By 2019, Andi Mendoza was worn out. She had spent years in corporate roles and then ran a 35-person home care agency that demanded everything she had. The stress, long hours, and financial pressure left her looking for a way forward.
A Moment That Sparked Change
Everything shifted in February 2019 when Andi met her stepdaughter’s friend, a successful e-commerce entrepreneur in his mid-twenties. He became her mentor, and with his coaching, she learned the basics of e-commerce while still managing her home care agency. “I was working seven days a week while they were only working twenty hours,” she said. It pushed her to rethink what was possible.
With his guidance, Andi launched her own e-commerce company alongside the home care business. In just nineteen months, she scaled both and paid off the six-figure debt she had been carrying for years. Once the debt was gone, her husband asked if she wanted to retire. Her answer was simple: yes! They put the home care company on the market, and it sold in October 2020.
Soon after, her husband passed away unexpectedly. As she navigated that loss, Andi searched for purpose and found it in helping others build their own businesses.
Turning Ideas Into Action Through FINSYNC CO.STARTERS
Andi created Legacy Markets, a platform that helps people launch purpose-driven online businesses. “You need a story behind your business. People want to support stories,” she said.
Structure That Made Growth Possible
Her work caught the attention of WaFd Bank, which introduced her to FINSYNC CO.STARTERS. The workbook, weekly sessions, and clear framework gave her students a way to turn ideas into real plans. “CO.STARTERS helps people see how everything connects,” she said.
Her first cohort included founders with very different strengths. A strong marketer could help someone who struggles with it. Someone focused on operations could help others think through systems. The group kept meeting after class, often talking through ideas over hot wings on Friday evenings.
Community Support Sustained Momentum
The program created quick wins:
• Andi’s stepdaughter secured a five-thousand-dollar donor check for her kids’ wellness initiative.
• Participants refined ideas that had been stuck for months or years.
• Several began connecting with WaFd bankers to open business accounts.
The group left with more than business plans. They gained confidence and a group of people they could call for advice. “They did not feel alone,” Andi said. “They filled in each other’s gaps.”
Tools That Helped Ideas Keep Moving
As the cohort shaped their businesses, FINSYNC gave them a way to track money, understand cash flow, and prepare for funding when they were ready.
Paying It Forward Through Financial Literacy and Mentorship
Today, Andi teaches free financial literacy classes and mentors entrepreneurs at all stages. She brings her “acts of service” approach into every session. “I work for others for free to help them win,” she said.
Whether she is guiding someone through a business plan or encouraging a teenager who dreams of launching a store, she reminds people that they do not have to figure it out alone.
What Business Owners Can Do Next
Two steps that help any founder move forward:
1. Start with a guided program or community. A cohort like CO.STARTERS gives you structure, accountability, and feedback you cannot get on your own.
2. Use financial tools that give you clarity. A business account and a platform like FINSYNC help you stay organized and make decisions with confidence.
As Andi puts it, “CO.STARTERS brought everything together for me. It is not just a class. It is a community of people helping each other grow.”