Food Business Accelerator 2025 for Early-stage Food Entrepreneurs in Connecticut, USA

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About Food Business Accelerator

They work to create economic opportunity for all, increase leadership by people of color and immigrant food entrepreneurs, and strengthen their local food system by linking rising food entrepreneurs and farmers. They are seeking food entrepreneurs who have recently launched or are working toward launching a food business (such as a food truck, catering company, or food product line).

 

• Sponsor Organisation: CitySeed

Benefits of Food Business Accelerator

Accepted food businesses entrepreneurs receive:

• A spot in a 12-week workshop series on leadership, entrepreneurship, wholesale and local procurement, legal and regulatory requirements
• Seed funding
• 10 hours licensed commercial kitchen space for the duration of the program
• 1-on-1 coaching sessions
• An assigned mentor
• Opportunity to vend at CitySeed Farmers Markets for product testing
• SafeServe Managers training and certification
• Opportunity to pitch in front of investors and community members
• Access to the CitySeed Incubates listserv of 300+ ventures with tailored entrepreneurial resources

Food Business Accelerator Requirements

• Open to early-stage food entrepreneurs in Connecticut, USA.
• FBA 2025 will be held virtually via Zoom. Therefore, participants must expect to have access to reliable internet and a device with a webcam and microphone, preferably a laptop, tablet, computer.

Entrepreneurs who fit best and get the most out of the program demonstrate:

• Willingness to Learn: This program includes weekly 1-on-1 coaching and workshops where you’ll be introduced to new ideas and other perspectives. Entrepreneurs who benefit the most from this program have a willingness to have their ideas and processes challenged and refined.
• Commitment and Availability: This program is intensive. Participating in the Food Business Accelerator will ask for your time, attention, and focus. In order to get the most from the program, it is preferred that you are able to give your undivided attention and access shared documents during workshops and 1-on-1s. Workshops take place Wednesday evenings 6-8pm, and 1-on-1s occur weekdays 9am-5pm.
• Passion for Community Building: Collab and CitySeed are committed to creating an anti-racist, inclusive, and vibrant entrepreneurial community, and seeks to hold space for Black, Latinx, and women entrepreneurs. Our community of entrepreneurs come from all backgrounds but share this commitment to fostering a safe learning environment for their fellow cohort members.

Application Date and Process

• Click here to apply in English
• Click here to apply in Spanish

FBA 2025 will be held virtually via Zoom. Therefore, participants must expect to have access to reliable internet and a device with a webcam and microphone, preferably a laptop, tablet, computer. If you do not have access to any of these components but would still like to participate in the program, please email us at [email protected] to let them know after sending in your application.

Accelerator Schedule

October 4
Applications Open*
November 6
Info Session
November 22
Deadline to apply

January 8
Session 1 – Orientation and Why
January 15
Session 2 – Business self-awareness/Business Model Canvas/VP
January 22
Session 3 – Customer Empathy/Segmentation/JPG
January 29
Session 4 – Customer Discovery/Lean Method
February 5
Types of Food Businesses
February 12
Sourcing, Wholesale Purchasing, Farmers Markets
February 19
Mid-Cohort Meet and Greet
February 26
Marketing + Social Media Management
March 5
Session 6 – Business Plan/Financial modeling
March 12
Legal Requirements: Licensing & Entity Formation
March 19
Regulatory Requirements: Food Safety & Insurance
March 26
Pitch Day

Application Deadline

24 November, 2024

Scholarship Application Portal

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