The application deadline is Friday, March 1, 2024, at 11:59 am EST.

• Business Strategy, Planning and Finances

• Recipe Development and Food Science

• Product Packaging, Branding

• Food Safety (COVID-19 inclusive)

• Production Time in Commercial Kitchen

• Product Prototype

• Brand/Product Video

• Scale Up Strategy (Including: Production and Manufacturing, Sales Channel Analysis, Business Development and Pricing)

• Recipe Development and Product Science

• Product Design

• Food Safety and Regulations (COVID-19 inclusive)

• Distribution and Supply Chain

• Human Resources for Food Production at Scale

• Brand/Product Video

As a participant in the Start Path you will be required to provide the following documentation (details and timelines will follow if you are selected for Cohort 4).

• Signed Participant Agreement

• Business Registration/Incorporation

• Liability insurance

• Food Handler’s Certificate

• End of Path Report

As a participant in the Scale Path you will be required to provide the following documentation upon acceptance to Cohort 4.

• Signed Participant Agreement

• Business Incorporation

• Liability insurance

• Food Handler’s Certificate

• End of Path Report

Both Start and Scale Advisor-Led Support Paths are a 9-month commitment. The Paths start on April 2, 2024, and end on December 20, 2024.

Our sole focus is on helping you develop your business and product by providing you with guided, group, and personalized support. Since this process is all about working in real-time on your business, we require your complete commitment to participate. You will receive invaluable one-to-one support from a number of industry experts who guide you through every single business stage. As such, you can expect to commit a minimum of 15-20 hours for each topic/stage. Please ensure you are available and ready to commit the required time for each Path.

Whether you are in Start or Scale, each Path is a 9-month commitment.

Cohort 4 Participants start on April 2, 2024, and end on December 20, 2024.

In order to participate, participants must have the following hardware:

• Computer/Laptop

• Webcam

• Microphone

Sessions will be run digitally through Zoom and scheduled with calendar invites.

A strong internet connection is required to stay engaged in this program.

All in-kitchen participation (Start Path only) must be completed within Ontario, Canada. Hence, you must commit to being in Region, Province, Country during the in-kitchen segment in order to be accepted into the Start Path.

Required for the in-kitchen portion (Start Path only):

• Lab Coat

• Other safety equipment/clothing (if required)

No. If you are currently a Participant in our Start Path and wish to be considered for our Scale Path, you must first successfully complete the Start Path before applying for the next available Scale cohort.

There is only one application for both Start and Scale Paths. Each application will be assessed based on the answers provided and you will be placed in the Path that best fits your needs and goals.

The purpose of the Start Path is to provide participants with a foundational business structure and prototype to launch their food product. The goal is to ensure Participants will be able to begin entering retail spaces and making revenue.

The purpose of the Scale Path is to provide participants with product development guidance to scale their recipe, packaging, product science, and business and marketing strategy. The goal is to support the participants’ ability to expand distribution, make decisions about co-packing and become investment-ready.

Our first cohort was specifically for Toronto and GTA. We recognize that GTA has the largest Black population so we are not disqualifying or dismissing it. We anticipate that as we move further outwards with each cohort, there may be fewer entrepreneurs. We encourage you to apply even if your region is not the priority as we are filling any other spots that are unfilled to applicants from Toronto, York, Durham, and Peel regions.

This project focuses on food manufacturing and processing for consumer packaged goods but does not disqualify food service. When we look at applications, we look at feasibility and what would successfully work in the marketplace based on demand and market feedback.

Our mandate is to provide access to food entrepreneurship no matter what your income level is and we are actively working on creating industry partnerships that can hopefully provide expanded support. Unfortunately at this moment, we are unable to provide additional financial support to our accepted applicants.

No. Whether you consider yourself a novice or an expert with a few knowledge gaps, if accepted, we will help address whatever gaps you have.

We have non-disclosure agreements that our participants and advisors both sign.

Yes, every applicant will be notified whether they are accepted or not.

We will be providing unsuccessful applicants with other ecosystem services and potential resources that can help them get their business ready before reapplying.

When you are applying, we encourage you to tell us as much as possible about where you are at so we can assess how to bridge the gap to where you want to go. Before distribution, we make sure all our participants have all the other requirements necessary based on the needs of suppliers.

If you are home-based, our goal is to get you into a commercial kitchen. In order to grow, produce higher volumes, and get onto shelves, that requires you to transition from home to a commercial kitchen including liabilities and tracking for Health Canada.

Cohorts 1, 2, and 3 have products already in retail. To find out more, visit our alumni highlights on Instagram or visit our Alumni page.

This application is currently for the 4th and final cohort. Our intention is to go beyond these cohorts and establish long-term relationships with partners to provide much-needed, ongoing resources to foodpreneurs.

When filling out the application, we recommend filling it out based on the stronger product, the one you believe has better market viability.

We have our participants showcase at consumer exhibits, events, and markets through our partners. For Scale participants, we also look at wholesale exhibitions and food shows that we believe would be beneficial for the product.

The program is currently a hybrid with a majority being virtual which allows us to connect with a larger group. There are two modules that are required to be in person, depending on the path you are in.

This program is currently only for South Western Ontario and is not available in any other province or internationally.

Yes. One of our mandates is to develop reciprocal relationships with a diverse community of farmers, farmers’ markets, and wholesalers in order to connect them with our participants.

Short answer? No. Our funding only allows us to have one successful applicant per company.

However, resource sharing is allowed (access to recordings, etc.).