top of page

Incubator Program

The incubator program supports aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in launching and growing their food businesses

THE PROGRAM OFFERS:

12- weeks of business development and launch assistance support

​

Access to a licensed kitchen space to operate your business

​

Connections to market and sales opportunities

​

Community of entrepreneurs, mentors and partners ready to help you grow

​

Ongoing skills development and business support

Photo of staff member's hand holding a close-up paper of COOK-UP's incubator program in front of a table circle of women.
An icon of a red checkmark, inside a red circle.
An icon of a red checkmark, inside a red circle.
An icon of a red checkmark, inside a red circle.
An icon of a red checkmark, inside a red circle.
An icon of a red checkmark, inside a red circle.

QUALIFICATIONS

Photo of women interacting and eating food at a table inside COOK-UP.

BUSINESS STAGE

​

You have an idea of a business but you need help getting started or you have an existing home-based business and are looking to formalize and grow.

Photo of entrepreneur woman prepping food at a table with another woman happy, holding her child behind her.
Photo of entrepreneurs and helpers (both male and female) interacting and assisting inside a tent for the JAM WORKS business.
Photo of Sadia from Allergy Eatables with food in a pan on the stove at COOK-UP, with a blurred head in the background.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

​

Be willing to add to our community by supporting and helping others, sharing resources and ideas and working together in a shared space.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

You are passionate about your idea and you are ready to put your idea into action. We can help you strengthen it

PRODUCT VIABILITY​

 

In addition to being delicious, there has to be a market for your product so that your business can be profitable

We strongly encourage applications from members of groups who are underrepresented in entrepreneurship, small businesses and self employment: women, Indigenous peoples, non-binary folks, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of colour, people with disabilities.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Photo of the Incubator Program steps in a milestone graph display in red and black text..

FAQ

  • PROGRAM COORDINATOR
    Angela Rueda came on board as COOK-UP's Administrative Assistant early 2023 and has now been promoted to Program Coordinator. To say that it already feels like she has become a fixture at COOK-UP is an understatement. Since the beginning, she has been using her skills to perform a variety of tasks. She handles administrative functions, and she is often found collaborating with entrepreneurs in their activities and events. She is resourceful, creative and passionate about food, but specially about the ways in which food brings people together. Angela is a mother of two daughters and one fur baby: Bailey. Among her passions are baking, playing tennis and spending quality time with her family.

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any additional questions or inquiries not covered in this FAQ. We're here to help you on your food business journey!

FUNDING PARTNERS

Logo of Community Foundations of Canada with an element composed of a dozen colourful shapes, all moving together in harmony.
Logo of Canadian Women's Foundation with red, blue, yellow and purple element.
Logo of Libro Credit Union in blue text accompanied with icon of green (land), blue (water), and yellow (sun) elements.
Logo of Windsor Essex Community Foundation featuring blue and green text, with design of three human figures forming a tree.
Logo of equality fund with black text and a black rectangle icon featuring a semi-circle on top.
Logo of Verge Capital featuring the text 'VERGE' with a multicoloured check mark or abstract icon above it.
Logos of the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada. 'Community Services.'

COOK-UP is supported by the Government of Canada’s Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative and the Tropicana Community Services.

bottom of page