Success Story: The Board Babes

Slicing into Success: Mateo Siblings Serve Up Mobile Charcuterie Business

Location: Northern California | Placer County | Roseville  

Business Type: Mobile Food Service  

CalOSBA Partners: Sierra SBDC 

Assistance Received: Business Planning, Licensing and Permitting, Access to Capital, and Marketing Strategy 

California State Assembly District: 5 

California State Senate District: 6 

Visit The Board Babes online. 

Adam and Lindsey Mateo are siblings with a love for charcuterie. While both work full-time in the medical field, they decided to combine their skills and passion to create something special: The Board Babes, a mobile charcuterie bar serving delicious, fully customizable personal-sized charcuterie spreads at events and parties across Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento counties. 

With years of experience in restaurant management, bartending, and entrepreneurship, plus some basic equipment already in hand, the siblings felt ready to launch their mobile food business. But they quickly realized there was much more to consider than they initially thought. What licenses would they need for a mobile charcuterie operation? How should they approach marketing to reach their target audience? And how much capital would be required to successfully launch in time for the busy summer event season? 

The questions were piling up faster than the goodies on their signature boards. Adam and Lindsey needed guidance to navigate the complexities of launching a mobile food business and ensure they were setting themselves up for success from day one. 

That’s when they connected with the Sierra SBDC. Working closely with advisor Sandra Beaton, the siblings began transforming their charcuterie passion into a fully operational business. The SBDC helped them understand the ins and outs of setting up a mobile food operation, from licensing and permitting requirements to accessing the operating capital needed for launch. 

“It has been a pleasure working with Sandra throughout this process,” Adam and Lindsey shared. “She helped guide us from start to finish and made sure to always keep us on track by setting goals between meetings. Her broad knowledge and positive attitude always kept us moving in the right direction, even when things were getting tedious and a bit overwhelming at times. This program has been invaluable for our small business and we appreciate all of the assistance we have received.” 

Together with their SBDC advisor, The Board Babes secured sellers permits, food handlers permits, and incorporated as an LLC. They formalized a comprehensive business plan that outlined the investment required from the pair, helping them make smart decisions about startup and operating expenses. After investing their own capital into the business, Adam and Lindsey worked with the SBDC on formulating, funding, and executing a targeted marketing plan designed to reach their ideal customers. 

The results? In just a few short months, The Board Babes, LLC secured all necessary licenses, strategically invested capital into their operations, created a comprehensive marketing plan and event schedule, and landed their dream launch events. Today, their business is thriving during the busy summer season, appearing at breweries and farmers markets across Placer County and available for hire at private parties and events of all types. 

What started as a shared passion between siblings has become a booming mobile catering business, bringing artfully crafted charcuterie experiences to communities throughout Northern California. Learn more about The Board Babes by following them on Instagram at instagram.com/_theboardbabes. 

Are you a California entrepreneur ready to turn your passion into a business? Connect with the Sierra SBDC for help to launch, or grow, your venture. 

1/27/2026