Established in 2020 and funded by a Community Development Block Grant from the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), the Seasoned Accelerator program supports small food businesses, which makes it unique among local accelerator programs for its focus on food vendors. We have served 34 entrepreneurs since the program’s founding.
We strive to support diverse groups of business owners to create a healthy local food economy, grow small businesses, and generate quality food sector jobs, especially for people facing barriers to employment.
Our Objectives
SEE-LA’s objectives for the Seasoned Accelerator are to create a healthy local food economy, sustain and grow existing businesses, and create quality, local food sector jobs, especially for people facing barriers to employment. The program largely serves immigrant entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs of color, particularly women of color who form the majority of SEE-LA’s food vendors.
Each year a cohort of 10 entrepreneurs receives:
- 1:1 business advising and mentorship
- Webinars on business development and issues specific to the food and beverage industry
- Linkage to resources and opportunities, including Small Business Development
We strive to support diverse groups of business owners to create a healthy local food economy, grow small businesses, and generate quality food sector jobs, especially for people facing barriers to employment.
Our coaches and webinar instructors, with deep knowledge and first-hand experience in food and beverage, teach and coach on Growth Strategy, Business Planning, Operations refinement, Financials, and more.
What Program Alumni Say
‘’The Seasoned Accelerator Program has been an amazing experience. My two business mentors have been instrumental in helping me make critical decisions- big or small– and offered me guidance and valuable coaching advice every week. The program also covered diverse topics to help our cohort of small businesses navigate the terrain of being an owner of a startup.’’
– Kenshi Kobayash, Founder of Kenchan Ramen.
GET INVOLVED
We can use your help, and we can be of help!
The Seasoned Accelerator has a limited number of spaces available for current farmers’ market food vendors, and food vendors that may not currently be in our farmers’ markets. We also reserve spaces for South LA based food businesses that are looking to grow into farmers’ markets through residencies in our South LA Farmers’ Markets.
We invite volunteers with extensive experience in the food and beverage industries to support our entrepreneurs. If you are interested in providing instruction, individualized coaching or support, or other resources, get in touch! Email: maybelline@see-la.org.
