In February, farmers market managers from Loudoun participated in a workshop and networking event to discuss and collaborate on the future of their enterprises. Led by Kim Bryden and Kelly Guglielmino of Cureate, a woman-owned and operated food-tech and business development consulting firm that focuses on building local/regional food and beverage supply systems, the cohort marked a significant milestone in the ongoing journey of understanding and improving local farmers markets.

On April 15, Watson served tacos, rice and award-winning cheese dip in the family meal for the Cureate Courses participants before the capstone event at Mount Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville. Watson also judged event’s pitch competition, which she won last spring. Two participants received $5,000 at the end of the competition.

Cureate CEO Kim Bryden said the event’s farm-to-table dinner was sold out.

Cureate Courses is funded by Huntsville-based Forge Inc., a revolving loan fund with multiple supporters, including the U.S. Small Business Administration and Walton Family Foundation. Details on Cureate Courses’ fall cohort are expected to be released later this spring.

On April 19, Watson offered samples of Vito’s Deconstructed Lasagna and Big Bertha’s Fat Stack that were served in the cafeteria at Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale to celebrate Earth Day and the launch of Vito and Vera’s meals to go becoming available at the hospital.

“I think it’s life-changing for me as a person,” Watson said. “It’s all I dreamed about because I believe that food is medicine, and I believe in taking care of healthcare workers and patients. I think it’s the road to seeing a plant-based menu available in all the hospitals.”

“You know how to make jam, but do you know how to run a jam business?” Kim Bryden, CEO and Founder of Cureate, is in the business of helping small businesses focus on the latter. Cureate develops courses and networks to answer the essential questions for a small business: how to grow company culture, build a brand, build a team, manage a supply chain, win new customers, establish a creative process, develop a media strategy, optimize for E-commerce, manage expenses, and secure venture capital. In short, how to achieve a vision.

Our vision at Cureate is to build a more interconnected, economically-vibrant community where big and small business do business with one another and resources are shared freely to uplift and empower our local, regional business community. This vision was on full display at our farm-to-table dinner at Mount Sequoyah on Saturday, April 15 when two graduating cohorts from Cureate Courses NWA worked together to pull off one of the most beautiful, collaborative 5-course meals we have ever witnessed.

“Congrats to Kim Bryden, who has helped innumerable #NWArk food & beverage startups scale and expand!

Bryden, the founder and CEO of @cureateco, was named a winner of this year's Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award by Food Logistics magazine.

According to the @nwademgaz, "the award recognizes influential individuals in the industry whose achievements, hard work and vision have shaped the global cold food supply chain." - @uark_ent

We push for transparency, continually seek ways to be more socially and environmentally responsible, and advocate for change on the issues that affect our industry.

Representatives from University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore Community Lending, and Cureate celebrated the most recent crop of Cureate Courses graduates from Prince George’s County, Charles County, Baltimore City and County. Mini donuts, loose leaf tea, handmade pasta, cold-pressed juice, and buttermilk waffles, amongst many other goodies were sampled and sold. Local faculty, media, and UMMS representatives judged the Pitch Showcase and awarded $5,000 checks to Omega 3 and Treehouse Juicery for clearly articulating their growth plans and goals for their businesses.

The project is one of 16 to receive funding under the foundation's Convergence Accelerator program. It brings researchers from the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and University of Florida together with two startups, Cureate and Junction AI Inc., and a team of consultants to tackle challenges such as food insecurity while offering novel business solutions.

Join us at Baltimore's newly revamped Lexington Market for a Holiday Market & Pitch Showcase on December 14th, 5-8:30pm. The most recent crop of Cureate Courses graduates are coming together to share stellar food & drinks and vie for a chance to bring home a $5,000 check. Plus, attendees will get to vote in real time for the winner of a separate community prize fund. Tickets are only $5 and include entry and a complimentary drink. Good times are guaranteed by our emcees, IG food-celebs, @CharmCityTable and @CousinKim_.

Kim Bryden, CEO of Cureate, is an accomplished strategic business development professional with expertise in marketing, merchandising, and supply chain coordination focusing on the food & beverage industry.

Watson won $5,000 in a pitch competition after completing business development program Cureate Courses in Northwest Arkansas. The free, eight-week program for food and beverage entrepreneurs is hosted by business consultant Cureate and FORGE Inc., a revolving community loan fund that’s based in Huntsville. Watson was one of eight women business owners who completed the program this spring.

“While it took a lot of time, I experienced such growth as a person and as a business owner to be able to articulate my dreams in a way that makes sense,” she said.

“When the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging the food industry in 2020, Cureate Chief Executive Officer Kim Bryden decided it was time to hit the road and explore the possibility of launching a hub office in America's heartland. Bryden journeyed across nine states to assess the nature of the food-service industry, which she had seen wilt under the pandemic as restaurants were closed and workers thrown out of jobs.

After a stop in Northwest Arkansas, visiting with economic development officials and food-related entrepreneurs and vendors, Bryden decided the area was ripe for her company's offerings.

"When I got to Northwest Arkansas, I was overwhelmed by the amount of entrepreneurial spirit emerging from the area," she says. "It really shocked me."

Cureate, founded in Washington, D.C., in 2014, opened its first regional office in Bentonville last July and by the fall was offering courses to 10 area businesses that participated in an eight-week business development initiative that targeted food and beverage entrepreneurs.”

Northwest Arkansas Business Journal - Cureate & FORGE, Inc. feature. “The fall program recently ended with a pitch competition that included a $5,000 cash prize. The winner was Ola Atilola of Asami Tea. The judges selected him as he was able to connect the story of the brand and the existing supply chain. He plans to invest his earnings into more sustainable packaging.”

Is Cureate the Next Food and Beverage Matchmaker in Northwest Arkansas? We recently sat down with Kim Bryden, founder of Cureate, to discuss her organization and the service they provide, “food and beverage supply and demand matchmaking.” Cureate is only seven years old, but they have built a three-legged stool of services to help these small businesses grow. Tune in to learn more.

Cureate and FORGE, Inc. are partners in a new project to help ten food and beverage entrepreneurs better understand how to make dreams in the food and beverage industry become closer to reality ...and stay in business.