FaBCAP ACCELERATOR

FaBcap is our nine-month business and finance accelerator designed to build the capacity and capitalization of our growing food and beverage companies, positioning them for sustainable success.

Each year, we select ten emerging young Wisconsin-based food, beverage, ingredient, packaging, or equipment manufacturers or technology companies with demonstrated sales and ambitions to grow their business.

These ten companies, or "Cappers," benefit from personalized industry coaching, six facilitated cohort subject-matter meetings, a formal introduction at our Innovation Café, and will pitch at our Innovation Market, Panels & Pitches to graduate and receive a $10,000 check made possible by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

We're thankful for the support of these FaBcap 4 sponsors:
  

MEET THE CAPPERS

SELECTED COMPANIES RECEIVE...

• Nine months of one-on-one coaching:
• General business coaching by Brad Rostowfske, FaB's Director of Industry Growth
• Financing coaching by Tera Johnson, Director of the Food Finance Institute
• Select FaB member business mentoring – to be assigned based on business need and focus
• Select FaB member subject matter experts' consultation as needed
  
  
• Six facilitated cohort meetings on targeted subject matter from industry experts including marketing, sales, distribution, food safety, operations, etc.
  
  
• Two free seats, one exhibitor table, and a three-minute introduction at our Innovation Café
  
  
• Two free seats, one exhibitor sample table, and a ten-minute to pitch to a group of investors at our Innovation Market, Panels & Pitches event
  
  
• A financial package prepared for your company and for your use in future financial requests
  
  
• A $10,000 cash award 
  
  
• Year-round Capper recognition: LinkedIn postings, special Capper offers, speaking opportunities, etc.
  
  
• Lasting access to our growing collective of Capper companies – now 30 strong

PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS

• Commitment to FaB membership for three consecutive years, including year in FaBcap and the two years following
  
  
• Owner participation in the FaBcap commitment schedule - see below
  
  
• Reporting to FaB/WEDC with your revenue, sales, and employment count for three years
  
  
• Ongoing participation in FaBcap-related activity as requested and available

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Must be a FaB member before being included in the official August announcement of 10 selected Capper companies (Non-members may apply, but will need to join to meet this criteria upon acceptance into the program)
  
  
• Must be a Wisconsin-based food, beverage or ingredients manufacturer, food or beverage packaging or equipment manufacturer, or food or beverage technology company
  
  
• Must have demonstrated success in sales
  
  
• Must have an actual website (a Facebook page is not sufficient)
  
  
• Applicants will be scored by an esteemed group of industry judges that will rank each company/product based on:
• Product or service scalability and extendibility
• Product and brand differentiation
• General business awareness, focus, and acumen of ownership
• Other cohort considerations
  
  

TIMING & COMMITMENTS

June 21, 2019 at 9:00 AM – August 12, 2019 at 9:00 PM: Accepting Applications
Accepting online FaBcap applications.

August 2019: Reviewing Applicants
Applications are reviewed and scored, and top candidates are interviewed.

August 30, 2019: Announcing Selected Cappers
Selected Cappers are informed and announced via a press release.

September 18, 2019: Introducing Cappers
Each Capper offers a three-minute introduction at our annual Innovation Café on market trends (half-day event).

October 10, 2019: Goals & Deliverables Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Covering the program goals and deliverables, getting to know each other and your coaches.

November 21, 2019: Financial & Accounting Processes Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Offering a deep dive into your historical financials and accounting processes presented by industry experts.

December 12, 2019: Sales & Distribution Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Offering a deep dive into the world of food and beverage product sales & distribution presented by industry experts.

January 16, 2020: Marketing & Branding Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Offering a deep dive into your marketing and branding presented by industry experts.

February 13, 2020: Operations & Organization Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Offering a deep dive into effective operations and organization with industry experts.

March 20, 2020: Finance Planning Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Offering a deep dive into financial planning with industry experts.

April 24, 2020: Food Safety & GFSI Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Offering a deep dive into developing a food safety plan and staying compliant presented by industry experts.

May 15, 2020: Pitch Rehearsal Cohort Meeting (one-day session)
Preparing for investor pitches with feedback from industry experts.

June 2020: Live Pitches & Graduation
Cappers offer their pitches to a panel of investors at our Innovation Market, Panels & Pitches.

TESTIMONIALS 

	"Thank you for selecting ALT Brew for FaBcap. Your help, guidance, and support have been instrumental in our success. We're proud and grateful to be a part of FaB Wisconsin!" - Trevor Easton, Owner of ALT Brew and FaBcap 2 Participant
	"If you knew me before this, you would have said, 'This guy will never get involved in something like this.' It’s true! But for some reason I did and it has been the best decision I have made so far for Clean Beam!" - Mark Cottone, Owner of Clean Beam and FaBcap 2 Participant
	"I encourage my fellow entrepreneurs to tap the cap. While I came from the industry, getting Top Note Tonics off the ground was hard work. To have had the FaBcap program series available to us earlier would have put us on a more productive path sooner." - Mary Pellettieri, Owner of Top Note Tonics and FaBcap 1 Participant
	"We wouldn't be here without FaB and the FaBcap program." - Robin Gohsman, President of City Lights Brewing Co. and FaBcap 1 Participant
	"FaB Wisconsin's efforts haven't really been replicated anywhere in the country, and its accelerator will help startups establish crucial industry connections." - Grant Ferrier, President of the Nutrition Capital Network