DETROIT, MICH. October 11, 2018—Food entrepreneurs from across Michigan will gain valuable tips and assistance from national and state experts at the Michigan Good Food Fund (MGFF) entrepreneur seminar on October 29. The invitation-only event, sponsored by Bank of America, will host more than 30 food entrepreneurs who create healthy products and provide them with industry insights, tips, and lessons learned from grocers, distributors, and food industry experts.
The day includes a presentation by Nailah Ellis-Brown, who took a side business selling home-brewed tea from the trunk of her car to a national company selling in more than 800 stores, including Meijer, Whole Foods, and Sam’s Club. Ellis-Brown will share her story and offer advice on “Rebranding for Success.” Also speaking will be Zingerman’s co-founder Paul Saginaw on “How to Scale While Staying True and Staying Profitable.” Tera’s Whey founder, Tera Johnson, will help entrepreneurs hone their business model through her session on “Discovering Your Defensible Uniqueness.”
Michigan Good Food Fund event host Jean Chorazyczewski finds the seminar a fitting cap to the fund’s efforts in 2018. “All of our work focuses on providing entrepreneurs who are creating healthy and affordable food with the knowledge and tools they need to grow, and this event does just that,” she said. “Access to capital is critical, but growing your business also takes access to mentors, experts, and other business assistance to help earlier stage entrepreneurs build their business acumen and translate their passion into success in the marketplace. That’s what this event is all about.”
MGFF has invested more than $11 million in food businesses and created more than 420 jobs in the state. Michigan Good Food Fund has funded several of the startups in attendance, including Detroit’s Sweet Potato Delights and new restaurant Baobab Fare.
“They provide a great service to the community by supporting socially and environmentally responsible small food businesses with financing options geared towards these unique businesses,” said Matt Elliott, Michigan market president of Bank of America.
# # #