement of our industry. Website: tantisimo.com Company Facebook Page: fb.com/aytantisimo Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/aytantisimo Instagram Handle: @aytantisimo Other URL: invest.honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/Tantisimo Biographical Information: As the CEO, treasurer, and creative director of Tantisimo, Ana guides the company's vision and fosters its unique culture while also diving into the trenches of financial management, marketing, and communications. Ana is deeply involved in the culinary direction of the restaurant, rolling up her sleeves to oversee the pastry and bar programs and ensuring that every menu item reflects the brand's commitment to excellence. With a passion for innovation and a hands-on approach, Ana leads her team to create unforgettable experiences and set new industry benchmarks. Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/holaanaaguilar Max-Impact Members The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating: Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name Here Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual. * SuperCrowd Mastermind Group, twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon Eastern. This group is for entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in raising money from the crowd. Attend your first meeting free! * Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on November 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd. * Superpowers for Good Televised Live Pitch, November 13, 9:00 PM Eastern during primetime. We are now accepting applications from businesses raising capital via Regulation Crowdfunding for the Q4 Superpowers for Good Live pitch. Visit s4g.biz/q4app to apply. At the event, judges will select their pick, and the audience will select the SuperCrowd Award recipient. Put the date on your calendar to watch it live! * SuperCrowdHour, November 20, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At November’s SuperCrowdHour, Devin will explain six common investment types you need to understand before you can invest like a pro. Free to attend. Community Event Calendar * Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events * Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern. * Main Street Skowhegan and NC3 Entrepreneur Finance Workshop Series, September 17 - November 19, 2023. * Crowdfunding Professional Association, Summit in DC, October 22-23 * Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene. If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here. We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe