Have you ever wondered who started Linden Street Brewery? And what he might think about Oakland's foodie renaissance?

Or why Oakland's Numi Organic Tea founders consider themselves both alchemists and artists?  How many of the best independent Bay Area businesses seem to want you to get to know them, hear their stories and have a conversation?

A dozen local businesses are opening up about their stories on Companiesandme, a new Web site that features local shops, stories from their owners and comments from loyal fans. The site launched earlier this month.

Ryan Mickle, company creator, believes there are many local businesses that have stories to share. His vision is to curate the rich stories of our local companies and bring us closer to the people behind them. 

Why?

Mickle believes we're transitioning how we do business today. He feels that sharing these stories online will bring consumers closer to the area's inspired independent entrepreneurs, build community and promote local shopping in one fell swoop.

Consumers want to know the people and stories behind local companies; the companies want to be known as real people in the community.  At companiesandme, says Mickle, the business founders and employees can tell their stories and reveal a greater vision to consumers while building a deeper relationship, one conversation at a time. Creating and building on this awareness will help enable the success of these independent brands of the Bay Area.

Companies will post when they have a meaningful story to share; members of the site can begin a conversation.  Together, both create a space focused on local stories and developing relationships. Companies can post anytime they have a story to share. To participate, companies much be independently owned, located in northern California and make a physical product.

All February subscription fees and anything the companies want to donate will benefit the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund. Mickle says, "Our hope is that the more companies that get nominated and the more buzz we can create, the more we can send to Haiti."

Oaklanders can nominate favorite companies to appear on the site. To nominate your favorite Bay Area companies, go to companiesandme.com.  Selected companies must be independently owned, located in northern California and make a physical product.  They  must have stories to share and can commit to a 2 way conversation.