Vavadog Graduate Owner: Marietta Bernstein 735 Fillmore Street, San Francisco CA 94117 415-409-3900

By popular demand, Vavadog, offering hip clothing for pets, has opened a Western Addition storefront in March 2005! Vavadog is now in over 200 pet boutiques worldwide, as well as in selected Marshall Fields Department Stores. Vavadog started first by wholesaling its product lines to local boutiques and retails stores. In the first year of business, Vavadog's products were carried by over 75 stores nationwide.

Prior to starting Vavadog, Marietta Bernstein spent years working for others and helping other entrepreneurs to realize their dreams. As manager of Human Resources and Operations at a successful venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, Marietta would see young hopefuls come in and pitch their dream on a daily basis. Although her job was enjoyable, she longed to start something of her own.

"I realized that it was time to give my dream a shot! I didn't think I could do it, but one evening my husband told me that I should at least give it a try," says Marietta. In 2002 she enrolled in and 80-hour business planning class at Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center to create a business plan. She also met with Renaissance staff to create time management priorities and action steps needed to implement her business plan. In 2003, Marietta gave up her full-time job, and with the help of her husband and her two dogs, Miki and Kobe, Vavadog was born. Combining Marietta's love for fashion and dogs, Vavadog produces hip clothing for pets.

"Becoming a graduate of Renaissance was a key factor in my business success. The environment and training Renaissance provided helped me believe in my business and myself", says Marietta. "I couldn't have done it without Renaissance!"

Additional information about Vavadog can be found at this Washington Post article, and also in this Bay Guardian article.