Kultivate Labs Catalyzes A Thriving Community in San Francisco’s Filipino Cultural District, Generating $930k in Economic Development
The non-profit economic development and arts organization has had a positive impact in the last seven years for Filipino American entrepreneurs and creatives, offering more opportunities in 2023 to support the district and all of SF’s recovery
Team huddle for UNDSCVRD Market | Photo by Mogli Maureal.
San Francisco, CA - February 1, 2023 - Since its inception in 2017, Kultivate Labs has been dedicated to building a thriving commercial corridor in the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. After a successful 2022, the non-profit economic development and arts organization will continue rolling out programming in the new year that reflects the needs and vision of the community at large such as new artist grants, space and other resources for pop-up businesses and artists, a free outdoor concert series, and a creative market spanning three events.
2022: Another Year of Success
Kultivate Labs, founded by Desi Danganan in 2017, has remained steadfast in its mission to provide economic opportunities for local businesses, funding for artists and spaces with community leaders in SOMA Pilipinas through its ecosystem of interconnected, mutually-supporting programs. In 2022, Kultivate Labs experienced much success with their programming, setting a precedent for the year to come:
UNDISCOVERED SF night markets is Kultivate Labs’ series of indoor and outdoor markets curated to engage the community, promote the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District, and provide opportunities for Filipino businesses, artists, and cultural producers alike. UNDSCVRD’s highlights to-date include:
6K+ attendees in their 2022 season
Over $130K in economic activity versus a $60K pre-pandemic average, making 2022 the most successful UNDSCVRD in six seasons
$930K+ sales generated by UNDSCVRD vendors over the course of 5 years
Yerba Buena Community Benefit District Excellence Award for UNDISCOVERED SF activation in 2023
American Institute of Architecture SF Community Revitalization Award 2018
“The pandemic was rough, but we made some strategic bets during shelter-in-place that would lay the foundation for our exponential growth,” says Desi Danganan, Founder and Executive Director of Kultivate Labs. “Building Kapwa Gardens and Balay Kreative Studios set the stage for us to activate Mission Street with arts, culture, commerce, and community. Together with our other community partners along Mission St from 4th and 6th St, SOMA Pilipinas was the shining light in the decaying economic core of San Francisco.”
Kulay at Kwentuhan with Chichai Mateo at Balay Kreative
Balay Kreative is an arts studio and accelerator providing resources for Filipino-American and BIPOC artists and fostering an arts and culture renaissance in SOMA Pilipinas. In 2022, they announced their Kreative Growth Grants to accelerate the growth of Filipinx artistic expression in SOMA Pilipinas and distributed $24,000 among grantees. Other highlights to-date include:
$275K initial seed investment by The Mayor’s Office of Community Housing & Development in 2019
8 Resident Creatives in their studio space
19 Virtual, Hybrid, and in-person events hosted during the pandemic
31 Grantees in 3 years
80% of Grantee showcases and exhibits were sold out events
“Since receiving the Balay Kreative Growth Grant, I’ve written and recorded a new EP, been featured in KQED, and grown my social media reach by at least 10%. The mentorship I received as a grantee helped dissolve some internal mindset obstacles that were keeping me from being more courageous and visible as an artist,” says musician and Balay Kreative Growth Grantee Nikbo. “Through the grant, I’ve connected with new artist friends and collaborators — inside and outside of the Balay Kreative program. I’m excited to watch us all thrive and enrich Bay Area culture as the seeds of these relationships keep growing.”
Pangalay Circle dance classes with Eric Solano at Kapwa Gardens. Photo provided by Kultivate Labs
Kapwa Gardens is a city-owned parking lot Kultivate Labs transformed into an art and wellness pop-up and healing space for the community. Kapwa Gardens is the first public space in San Francisco designed with COVID-19 in mind to create a healing space for people to be outdoors and gather safely. Highlights to-date include:
200+ events hosted at Kapwa Gardens including popular Yum Yams Ube Festival and Halo Halo Holiday Christmas Crawl
$1K average sales by their vendors
13 Different styles of Filipino martial arts featured
$100K Granted from the City of San Francisco for building materials
$36.7K raised from 137 private donors
1,000+ PCR COVID tests administered and growing, 4,000+ Rapid antigen tests distributed to the community and growing
SEED Network provides business owners access to solutions, resources and Kultivate Labs’ network to stimulate economic activity and growth. SEED provides yearly grants, selecting 6-8 SOMA based businesses for extensive 1:1 consulting services that span PR, branding, accounting, legal, or web design to accelerate their growth for free. Highlights to-date include:
$36K in grants to issued
8.25x highest ROI a grantee has reported
2 Chronicle Top 100 restaurants incubated
15 Businesses accepted to their accelerator
$40k Grantee's Average Annual revenue ($400k max)
$45k Grantee's Average Personal Income ($100k max)
39 Grantee's Average Age (55 oldest / 23 youngest)
Grant Applicants: BIPOC %
Latino - 4%
Native American - 4%
Asian - 17%
Black - 17%
Filipino - 57%
Grant Applicants: Gender %
Female - 79%
Male - 21%
UNDSCVRD Market | Photo by Mogli Maureal.
2023: A Promising Year Ahead
In continuing to fulfill their mission in SOMA Pilipinas, Kultivate Labs will offer a robust lineup of annual events and new offerings in the year to come, including:
Lovers Mart at Kapwa Gardens, Saturday, February 11, 2023
Vacant to Vibrant, a new program to fill empty storefronts with Filipino pop-up businesses and art installations along Mission Street. Applications open Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Kreative Growth Grants by Balay Kreative, submissions open Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Yum Yams Ube Crawl at Kapwa Gardens, Saturday, May 13, 2023
Philippine Independence Crawl, Sunday, June 11, 2023
UNDISCOVERED, returning with three events from August-October 2023, similar to pre-pandemic years
Halo Halo Holidays, Saturday, December 9, 2023
Community members can expect many more events and activities throughout the year. Given their successes to-date across the creative, food, and retail industries in SOMA Pilipinas, Kultivate Labs also anticipates a burgeoning Filipinx/a/o-American food scene and cultural renaissance in the district.
”I’m honored to represent the Filipino cultural district on the Board of Supervisors,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents District 6. “Last year, I worked with many in the Filipino community to secure funding for the kind of meaningful and creative work that Kultivate Labs is so ambitiously taking on. As we embark on our city’s post-Covid recovery, I look forward to working with this organization and its partners to support a thriving South of Market and cultural scene.”
For more information on Kultivate Labs and how to volunteer, apply for internships and grants, become a vendor for their events, or sponsorships and partnerships, please visit www.kultivatelabs.org
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About Kultivate Labs:
Kultivate Labs is a Non-profit Economic Development and Arts Organization. We create thriving commercial ecosystems by accelerating businesses that preserve culture and community. We provide space and opportunities for the arts to flourish so that commercial activities are activated and reflect the community at large.