CUREATE COURSES - BALTIMORE
Food Innovation Accelerator Program
Are you a Baltimore-based food businesses looking to strengthen your business and diversify your revenue? Apply now!
The Cureate Courses - Baltimore Food Innovation Accelerator is designed to help Baltimore food entrepreneurs strengthen their business operations and prepare to access new sales channels.
Starting and scaling a small business can feel overwhelming. Branding, marketing, pricing, finding new customers: it’s a lot to figure out alone. That’s where Cureate Courses comes in! The Baltimore Food Innovation Accelerator will give you practical, hands-on education and direct access to real sales opportunities, so you leave with more than just knowledge. You leave ready to grow.
Applications are open from Nov 1, 2026 - Jan 15, 2027!
Businesses must be located in Baltimore City.
Is My Business a Fit for the
Cureate Courses - Baltimore Food Innovation Accelerator Program?
Is this you?
Owner or General Manager of a restaurant, prepared foods, food truck, and/or catering business
Your business is based in Baltimore City
You love to learn, ask questions, and apply what you’re learning in real time
You’re looking to expand into new sales channels and diversify your revenue streams
Your Commitment
Enrolled businesses are to complete online video modules and worksheets prior to each workshop. All virtual workshops will be held via Zoom, and peer learning & resource sharing. Each business will receive a total time of instruction between online courses and virtual workshops between 2-3 hours per week. With work to be completed pre- and post- workshops, the worksheets and peer review, an additional 3 hours is suggested. This totals to approximately 5-6 hours per week commitment by each business.
What to Expect
Program Overview
Over 10 weeks from March through May, you'll learn from Cureate, industry experts, mentors, and—just as importantly—one another. You'll develop and test menu offerings for institutional customers, receive feedback from real-time sales experiences, and put what you've learned to the test.
The Culinary Showdown Competition
As a cherry on top, you'll also be competing for one $5,000 cash prize awarded at our end of the program. In addition to participating in class and completing assignments, you’ll participate in a culinary showdown event where we’ll invite our network of buyers and media to experience your new menu offerings!
The Real Reward
Cureate will work with every participant to upskill their business for institutional foodservice — hospitals, universities, corporate cafeterias — and create a pathway toward new sales opportunities through Cureate Connect. You’ll leave feeling empowered and equipped for continued success.
Cureate Courses in Action
Building Healthy Food Ecosystems Through Education, Technical Support, and New Market Opportunities
Connection & Community: Cureate Courses Capstone Event & Community Dinner
Taste Discovery - Up & Coming Local Maryland Food & Beverage Businesses to Watch
Cureate Courses - Maryland Alumni
Abell Foundation & Baltimore Community Lending present Cureate Courses - Baltimore Food Innovation Accelerator Program
Cureate Courses - Baltimore Food Innovation Accelerator Program is made possible by funding from Abell Foundation, in partnership with Baltimore Community Lending (BCL). Our shared vision is to build a more resilient, diverse supplier network of small business leaders throughout Baltimore.
MEET YOUR TEAM
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KIM BRYDEN
FOUNDER, CEO CUREATE
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CODY JACOBS
DIRECTOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP & COMMUNITY
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TESSA VELAZQUEZ
FACILITATOR + COACH, CUREATE
