A Canadian Black-owned business is looking to help Black entrepreneurs jump-start or grow their food businesses.
Foodpreneur Lab has launched another session of its Advisor-Led Start and Scale Paths program. The program aims to help Black entrepreneurs looking to start or scale their food businesses.
The organization will only be selecting 50 hopefuls from across the country for its third cohort of the program.
In the roughly 9-month initiative, participants will be able to work with subject-matter experts to develop strategies, assets, and processes that they can implement in their businesses. Sessions are held in groups and one-on-one meetings are held virtually.
The program is funded by the Ontario government and costs nothing to apply or participate. In addition, every selected participant will have over $17,000 of resources and industry opportunities invested into their development.
Entrepreneur Janice Bartley founded Foodpreneur Lab in 2019 to tackle systemic barriers and create new approaches for those historically prevented from participating in the food sector.
“Similar to our participants, as a non-profit, we face some of the same barriers we are trying to address. We are actively working to improve every cohort and working to make the experience better every time. As a result, we have seen innovation, excitement, curiosity, and access grow within our communities,” Bartley said in a statement to Now Toronto on Friday.
In order to qualify for the Advisor-Led Start and Scale Paths program, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, must identify as Black and must live or have your business registered in one of the eligible regions.
Foodpreneur Lab is holding English information sessions about the program on Feb. 7 and 23, and a French session on Feb. 21. Applications are due on Feb. 28.
The program kicks off on Apr. 3 for selected participants.
For more information, visit Foodpreneur Lab’s website.
