Bad Girl Ventures has teamed up with Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream and Accion to host a Speed Coaching event on Monday, May 7 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the COSE offices. The event targets startups in the food and beverage industry.

“People in food and beverage have a really hard time getting funding,” explains Rachel Czernin, director of marketing and development for Bad Girl Ventures.

Small business owners spend 20 minutes at each station and receive personalized coaching from more than 20 local professionals and Sam Adams experts. Consulting stations will cover topics including sales and distribution, packaging, marketing and e-commerce, legal and financing.

Since 2008, Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream has been providing low and modest income small business owners in the food, beverage and hospitality industry with the resources to start and grow their businesses. Accion, a non-profit microlender, provides loans, coaching and access to networks for small businesses. Loan consultants will be at the event to talk about how to access loans and other financing.

Cleveland is an ideal location for a food service speed coaching event because of the growing number of such businesses in the area.

“In Cleveland the number of businesses is higher than in other cities because Cleveland has established itself as a destination for good food,” says Czernin. “And there’s no food incubator in place, no one really fostering food and beverage specifically.”

BGV plans to have about 75 participants at the event. They will host a similar event in Cincinnati the following day. “It’s really an opportunity to meet experts in the field,” says Czernin. “It’s an opportunity to find funding. And it’s free.”

Source: Rachel Czernin
Writer: Karin Connelly