PROGRAMS
Food Business Incubator
Applications OPEN until Friday March 13
FOOD BUSINESS INCUBATOR
About the Program
Grow your food business with clarity, confidence and community.
The Food Business Incubator is a 12-week, statewide program for Connecticut-based, early-stage food entrepreneurs. This program is led by reSET + Collab in partnership with CitySeed, in collaboration with the Hispanic Federation and Hands On Hartford, and is designed to help founders move from idea to action with clarity, structure, and support.
This cohort-based program is for registered food businesses that are actively making sales and ready to grow. The program serves entrepreneurs who have been in business for 6 months to 2 years and are generating $1,000–$100,000 in revenue. The Food Incubator is looking to enroll 20–25 participants across Connecticut.
Through hands-on workshops, real-world exercises, and personalized 1-on-1 coaching, entrepreneurs build the skills and confidence to grow their food businesses with intention and clarity. You’ll get clear on your “why,” set realistic goals you can actually follow through on, and shape your business into something customers truly connect with.
The program walks you through the essentials of running a food business—from food safety and licensing to sourcing ingredients and choosing the right places to sell (like farmers markets, pop-ups, and wholesale). As you grow, you’ll dive into the money side of your business (pricing, costs, and cash flow), learn how to access funding, strengthen your brand, understand the legal basics, and practice pitching your business with confidence.
We'll conclude with a Pitch Camp and a live pitch event, where entrepreneurs deliver 3–5 minute pitches, receive expert feedback, and connect with partners offering grant opportunities. Graduates leave with the tools, confidence, and clarity needed to grow their food businesses sustainably.
Learn more before applying at the Virtual Info Session:
Wednesday, March 4th - 5:30-6:30pm
2026 Food Business Incubator Schedule:
Application deadline: Friday March 13, 11:59pm
April 13, 2026 – June 29, 2026
Hybrid | 12 weeks | Mondays, 6 to 8 PM via zoom, select Saturday mornings in-person at Hartford and New Haven locations
Monday, April 13th
Saturday, April 18th (In-person)
Monday, April 20th
Monday, April 27th
Monday, May 4th
Monday, May 11th
Monday, May 18th
Wednesday, May 27th
Monday, June 1st
Saturday,June 6th (In-person)
Monday, June 8th
Monday, June 15th
Monday, June 22nd
Monday, June 29th (In-person culminating event)
One-on-One coaching appointments available weekly between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday
*Dates subject to change
Who Is This Program For?
This program is for Connecticut-based food entrepreneurs who:
- Have been in business 6 months to 2 years
- Are generating $1,000–$100,000 in annual revenue
- Are actively making sales and ready to grow!
How much does the Food Business Incubator cost?
Thanks to our funders, this program is offered at no cost to participants.
Qualifiers
Applicants should meet most or all of the following:
- Registered food business in Connecticut (LLC, sole proprietorship, cooperative, etc.)
- Operating for 6 months to 2 years
- Revenue between $1,000–$100,000
- Actively selling or ready to sell (markets, pop-ups, wholesale, online, etc.)
- Based in Connecticut (priority to Hartford and New Haven-based food businesses)
- Able to commit to full participation (workshops, assignments, advising sessions, and final pitch event)
- Willing to share high-level business data (pricing, costs, financials) for learning purposes
- Open to feedback and coaching from peers, facilitators, and guest experts
- Food-focused business (packaged food, beverage, prepared foods, catering, or food-related enterprises)
What You’ll Learn & Gain
Graduates leave with stronger systems, clearer strategy, and a growth-ready business foundation. Learning outcomes include:
- Supply chain fundamentals
- Food safety, licensing & compliance (ServSafe and DCP requirements)
- Local sourcing
- Sales channels (farmers markets, pop-ups, wholesale)
- Financial readiness (pricing, COGS, cash flow)
- Access to capital
- Legal foundations
- Marketing & branding
- Business pitching
- Insurance
Program Perks
- 1-on-1 business advising
- Practical tools, templates, and resources
- Access to food industry experts
- Grant funding opportunities for graduates
- QuickBooks discount code through WBDC
- Access to in-network Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs)
- Peer community of fellow food founders
Funding Opportunity
Thanks to funding from the
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (CT DECD) and
Hispanic Federation with support through a
Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, participants who successfully complete the program may qualify for a
micro grant
to support early business growth.
FAQ
- Is this program free?
This program is offered at no cost thanks to public and private funding. - Do I need ServSafe before applying?
No. You can complete required food safety and licensing steps outside of class time. - What if I sell from home or at markets?
Cottage food operators i.e home based food businesses are welcome if registered as a business and ready to sell. - How much time is required?
Weekly workshops, assignments, 1-on-1 advising, and participation in the final pitch event. Participants should expect to spend about 5 to 7 hours per week in class and homework. - Is this only for Hartford and New Haven?
No. The program is statewide, with priority given to Hartford and New Haven-based food entrepreneurs.
Ready to Get Started?
Application Deadline:
Friday, March 13th, 2026
