FaBcap was a food industry specific accelerator to build the capacity and capitalization of ten selected Wisconsin-based food or beverage manufacturers, related businesses, or technologies each year. The ten companies went through a nine-month program including one-on-one coaching, six facilitated industry workshops, a financial package assessment, and closing pitch presentation. Each received a $10,000 check upon conclusion of the accelerator, made possible by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
Effective January 2022, the Food Finance Institute (FFI) took ownership of the program, now called the FFI Fellows Programs.
Background
In FaB’s early years, there was a group of members that recognized Wisconsin’s ecosystem of support for young food and beverage companies could use some reinforcement. With a WEDC grant and corporate sponsors, along with collaboration with the Food Finance Institute and industry experts, FaB was able to create and launch the FaBcap Accelerator, hosting four classes of ten selected Wisconsin-based food and beverage companies between 2015 and 2020.
Tracking the first five classes, FFI reported in January 2022 that the 50 Wisconsin-based food and beverage product, ingredient, and technology companies that went through the original FaBcap Accelerator Program have attracted $864,250 in grant funding, $7,579,781 in debt funding, and $9,935,024 in equity funding, with their annual sales totaling $36,772,563.
Past Cohorts
Class 5, 2020-2021
Class 4, 2019-2020
Class 3, 2018-2019
Class 2, 2017-2018
301 W. Wisconsin Ave. #220
Milwaukee, WI 53202