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, eight 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:
  

We’re grateful for our FaBcap collaborative partners:

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.

JULY 11, 2019: STARTING & SCALING
Learn how to more effectively scale or start a food or beverage business. 
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members

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).

NOVEMBER 21, 2019 FROM 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: FINANCIAL & ACCOUNTING PROCESSES
Learn how to build strong financial tracking and accounting processes.
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members. Includes morning beverages & lunch.

DECEMBER 12, 2019 FROM 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: SALES & DISTRIBUTION PLANNING
Learn how to more effectively navigate sales & food and beverage distribution channels: broker, distributor, retailer, and others.
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members. Includes morning beverages & lunch.

JANUARY 16, 2020 FROM 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: MARKETING & BRANDING PLANNING
Learn how to more effectively brand and market your food or beverage business.
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members. Includes morning beverages & lunch.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 FROM 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: OPERATIONS & ORGANIZATION PLANNING
Learn how to develop a high-performing organization and deliver the best quality at the lowest cost.
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members. Includes morning beverages & lunch.

MARCH 26, 2020 FROM 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: SOURCES & USES OF CAPITAL FINANCE PLANNING WEBINAR - REGISTER NOW!
Learn how to prepare, evaluate, and engage with banks and investors.
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members. Includes morning beverages & lunch.

APRIL 22, 2020 FROM 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM: FOOD SAFETY & GFSI PLANNING - REGISTER NOW!
Learn how to develop a FSMA-compliant food safety plan. Reviewing GFSI certification and offering FaBsafe Certificate® training.
Fee: $50 Members; $85 Non-Members. Includes morning beverages & lunch.

MAY 15, 2020: PITCH REHEARSAL COHORT MEETING
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
 

THANKS TO OUR PREMIUM MEMBERS