Applications open for Foodpreneur Lab’s accelerator program for Black entrepreneurs

Foodpreneur Lab is looking for Black entrepreneurs in southwestern Ontario who are interested in starting or scaling a packaged food business. Applications are now open at www.foodpreneurlab.com until March 1, 2024, at 11:59 am ET.

Now in its fourth year, the Advisor-Led Start and Scale Support Path project provides free access to industry experts ranging from accountants and branding professionals to chefs and food scientists throughout its guided nine-month program. More than a traditional incubator accelerator, the paths focus on removing systemic barriers, increasing access, forging community and centring the lived experience of BIPOC individuals.

“It is through food that communities connect and foster a sense of belonging,” says Foodpreneur Lab founder Janice Bartley. “We believe that shared experiences provided by our support paths will help Black food entrepreneurs thrive and conduct business that honours their unique lens.”

Foodpreneur Lab alumni includes Patrice McCreath, founder of Patreats, who won the New Product Award in 2023 at the Annual Canadian Grand Prix from the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and Kenesha Lewis, founder of One More Cocoa, who was the only Canadian business to make the list of Oprah’s 2023 Favourite Things.

“The network, the experience, and the results have all been amazing,” says Start Support Path participant Robert Robinson of Robinson Sauces. “It’s helped me understand and map out success for my business, connecting me with the right people.”

Applicants from the following regions are eligible for support: the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe, Wellington, Frontenac, Dufferin, Prescott and Russell, Stormont, Renfrew, Lanark, Leeds & Grenville, Dundas & Glengarry.

Information sessions for cohort four will be held in English on February 22, at 6:30 pm ET. Registration is available at www.foodpreneurlab.com. The Government of Canada funds this project through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.