Fair Food Business Boot Camp

Fair Food Network’s Fair Food Fund provides financing and business assistance to good food enterprises that are growing vibrant local food systems. We finance innovative businesses that are supporting resilient working farms and strong local food economies in the Northeastern United States. Lending is bolstered with business assistance including an annual business boot camp and one-on-one consulting. Fair Food Network launched the Fair Food Fund in 2012 to build robust regional food systems—and in the process, help exceptional, innovative businesses turn potential into profit.

Fair Food Business Boot Camp

This annual three-day event includes skill building sessions with industry mentors and fellow entrepreneurs to help selected entrepreneurs refine their business model, solidify plans, and accelerate growth. Topics include marketing, telling your story, break-even analysis, understanding financial statements, fundraising, and more.

The Boot Camp is FREE for selected entrepreneurs including room and board. Plus, participants have the chance to win $10,000 in cash prizes at the culminating pitch competition.  Individuals applying to attend the program must either be a founding member of the enterprise or a member of the executive leadership team.

Eligibility

We’re looking for enterprises that meet the following general criteria:

• Committed to building vibrant regional food systems in the Northeastern United States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

• Incorporated in the U.S.

• Strong consideration is given to enterprises that provide processing, marketing, local/regional food distribution, or information technology platforms that link farms with consumers and/or wholesale customers.
• Preference given to applicants planning to seek financing in the next 6-12 months.

Find more info and register here.