What we do:
Mission: We work to create economic opportunity for all, increase leadership by people-of-color and immigrant food entrepreneurs, and strengthen our local food system by linking rising food entrepreneurs and farmers.
Vision: Our vision is to reduce barriers to food entrepreneurship among chefs from New Haven’s diverse communities, many of whom are refugees, immigrants and people of color, and to promote their cultural heritage and stories
Our services:
CitySeed offers a variety of services and resources to build and grow your venture, including
- Shared-use commercial kitchen space at below-market rent. Apply to rent our commercial kitchen here
- Opportunity to vend at CitySeed’s Farmers Markets and guidance on food sourcing
- Advising on licenses, menu development, business planning, and more. Set up a meeting with our Food Entrepreneurship Program Manager, Cara Santino, here
- Educational workshops, most notably the Food Business Accelerator Program & the Recipe and Menu Management Series
- Connections to our Partner Referral Network to have support in marketing, design, fundraising, management, and financials
Our impact:
of ventures agree that CitySeed provides them with tools to elevate their business
of Incubates businesses have launched their businesses in CT
of Food Business Accelerator graduates grew their network through the program
Meet our first Incubates Advisory Committee!Within the next two years, the IAC aims to amplify the work of food businesses owned by BIPOC and women in CitySeed’s 400+ entrepreneurial network while supporting the development, growth, and sustainability of Incubates’s program offerings.
We are so excited to have such a multi-disciplinary and diverse set of lived experiences, knowledge, and skillsets in informing CitySeed’s growing Incubates Program. Learn more about our members here.