Small Food Startups

Boot Camp equips you with everything you need to profitably grow your business and raise money. Experts from the Food Finance Institute will lead training sessions, diving deep into the four topics for each day of Boot Camp. Plus, they and other consultants will work with you individually so you have everything you need to profitably grow your food-focused business and raise money.

This free and quick informational session will provide details about the Fellows Program and give you an opportunity to ask questions.

In this episode Tera talks to Amazon expert Michael Zhang about what it takes to sell well on Amazon. Michael believes if you are committed to the channel you can make Amazon work for you. Tune in to learn more about what this commitment entails and how to tap into the power of Amazon to grow your food brand.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every food and farm business in some way. But for all the roadblocks this situation has caused, it has also opened up new opportunities. That is why FFI has been talking about shifting business strategies in response to the pandemic and predicted recession. Could alternate sales channels, product offerings, or distribution models keep your company rocking?

Women found innovative food and farm businesses all the time, yet they still have a harder time landing investment than male entrepreneurs do. Part of the issue is decision-makers in the investment world are predominantly men. Regardless, it is still entirely possible for female founders to raise money successfully. Gaining financial literacy is the first step. They need to be exceptionally well-versed in their needs and numbers and go into investment discussions with confidence.

Rachael Young of yaupon beverage brand YAYAYA joins Tera to talk about building a beverage brand around an unknown plant, working with copackers and courting investor partners who know the food space.

If e-commerce wasn’t a priority for food brands before, COVID-19 has certainly made it one. Online food sales are soaring right now, and many shoppers want to buy direct from producers. A big part of your online strategy is deciding which online platforms to pursue. Our latest podcast explores how to figure this out. Also check out our free business tools to guide businesses during this tricky time, and remember to join our Monday virtual huddles for entrepreneurs and consultants.

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #60, Tera catches up with consultant Alli Ball, creator of the Retail Ready online course and the Food Biz Wiz podcast....

Franchisers make money through initial franchise fee for setup costs, controlling product sales (by buying product, then selling to the stores after marking it up), and royalties, which come off of top line sales of the franchised business in return for the support and process development of the franchiser. This is often the biggest source of income for franchisers.

SAGE contributes to the food system by helping elevate the data around the impact of food and agriculture in a way that helps people understand the connections between this sector and the rest of society and the economy.