FoodLabDetroit.com
313-799-3468

What assistance do you offer for people or groups interested in starting a food business? Do you target specific types of food business (women-owned, Detroit-based, home-based, etc.)?

 We are a membership based organization for good-food businesses committed to growing the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. We offer two series of classes for our members; one for would-be food entrepreneurs, and the other for people who are ready to transition into a sustainable values-based food business. We also offer business loan referrals and ongoing support. We want to expand market opportunities for all our member businesses.

What is the process someone would go through in working with you from first contact to being on their own? 

Their first step should be to take the “How-To” series of classes we offer. These are offered quarterly and locations rotate around the city, in order to connect entrepreneurs with the community and also keep FoodLab connected with the communities we serve. The series consists of five classes; How To Start a Food Business, How To Apply for a Food Establishment License, How To Find a Commercial Kitchen That’s Right for You; How To Manage Your Inventory; and  How To Scale: From Cooking To Manufacturing.  People can take all the classes or just the ones that interest them. 
Our second series on classes addresses how to build a values-based food brand. Courses include Goals and Vision; The Food Ecosystem; Branding and Marketing; Identifying Your Target Market; Human Resources and Staffing; and Financial Literacy. 

Where should would-be entrepreneurs be in the process of forming a business when they contact you? 

We mostly serve early stage entrepreneurs, between 0-3 years in business. 

What kind of projects can you not take on due to funding restrictions, your scope of service, a lack of fit with your mission, staff availability, etc.? To whom would you refer in that case?

Anything having to do with urban agriculture we would not be able to take on. We focus on value-added producers, not growers. 

What kind of lead time, if any, can people expect between when they contact you and when you can begin working with them?

Classes are offered quarterly; entrepreneurs can join at any time, however. 

What fees do you charge for your services?

FoodLab membership costs $50 per year; the core series of classes costs $10 per class for FoodLab Members and $20 per class for non-members. 

What else should people know about your organization? 

In addition to the City of Detroit, we serve Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. 

If you would like to, can you share a success story? 

Because FoodLab is more well-known as a brand than most businesses that are members, we are frequently approached by people looking for catering options, boxed lunches, and so on. We can meet those needs through our members and coordinate the process for them; we take the order, gather and assemble the product, and bill for it. This helps our members to get their work out in the community and showcases all the great businesses available locally.