TORONTO — With the launch of its latest cohort, Foodpreneur Lab is looking for Black entrepreneurs in southwestern Ontario who are interested in starting or scaling a packaged-food business. Applications are open now until Mar. 1, 2024.
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 centering the lived experience of BIPOC individuals.
“It’s through food that communities connect and foster a sense of belonging,” says Janice Bartley, founder of Foodpreneur Lab. “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 have gone on to achieve significant success thanks to opportunities provided by the non-profit. Recent alumni include 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.
