HARTFORD and NEW HAVEN, CT — Reset and CitySeed will showcase the delicious food and business plans of 16 growing Connecticut food entrepreneurs, as they graduate from the organizations’ inaugural, jointly-run, statewide Food Business Incubator training program – on Monday June 29, from 5:30-8PM, at CitySeed, 162 James Street in New Haven. 

The Food Business Incubator training program is part of an expanded partnership to serve food entrepreneurs across Connecticut through a coordinated Food Business Pathway, a three-tier program series designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are and guide them toward sustainable, scalable food business operations.

Free tickets to the showcase are available at http://bit.ly/foodbizshow.

Featured businesses in the spring cohort are:

• Lauren Barnes and Francisco Javier Diaz Mosquea, Pika Food Truck, instagram.com/pikafoodtruck
• Carolyn Batz, Dragonfire Meadery, dragonfiremeadery.com
• Mariah Boria, Mariah Bakes, mariahbakes.com
• Alexandra Brown, With a Splash, instagram.com/withasplashmobilebar
• Melissa Carrasco, Melissa's Fusion Cuisine, instagram.com/melissasfusioncuisine
• Florina Gosturani, Ina Sweet Bakery, facebook.com/p/Ina-Sweet-Bakery-100088764871910/
• Jasmin Jones, Lil Mariez Sweet Treat, instagram.com/withasplashmobilebar
• Margo Jones, Assiah Tea and Wellness, assiahteaandwellness.com
• Soledad Kristan, Downright Breads, downrightbreads.com
• Cherryll LaFond, Caribbean Home-Style Products, caribbeanhomestyleproducts.com
• Lance McDougald, Juice Healer, instagram.com/juicehealer1
• Camille Smith, Cami's Kitchen, instagram.com/camiskitchen_camis4rs
• Cherice Williams, That Girl Can Cook 
• Sara Wingard, The Sushi Class, thesushiclass.com
• Shawna Strayhorn, Vittles to the People 

Both Reset and CitySeed have a long history of supporting early-stage food entrepreneurs across Connecticut, meeting strong demand from makers ready to turn their passion into viable businesses. Food businesses face unique challenges navigating food safety requirements, scaling production, and complying with complex regulations. Providing the right level of support at each stage of growth is essential, which is why CitySeed and Reset have created this comprehensive pathway to help food entrepreneurs build strong, regulation-compliant, and sustainable businesses that strengthen Connecticut’s local food economy. 

The training pathway includes three distinct programs: Food Business Fundamentals, the Food Business Incubator, and the Food Business Accelerator, all designed to provide a clear continuum of support from formalizing an idea, through active growth and scaling an established business. Participants who complete one program are well-positioned to advance to the next as their business grows.

"Connecticut has incredible food entrepreneurs with real talent and drive," said Katrice Claudio, Reset Food Program Manager. "They often need structure and access to the right resources at the right time. This pathway creates multiple entry points for businesses to access the tools they need to growth."

"CitySeed has long been committed to building equitable food systems and supporting the people at the heart of them," said CitySeed Food Business Director Sasha Fay. "Partnering with Reset allows us to deepen that work and reach entrepreneurs across the state who need this kind of hands-on guidance."

Food Business Fundamentals: Build the Foundation 

Individuals exploring the possibility of launching a food business can start their experience with Food Business Fundamentals. This free, six-week introductory course series is designed for aspiring and very early-stage food entrepreneurs — particularly those in the pre-launch or early startup phase and who have no revenue up to  $5,000 in revenue. The program is ideal for entrepreneurs who may be testing recipes, selling informally, or simply unsure where to begin. Offered in both Spanish and English, multiple times annually, Food Business Fundamentals enables aspiring founders to decide their next steps toward launching. The first Spanish language program launched in late February and the English language program concluded in May, serving over 45 entrepreneurs across both sessions, with another planned for fall 2026.

Food Business Incubator: Grow with Purpose

The Food Business Incubator is a 12-week statewide program designed for Connecticut-based food entrepreneurs who have been in business for 6 months to 2 years and are ready to grow. Through hands-on workshops, real-world exercises, and one-on-one coaching, participants gain the skills, structure, and confidence to strengthen their operations, refine their brand, and scale sustainably. The program concludes with the Showcase, during which entrepreneurs share their food, their progress, and connect with potential partners and funding opportunities. 

Food Business Accelerator: Scale for Impact

The Food Business Accelerator, the third and most advanced program in the pathway, will launch in 2027. The Accelerator is ideal for business owners who are already generating significant revenue and ready to solidify their operations and scale up. The program will leverage the extensive networks and expertise of both CitySeed and Reset, bringing a heightened focus on operational sustainability, hiring, and access to capital, through a mix of group meetings and one-on-one coaching. 

Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to sign up for CitySeed and Reset communications to learn about upcoming opportunities, at cityseed.org/contact-us and www.resetco.org.

About Reset: Founded in 2007, Reset is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector and providing inclusive entrepreneurial support across Connecticut. In February 2025, Reset acquired New Haven-based Collab, combining complementary strengths to create a more robust ecosystem for impact-driven entrepreneurs throughout the region. Reset specializes in social enterprise — impact-driven businesses with double or triple bottom lines — providing coworking space, accelerator programs, and mentoring services that inspire innovation and community collaboration. To date, Reset and Collab have assisted over 700 small businesses to start and grow with impact, and reached thousands more through low-touch supports. Visit resetco.org to learn more.

About CitySeed: CitySeed is cultivating a Greater New Haven where everyone has access to good food: fresh, local, nutrient-rich, culturally-affirming, supportive of our local economy, and rooted in connection. We partner with farmers, chefs, and food business operators to turn skills and passions into sustainable livelihoods. By breaking down barriers, CitySeed ensures that good food reaches those who need it most and builds opportunity in the food system. We tackle challenges to farm viability, food access, food entrepreneurship, and culinary employment to nurture a thriving, equitable community where good food and economic opportunity are accessible to all. Through markets that connect neighbors with local producers, food business support that grows emerging enterprises, and workforce training that prepares new chefs for culinary careers, CitySeed  generates millions annually for developing farmers, chefs, and food entrepreneurs, strengthening our local food system from field to shelf.

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