CASE STUDY
The Fair Food Network
Brand Story Accelerators
A six-week intensive for Detroit Area good food entrepreneurs that was powered by both The Michigan Good Food Fund and Bank of America
Markets: HealthTech, Wearable Devices, Digital Tech, Food-as-Medicine, Social Enterprise, Non-Profits, & HBCUs
Big Results: A candidate attracted investest as a result of viewing the candidates prototype and connecting with their message.
Since its June 2013 launch, the Michigan Good Food Fund has invested more than $11 million in good food enterprises, supported 47 businesses with financing and business assistance, conducted 8 intensive workshops and webinars through programs like the “Bodega Boot Camp”, and created/retained 390 jobs across the state food value chain. MGFF is on the lookout for Michigan-based food businesses that, with their support, can make a positive change in underserved communities.
The Problem
There are many, small food-based businesses in the State of Michigan. Within that group, there are several that could potentially be considered fundable with some additional support and training. Why all of the participating food businesses know, emphatically, what they do, very few could not articulate exactly what made them stand out in saturated markets.
What Entre-SLAM Delivered:
For the Accelerator
Provided Access to Accelerator Training Materials and Performance Platform: Ebooks, physical books, and a private project management platform to keep candidates organized and connected to the facilitator.
Cultivated Innovation: Foster a virtual environment that encourages and supports innovative thinking and problem-solving among accelerator participants.
Provided Guidance: Offered mentorship and guidance to candidates, helping them navigate challenges and make informed decisions throughout the acceleration process.
Facilitate Networking: Created opportunities for networking and collaboration among accelerator participants, mentors, and relevant stakeholders.
Ensure Progression: Set and tracked measurable goals to ensure the timely progression of projects within the accelerator program.
Curated Resources: Identified and provided access to resources, including expert advice, funding opportunities, and industry connections, to enhance the growth of participating candidates.
Encouraged Adaptability: Fostered adaptability and resilience in participants by helping them navigate uncertainties and pivot when necessary.
Evaluated Performance: Regularly assessed the performance and impact of the accelerator program, making data-driven decisions to improve its effectiveness.
Built a Supportive Community: Fostered a collaborative and supportive community within the accelerator, encouraging knowledge sharing and mutual support among participants.
Promoted Diversity and Inclusion: Ensured diversity and inclusion in the selection process and the overall accelerator environment, promoting a broad range of perspectives and ideas.
Enhanced Visibility: Worked to increase the visibility and reputation of the accelerator program, attracting quality startups, mentors, and partners for future cohorts.
For the Showcase Night/Brand Storytelling Event
Conceptualization and Planning: Brainstorming and generating creative concepts that align with the accelerator and sponsor’s objectives and target audience. We managed the design, building, and shipping of the stage and event production design.
Event Day Management: Overseeing on-site operations, managing staff, handling unexpected issues, and ensuring all elements come together cohesively.
Real Impact in Communities
We are very appreciative of the opportunity to meet everyone and share our story with you all. This workshop has been extremely helpful to give us clarity and focus, leading to increased confidence and professionalism for our business. The network of local experts we've built up is phenomenal. Hopefullywe will see you all again soon. The Showcase night was wonderful and the nervousness really brought us all together. We will be following everyone on social media and continuing to learn from you.
Team: Humus Falafael
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As the week comes to an end, our team is finally taking a minute to reflect on the internal adventure we are about to embark on. The energy in the teams this week have given us a new community, that we are excited to be a part of and to learn from. Christa, both April and I have been pleasantly surprised by the style in which this course has been presented and the questions + stories which have been so carefully intertwined into the learning assignments. They beg us to ask the questions that we so often overlook in the day to day of running our lives (both business and personal). Going through this process will be an interesting balance of our own journeys along with those of our founders (our families). Buckling down for this roller coaster together :) #PopToIt baby.
Team: Poplettes
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When I was accepted into the brand accelerator program with Christa Chambers-Price I knew that I would be learning about marketing tools for my small food business and that I would get to practice public speaking. I thought the course would be similar to other courses I have taken where I learn some tidbits about a topic, some that I could apply to my business and some I would leave behind. I thought I would be simply given information and integrate the tools into my business when the time was right.
What I didn't know was that I was about to embark on a greatly transformational 6-week deep dive into my core beliefs, my reason for being in business, and the purpose of my life. I know this sounds extreme, that because it was! Through readings, videos, activities and coaching conversations I was given the support needed to peer into what i'm really doing and why, rather than relying on a surface level easy-to-put-into-a-sound-bite version of what Im doing. Working with Christa gave me the courage to investigate what I care about the most and then communicate that clearly and succinctly on a stage in front of an audience. The process has had immense value to me.
Getting to work with Christa is like having a stern fairy godmother who lovingly forces you to believe in your visions greatness. Christa's passion and commitment was with me the whole way through. I'm amazed at how much emotional strength and intelligence she has and is able to impart in a truly immersive learning experience platform. Christa's passion is contagious. She's like the cool aunt you wished you had. I honestly feel that every small business would benefit from going through this course. I hope this course spreads wildly! The world is better off with Christa out there supporting people getting their best lives. Thank you Christa!
Team: Chene Street Grocer
and more…
Objective: Prepare food entrepreneurs to be fundable
Purpose: help food-based entrepreneurs move from ‘cottage-industry’ to viable retail/shelf-ready business.
Mission: Increase the good food options in the City of Detroit.
Our role was to create an experience that would accomplish three major priorities:
Assess the market opportunity and the entrepreneur’s local position in it
Challenge founders to see the assumptions that got in the way of true innovation and connecting with audiences (hint: the hit family recipe was not enough)
Mentor and Coach each founder to discover ways to stand out and lead in their market vertical
