This episode of Dig-In is focused on learning more about the 5th Cohort of FS6 entrepreneurs - and diving into some of the issues that they are addressing through their innovations.
About the cohort: Cohort 5 is largely focused on supporting the farmers, ranchers, producers, and do-ers that are the foundation of any sustainable food system. As part of this year's program, we are thinking more and more about the infrastructure necessary to implement and bolster sustainable solutions, and how to better take care of the employees that are on the ground running these businesses day-to-day. Read on to learn more. FS6 is named a top accelerator program, CEO Caesaré Assad shares how technology can support our transition to the sixth food system, and Cohort 5's culminating forum event is almost here! Read on to learn how you can tune in to hear how these innovative entrepreneurs are transforming the food system.
Amidst the challenges of Covid-19, FS6 is excited to welcome the expertise of three Entrepreneurs-in-Residence to the team- as well as celebrate FS6 CEO, Caesaré Assad, for being recognized for her passion and leadership in the world of food and agriculture.
The landscape of food system accelerators and incubators keeps expanding — for Food System 6 this is not competition, it’s more opportunity to drive change. Caesaré Asssad is talking about what the next version of our food system, the 6th food system, will look like and how entrepreneurs are powering us forward.
By Robert Egger
Over the last 20 years, thousands of small farmers and urban growers have entered the marketplace via a vast network of farmer’s markets. Located in every corner of America, these markets have helped sustain these fledgling eco-businesses, while also reinvigorating the community’s connection to our country’s agrarian past. At the same time, an even greater number of nutrition-based, social enterprises, B-Corps and, “upcycle” companies have opened with the goal of purchasing locally grown foods to produce healthy snacks, meals, juices, and supplements. This “maker movement” represents a powerful, emerging economic force that prioritizes local purchasing, fair wages, environmentally sustainable practices, and reinvested profits. At virtually every food-system and social impact summit held across the country, attendees hear about the virtues of local food systems, yet this network’s growth and impact has been limited by their inability to find a reliable middle market… one that is in-between the small scale of most farmers markets and the large volume required by major retailers like Whole Foods. The perfect fit for many of these businesses would be in contracting, or sub-contracting, with local governments for contracts to provide healthy meals and snacks to schools, summer meal programs, senior centers, hospitals, and even prisons |
FS6 is a nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay Area whose mission is to support impact-driven entrepreneurs as they transform how we grow, produce, and distribute food. The organization runs a comprehensive accelerator program that mentors entrepreneurs by coaching them through a wide range of business and organizational needs. FS6 also works to educate stakeholders on the unique capital needs as it relates to redefining the food system. Categories
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