Food Accelerator - Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA)

Food Accelerator

Driving diversity in food innovation

Scale up your Food & Beverage product with CPG expertise, real-world business skills, and personal insights from respected industry leaders.

In partnership with

Applications are now open!

A 5-month accelerator program for Black-founded Food & Beverage businesses of consumer
packaged goods (CPG)

Our Alumni

A commitment
without compromise

Working with and learning from Black mentors means you’ll never be asked to sacrifice what’s authentic to you.

Our virtual learning environment gives you the insights & tools to launch or grow your business from any location.

Our programs are fully funded by public institutions, giving participants access to our network of mentors and experts at no cost to them.

Keep everything you’ve built. All BEA programs are non-dilutive—we don’t take any equity from your company.

High-impact growth for
high-potential food ventures

Workshops for your niche

Customized, hands-on workshop sessions take you through CPG processes and innovations. You’ll also gain the resources and tools to scale into new channels, take your product nationwide, or get into the export market.

Fireside chats

Gain practical insights in an informal discussion with successful entrepreneurs on how to avoid pitfalls and hit new milestones in your CPG journey.

Ecosystem connections

Get the opportunity to network with buyers, distributors, funders and other industry players at tradeshows, events and showcases to scale your business faster.

1:1 Industry mentorship

Work closely with mentors and advisors with extensive experience in the F&B industry and are passionate about advancing Black entrepreneurs & businesses.

Our Partners

Our application
process

Interested individuals and companies can apply through our online application. For any questions about our application process, get in touch with us at bea@bcchc.com.
If you’re fit for the program, the BEA team will reach out to you for additional information and next steps.
Once accepted, you’ll be asked to complete an onboarding form to help our programming team better understand your business idea before the start of the program.

Eligibility
requirements

The BEA welcomes applications from all individuals located in Southern Ontario who identify as Black, and are at least 18 years old.

0 +

Points of Sale

A food & beverage product currently in the market through at least 10 points of sale, including independent stores (coffee shops, convenience stores), grocery, retail, or online.

$3k-$5k

Monthly Recurring Revenue

A venture that’s been active for over 1 year, with a monthly recurring revenue of $3,000-$5,000. If your venture is under 1 year old, we’ll review the monthly recurring revenue and growth accordingly.

Founder

Status

Full-time founder status at their Food & Beverage company.

0 Month

Commitment

Ability to commit 5 months to weekly sessions & other accelerator programming.

Growth

Mindset

A driven & coachable mindset ready to scale their business.

Get ready for our next cohort

Applications for our Food Accelerator are now closed. To get notified when applications open, join our waitlist below.

Session Date

Oct 12 - Nov 30, 2023

Session Date

Oct 12 - Nov 30, 2023

A lifelong network that has your back

Cohorts and graduates of our Food Accelerator program will get ongoing access to peer founder circles and other startup perks from the BEA Learning Community.

Meet our Alumni

"YSpace has opened the entrepreneurial boulevard view for me. I’ve always known what I wanted to do, but it seemed almost impossible to put all the multiple pieces together with no business background or mentors in my community to rely on. Thankfully to YSpace, I have found inspiring and dedicated mentors who patiently helped me organize the dots to start building a solid business foundation. I am very grateful to the program.”

Gilles Tchianga

Taltis Foods INC

“The YSpace Food Accelerator was an insightful experience into the world of food. Experts and mentors, along every step of the food journey, were present to pass along hard-earned knowledge. From digital to in-store marketing, sustainable processes and packaging, and accounting to e-commerce metrics, the Food Accelerator helped lay our company’s foundations in the food and beverage world.”

Brittany Charlton

Ohh! Foods

“YSpace program wasn’t just an opportunity to learn how I can grow and scale my business - I feel like I am now part of an extended family that is continuously rooting for my success. Also, the mentors and peers I connected with through this program have become a vital piece that bridges the gap for an immigrant founder, like me.”

Lola Adeyemi

IT’S SOUPER

“BEA is the real deal! There are many programs in our community seeking to help entrepreneurs launch, grow and scale their businesses. BEA makes it happen! Not only do they provide you with the necessary training, skills, and education—they provide the connections that can give you the right opportunity to network and catapult your business to the next level.”

Donna Gardner

Mehetta Bammies

“This program was one of the best programs I’ve come across for my own personal growth in business, but also in confidence and readiness. The guest speakers and mentors were absolutely amazing in making sure we understood what was going on in each session.”

Chanée Dowdie

Honey Soul Food Restaurant

Program & application
FAQ

Learn more details about the program below, or get in touch with us for all other enquiries.

What is the Food Accelerator?

The BEA’s Food Accelerator program is a 5-month accelerator program for Black-founded Food & Beverage businesses of consumer packaged goods (CPG).

When are applications due?

Applications for our next Food Accelerator are now closed. Join our waitlist to get notified about our next cohort.

How much does the program cost?

Nothing! All BEA programs are free and non-dilutive (we take no equity).

What startup perks do participants receive?

Dedicated mentorship from Black Food & Beverage founders with years of industry experience
Potential selection to have the opportunity to join the YSpace Virtual Membership
Program for continued growth through our support system
Access to partner perks and exclusive programs

Who’s eligible to apply?

Our Food Accelerator is open to all Black-identifying individuals over the age of 18, located within Southern Ontario.

Who are the ideal candidates?

We’re looking for Food & Beverage ventures that meet the following criteria:

A food & beverage product currently in the market through at least 10 points of sale, including independent stores (coffee shops, convenience stores), grocery, retail, or online.
A venture that’s been active for over 1 year, with a monthly recurring revenue of $3,000-$5,000. If your venture is under 1 year old, we’ll review the monthly recurring revenue and growth accordingly.
Full-time founder status at their Food & Beverage company.
Ability to commit 5 months to weekly sessions & other accelerator programming.
A driven & coachable mindset ready to scale their business.

How much time will I have to commit?

Participants are expected to contribute a minimum of 3 – 5 hours a week to participate in the educational workshops and connect with their mentors. Any additional time they have to complete the work required to push their business idea forward will be up to the participant.

How many ventures will be chosen?

A maximum of 10 applicants will be chosen for the program during each cohort.