YSpace, York University’s community innovation hub, is launching a new initiative focused on supporting innovation in the food and beverage consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
A graphic depicting the synergy between the five different components of the Food Accelerator program offered by YSpace
One of the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area, YSpace’s Food Accelerator will help food and beverage CPG ventures build their strategy, grow their network and scale their business. The accelerator is geared towards startups that sell product through at least 10 points of sales and earn between $1,500 and $3,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
Starting in September, companies selected to take part in the food accelerator will run through five months of programming at the YSpace facility located in downtown Markham. During the program, each startup will work on five essential components of their business: product packaging, pricing, operations, sales strategies and scaling.
The program will provide companies with a chance to connect with YSpace’s world-class industry network. The companies will be organically paired with experienced mentors for each phase of the program and will have exclusive meetings with the founders of Awake Chocolate and Pur Gum. Entrepreneurs will also learn about the industry from influential figures at some of Canada’s biggest CPG companies.
Interested in learning about how you or someone you know can get involved in this unique accelerator program? Exciting opportunities are available for mentors, workshop facilitators and speakers. Questions can be directed to YSpace’s entrepreneurship manager, David Kwok, at davekwok@yorku.ca.
To learn more about the program, visit yspace.yorku.ca/food-accelerator.