Apply now! Special opportunity for growth-oriented F&B Producers with ready-to-scale operations.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Virginia Small Business Development Center and Cureate Courses invite companies in the Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley regions to apply for the inaugural cohort of the Food and Beverage Accelerator.
This free, intensive 6-week program is designed to help the founders and CEOs of growth-oriented food and beverage producers acquire the competencies required to grow and scale existing operations and to consider the next steps in strategic growth opportunities through wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer sales channels.
Each week, participants will attend an interactive hour-long webinar where they’ll learn strategies to pivot toward new revenue streams, expand their production, enter new territories, and successfully scale. Subject areas include:
In advance of each session, participants will individually work through in-depth e-modules taught by industry experts and complete assignments that impart useful skills and strategies. At the culmination of the program, each founder will present a pitch for his/her company’s growth plan and receive actionable feedback from a select group of mentors. Participants are expected to devote 6 to 8 hours each week to the course, of which 5 to 7 hours will take the form of self-directed work.
In order to be eligible for the program, companies must be:
The application period opens 9AM Monday 2/15 and closes 5PM Monday 3/8. Selected companies will be notified by Friday 3/12 and the program begins the week of 3/29.
Interested companies can apply here: https://forms.gle/ouzb4uu3uKSGoQgz6. Questions can be directed to cvanord@gmu.edu.
This program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is sponsored by the Virginia Small Business Development Center, George Mason University, and Cureate Courses.
We are a member of The Virginia SBDC Network, the most extensive business development program in the Commonwealth. The VSBDC is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), George Mason University-Mason Enterprise Center, and premier local host organizations throughout Virginia including James Madison University.
The Virginia SBDC Network is a member of and accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC).