- Jeffrey Lamont Brown
- Aug 27, 2023
Q2 EQUITY ROUND ENDING SOON.... Jenny and I launched IZOLA three years ago at the start of the COVID pandemic - it was a sad and scary time, and we really wanted to find a way to reconnect with our community. So we started baking in our little home kitchen and the window basket was born! We lowered our first hot from the oven croissants and sourdough out our 3rd story window, saw the joy that it brought to our neighborhood and we were hooked. Fast forward to today - we have used up every square inch of our space! There's just no more room to produce more. We are on a mission to change the way America experiences sourdough bread and croissants while propelling our justice-based mission, and so we need to make some big changes! That's where the IZOLA community comes in - and why we are asking you to walk with us on this journey together. We are raising funds through a Regulation CF equity raise that will allow us to build California's first 100% renewable energy-powered, zero-emission (except yummy smells) factory of the future.
Our Q2 round ends at midnight, this Thursday, August 31st! Join us TOMORROW, Tuesday, August 29th at 7p on Google Meet to learn more about our plans for the future. We are on track to create 170+ high-paying jobs with training and advancement, with opportunities available to all, including members of high-poverty communities like City Heights. We are on track to grow to a $38,000,000 company in 5 years, which will 20x our justice-based impact, and maximize ROI to all our stakeholders. (community, team members, investors, government) for decades to come. IZOLA is powered by our community. Your dedication to this movement allows IZOLA to plan and build for a better future. RSVP to learn more.
*Please only invest an amount you would feel comfortable losing. Investing in private businesses involves risk. Though potential returns are designed to reflect that risk, there is a possibility that you will lose your entire investment.
96.... I can't help but grin from ear to ear every time I witness the magic of our 96 layers of Normandy butter coming together to create this perfectly proofed honeycomb structure. As someone who majored in Civil Engineering I've got a deep appreciation for all the intricate steps that go into crafting this structure. Our Dojo team delicately handles the dough not once, not twice, but thrice, to perfectly encapsulate 96 layers of butter, each one thinner than a hair's breadth! And then there's the precise temperature and humidity working together during the proofing stage, creating the ideal conditions for every single layer to start its majestic ascent. And let's not forget the grand finale – the baking...It's like a symphony of flavors and textures coming together in perfect harmony. The oven's exact temperature works its magic, coaxing the butter to form steam to create those delightful pockets. Hungry?? Pre-orders for the week are open now. Have a pre-order and in a hurry? No problem! Double park downstairs and call us at (619) 289-8358, we'll run your order down to you with a smile. We call it IZOLA DRIVE-BY.
- Jeffrey Lamont Brown
- Aug 22, 2023
A DAY IN THE LIFE AT IZOLA.... Each team member at IZOLA is charged with the daily task of taking one photo a day and it's so much fun to see what they post to Slack. Much of what the team does here is not glamourous - they help keep the streets clean in front of the bakery, perform a daily vac and mop of the entire space, wash lots and lots of dishes...but ultimately, the team shares in the same objective, to create a special experience for our guests - whether that's in how they greet you, the care with which they craft the food we serve, or how they pack your order. And the team does this with what we call the IZOLA spirit - they care and are kind to one another, they work together as a team, they are quirky and we celebrate their unique selves. Jenny and I are super proud of the what this team accomplishes each and every day. As I scroll through their photos, it just brings me so much joy to see IZOLA through their lens. And the entire team shares in the tip pool, because we believe each and every member has a direct impact on the guest experience, from the dishwasher to Dojo to front of house and beyond. Thank you for showing the IZOLA team your appreciation for their kindness and hard work. Pre-orders are open now! Or just pop on by, no pre-ordering required. Have a pre-order and in a hurry? No problem! Double park downstairs and call us at (619) 289-8358, we'll run your order down to you with a smile. We call it IZOLA DRIVE-BY.
ROUND 2 CLOSING NEXT WEEK! Round 2 of our equity raise closes next Thursday, August 31st at midnight PST. If you've been wanting to join us as we change the way America thinks about sourdough and croissants, now's the time to take this journey with us.
If you have not yet joined us for an investor conversation, we'll be hosting an online Google Meet on Tuesday, August 29th at 7p. We will share why we are asking you, the IZOLA community, to join us in our $3.5M equity raise, where you can become an owner in IZOLA with as little as a $1k investment. IZOLA is powered by our community. Your dedication to this movement is what allows IZOLA to invest in American Manufacturing, create living wage jobs and expand IZOLA's social impact across Southern California.
*Please only invest an amount you would feel comfortable losing. Investing in private businesses involves risk. Though potential returns are designed to reflect that risk, there is a possibility that you will lose your entire investment.
WOOT WOOT! Great news. IZOLA has advanced to Phase IIa for a $6,000,000 Cal Competes grant. The California Competes Grant Program is an amazing opportunity from the state that helps encourage companies to grow right here in California. If we are awarded this grant, we will be able to create over 170 new Living Wage+ jobs right here in San Diego over the next 5 years. We are definitely the underdogs in this competition...previous awardees include Netflix, Applied Materials, and Nvidia. Super stoked to just move to Phase IIa amongst companies of this caliber. And we are incredibly grateful for the local support we've received with our application. Just like with most things that we do here at IZOLA, we are new at this so we're learning along the way! If you have experience navigating this process, we'd love to hear your tips and sage words of advice! Email me!
IZOLA MUSIC SATURDAY Every Saturday IZOLA hosts live music - come see how diverse and talented our San Diego community is. We post our full musical line-up every Friday night on Instagram - follow us here!
- Jeffrey Lamont Brown
- Aug 14, 2023
Short and sweet this week as Jenny and I are enjoying the last couple of days of fellowship time with our family out in Montana. Pre-orders are live and we look forward to having ya by the bakeshop to enjoy a hot from the oven croissant like our Blackberry Chocolate Croissant...handmade with love by our Dojo team with house-made blackberry compote and Valrohna dark chocolate.
Thank you to the absolutely amazing, hardworking team for holding down the fort, and more, to allow us this precious time away. In particular, big thank you's to IZOLA's AGM Jeff and Front of House lead Hayley, you two are the best. I'm full of gratitude for my little sis Lisa and the rest of the family, Spencer, Max and Skye, as they host us this week in Montana. They've provided us with unlimited Vitamin N (NATURE! - prescribed by Dr. Lisa herself!), connection and love. Thank you, thank you, thank you. With much love, Jeffrey and Jenny
JOIN US THIS SATURDAY Join Jenny and me this Saturday, August 19th at 3p as we host you in person at IZOLA. We'll have some hot-from-the-oven croissants and sourdough to snack on and delicious beverages to enjoy as we gather. We will share why we are asking you, the IZOLA community, to join us in our $3.5M equity raise, where you can become an owner in IZOLA with as little as a $1k investment. IZOLA is powered by our community. Your dedication to this movement is what allows IZOLA to invest in American Manufacturing, create living wage jobs and expand IZOLA's social impact across Southern California.
Join us for croissants and conversation:
If you're ready to accelerate IZOLA's future, chip in here:
*Please only invest an amount you would feel comfortable losing. Investing in private businesses involves risk. Though potential returns are designed to reflect that risk, there is a possibility that you will lose your entire investment.
SERENADE TO THE LAST SLICE This video made our day - thank you to Ann for sharing and Neika for allowing us to share your lovely serenade to IZOLA Sourdough Bread! Neika loves 1940's singer and film icon Marlene Dietrick and found her inspiring as a young woman in her 20s. Now at 70, we get to hear Neika's spontaneous take on Marlene's song from "The Blue Angel."
IZOLA MUSIC SATURDAY Every Saturday IZOLA hosts live music - come see how diverse and talented our San Diego community is. We post our full musical line-up every Friday night on Instagram - follow us here!