There are few things that connect us the way that food can. By opening our senses with flavors and aromas, food allows us to experience new cultures and connect with others on a deep, emotional level. Although food is a universal experience, many traditional lenders often view restaurants and food trucks as a high-risk investment, and do not provide funding options for businesses in this industry. Prestamos CDFI, however, believes in the power that food has to connect and sees small restaurant businesses as worthy of investment and opportunity.
Irais Balmaseda Toca spent 20 years working in commercial kitchens. He knew the ins and outs of the restaurant industry, working to prepare new menus, overseeing quality control and handling day-to-day operations. However, he was always working for others. and He dreamed of one day opening his own business and, sharing his love of traditional Cuban cuisine. After many years of dreaming, his wife, Marisleydi Blanco Rodriguez, lost her job due to budget cuts. Rather than allowing this set backsetback to defeat them, they decided to seize the opportunity to turn their dream into a reality.
Irais and Marisleydi knew that to launch their business, they needed real support and insights. They remembered a friend of theirs who had worked with our team at Prestamos CDFI and decided to seek our services. They quickly became connected with Romina Guerra, a Prestamos Business Advisor, who coached them through developing a business plan and provided step by step instructions on how to apply for a loan and get funding.
Through coaching support, Irais and Marisleydi were able to demonstrate strong revenue and growth through projection models. This, alongside their strong personal financial background and industry experience, helped to strengthen their application despite their status as a startup and lack of business income. They also had a strong Unique Value Proposition (UVP) by identifying a gap for Cuban cuisine and limited direct competition in their market.
Where a traditional lender might see high risk and deny funding, Prestamos CDFI saw an opportunity for investment. Irais and Marisleydi began working with Prestamos in November of 2025, and by March 2026 they received funding. They immediately and began using their small business loan to build out and launch their business – Marantha I&M Food Truck. The funds they received allowed the couple to purchase their a food truck, buy additional equipment, and provided the working capital they needed to pay for permits, operating expenses, marketing and other start-up costs.
In June 2026, Marantha I&M Food Truck celebrated their grand opening. The festivities included music, community, and great Cuban Cuisine. Their Prestamos business advisor, Romina, drove up for the celebration to support her clients in all their success. Irais and Marisleydi can now say they’ve done what few others can – that they took the chance to turn their dreams into a reality and are working to bring their love of food and Cuban culture to their community in the Phoenix area!
