CT Food Launchpad

⏰ Only 4 weeks left until the 1/5/25 application deadline for The Big Connecticut Food Event (happening 3/1/25 at the Yale School of Management). 🔎See below or visit ctfoodevent.com for more information about the participation process for Connecticut food & beverage brands and the event overall. ### ABOUT The Big Connecticut Food Event is an annual one-day event that gathers CPG/wholesale-focused food & beverage brands and other key stakeholders spanning the Connecticut food entrepreneurship ecosystem to network, share ideas, and showcase products and services. The upcoming Big Connecticut Food Event will take place on Saturday 3/1/25 at the Yale School of Management in New Haven. CONTENT 💰 $50k+ pitch competition for 5 finalist emerging Connecticut brands 🥫 Sampling and tabling from 30+ emerging Connecticut brands and solutions providers 🤝 One-on-one coaching sessions between brands and industry experts 🎤 Panel discussions with industry leaders FOOD & BEV BRAND PARTICIPATION PROCESS * Please note that the pitch competition and tabling/sampling are only available for CPG/wholesale-focused brands (e.g. a product sold in a grocer). * Submit an application at ctfoodevent.com. * Applications are initially scored by our planning team. * Finalists: The top 5 scoring brands will be invited to participate in the pitch competition and set up a table at the event. * Semi-finalists: The next 25 highest-scoring brands after the finalists will also be invited to set up sampling tables at the event. * We will respond to you by 1/20/25 with the results of your application. JUDGING CRITERIA FOR FOOD & BEV BRANDS * Strategic target market * Differentiated solution * Team/board/advisors * Company momentum/traction * Impact of prize on the company * Woman- or BIPOC-owned * Sustainable/regenerative (Visit ctfoodevent.com for a more detailed explanation of judging criteria.)

Heads up! The deadline for food & beverage brands to submit an application for The Big Connecticut Food Event has been extended to 11:59pm on Sunday January 5. See below or visit ctfoodevent.com for more information about the participation process for Connecticut food & beverage brands and the event overall. ### ABOUT The Big Connecticut Food Event is an annual one-day event that gathers CPG/wholesale-focused food & beverage brands and other key stakeholders spanning the Connecticut food entrepreneurship ecosystem to network, share ideas, and showcase products and services. The upcoming Big Connecticut Food Event will take place on Saturday 3/1/25 at the Yale School of Management in New Haven. CONTENT 💰 $50k+ pitch competition for 5 finalist emerging Connecticut brands 🥫 Sampling and tabling from 30+ emerging Connecticut brands and solutions providers 🤝 One-on-one coaching sessions between brands and industry experts 🎤 Panel discussions with industry leaders FOOD & BEV BRAND PARTICIPATION PROCESS * Please note that the pitch competition and tabling/sampling are only available for CPG/wholesale-focused brands (e.g. a product sold in a grocer). * Submit an application at https://lnkd.in/eFBCt-2M. * Applications are initially scored by our planning team. * Finalists: The top 5 scoring brands will be invited to participate in the pitch competition and set up a table at the event. * Semi-finalists: The next 25 highest-scoring brands after the finalists will also be invited to set up sampling tables at the event. * We will respond to you by 1/20/25 with the results of your application. JUDGING CRITERIA FOR FOOD & BEV BRANDS * Target market -- Addressable target market is large and/or growing, or is a high-priced niche. Customer is well-defined. * Solution -- Product is differentiated vs. competition: better, faster, cheaper, quality, efficient, convenient, focused. * Team/board/advisors -- Evidence of more than just founder-led and -run. Relevant industry knowledge, skills, leadership experience, key relationships, prior successes and/or failures. * Traction -- Stated planned milestones, minimal viable product built, market validation, key success metrics, revenue growth, partners * Impact on the company -- Would this company stand to gain significant advancement and opportunities by being featured at our event? Will an award help them move their stated project along and help take the company further? * Women- or BIPOC-owned -- Business owners represent one or more sytemically disadvantaged identities (race, gender, etc..) * Sustainable or regenerative -- Sustainable/regenerative practices are a significant component of product and business (ingredient sourcing, packaging, energy use..)

🤜 🤛 Now accepting sponsorship requests for The Big Connecticut Food Event, happening on Saturday 3/1/25 at at the Yale School of Management. If your organization is interested in sponsorship (tax-deductible), head over to ctfoodevent.com and submit a participation request. Feel free to reach out at hi@ctfoodevent.com with any questions.

🚨🚨Applications are open for The Big Connecticut Food Event $50k pitch competition for emerging CPG food & bev brands, happening on 3/1/25 at the Yale School of Management. Visit ctfoodevent.com to learn more about the event and submit a participation request. Deadline to apply is 12/1/24. More info 🏆Applications will be scored by our judging committee then ranked. The top 5 scoring brands will be invited to participate in the pitch competition, and the top 30 scoring brands (including the finalists) will be invited to participate in tabling and sampling. 📍All food & beverage brands that are interested in participating in the pitch competition or tabling/sampling must be headquartered in Connecticut (it's okay if you were incorporated in a different state). Food & bev brands based outside of CT are welcome to participate in expert coaching sessions and attend the event. 🔎The following factors will be considered when scoring food & bev brand applications for consideration in the pitch competition. --Target market: Addressable target market is large and/or growing, or is a high-priced niche. Customer is well-defined. --Solution: Product is differentiated vs. competition: better, faster, cheaper, quality, efficient, convenient, focused. --Team/board/advisors: Evidence of more than just founder-led and -run. Relevant industry knowledge, skills, leadership experience, key relationships, prior successes and/or failures. --Traction: Stated planned milestones, minimal viable product built, market validation, key success metrics, revenue growth, partners. --Impact on the company: Would this company stand to gain significant advancement and opportunities by being featured at our event? Will an award help them move their stated project along and help take the company further? --Woman- or BIPOC-owned: Business owners represent one or more sytemically disadvantaged identities (race, gender, etc.). --Sustainable or regenerative: Sustainable/regenerative practices are a significant component of product and business (ingredient sourcing, packaging, energy use, etc.).

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🚨The participation request form for The Big Connecticut Food Event, happening on 3/1/25 at the Yale School of Management, is now live at ctfoodevent.com. 💰Connecticut food & bev brands are invited to apply to participate in the $50k+ pitch competition and tabling and sampling. 🤝All food & bev brands, regardless of location, are invited to participate in the one-on-one expert coaching sessions. 🎤Industry partners and solutions providers for food & bev brands are invited to apply to participate as a sponsor, pitch competition judge, expert coach, or panelist. ⏰ The deadline to submit a participation request is 12/1/24. Visit ctfoodevent.com to learn more about participation formats and requirements and submit a participation request.

Save the date! The Big Connecticut Food Event is returning on Saturday 3/1/25 at Evans Hall in New Haven, home to the Yale School of Management. 💰 $50k+ pitch competition for 5 finalist emerging Connecticut brands 🥫 Sampling and tabling from 30+ emerging Connecticut brands and solutions providers 🤝 One-on-one coaching sessions between brands and industry experts 🎤 Panel discussions with industry leaders Interested in participating as a Connecticut food & bev brand, industry partner, or sponsor? Head over to ctfoodevent.com and submit a participation request.

Thank you to the organizations and individuals that made last week's Big Connecticut Food Event a delicious success! The five pitch competition participants and broader group of brands in attendance made it clear that our state's food entrepreneurship ecosystem is on the up. Pitch competition results: 1st place ($25k): Secret Salad 2nd place ($10k): East Coast Kombucha Company, LLC 3rd place ($7.5k): Maia Yogurt Runners-up ($2.5k each): Caribe Soul, Gorilla Lemonade Audience choice ($2.5k): Gorilla Lemonade If you are interested in joining our effort to strengthen Connecticut's food entrepreneurship pipeline and help organize next year's event please visit ctfoodevent.com and select Submit A Participation Request. We will post the video recordings of the pitches and panel discussions over the next few days. Stay tuned! 📷: Monique Sourinho

🎟 Tickets are sold out for the event! If you visit ctfoodevent.com and then select Get Tickets you can sign up for the waiting list if any tickets become available. Please see below for some details going into the event. 🗺 Location The event will be held on the third floor of Kroon Hall (home to Yale School of the Environment) at Yale University from 1-6pm. Address is 195 Prospect St, New Haven, CT.    ⏰ Schedule See below for a schedule of the event. If you're an emerging food & bev brand, we strongly suggest you arrive by 1pm to grab a seat in time for opening remarks and our panel with procurement leaders from Whole Foods Market, Big Y World Class Market, Stop & Shop, and Bozzuto's Inc.   12:45pm: Doors open   1:15pm: Opening remarks --Anthony M. Anthony, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development   1:30pm: Panel discussion: What buyers wish more emerging brands knew -Moderator: Reed Immer, CT Food Launchpad /Chabaso Bakery/Atticus New Haven -Dean Sullivan, Stop & Shop -John Fraro, Big Y -John Lawson, Whole Foods Market -Jim Creely, Bozzuto’s   2:30pm: Connecting the dots: Cross-sector partnerships in the entrepreneurship pipeline -Moderator: Onyeka Obiocha, CTNext -Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, AGRICULTURE, CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF -Dean Indrajeet Chaubey, UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources -Katrice Claudio, reSET (Social Enterprise Trust) -Charles Negaro JR, Chabaso Bakery / Atticus / CT Food Launchpad   3:15pm: Sampling, tabling and expert coaching Brands sampling: -Breakfast Belle -88 Coffee Company -Maple Craft Foods -Maia Yogurt -Caribe Soul -East Coast Kombucha Company, LLC -Seir Hill -Ruby Wellness Inc -Secret Salad -860Kombucha -Gorilla Lemonade -Durty Jerk -Soul de Cuba Cafe -Pequot Maple Syrup -Horman's Family Pickles   Tabling - Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development -Bozzuto's Inc's -Stephen Gould -Robinson+Cole -Marcum LLP - Onofrio's Fresh Cut Produce Ultimate Foods -Shipman & Goodwin LLP -reSET -Collab -Cityseed -Seasoned from Connecticut Public Radio -City of New Haven Food System Policy Division   Expert coaching (available for walk-in 15-minute consultations) -Rick Onofrio -- Co-manufacturing -Samantha Angermann -- Graphic design -Amy Gorrek -- Branding and packaging design -Maria DeSarbo -- Supply chain -Annisa Teich -- Small business operations -Micki Tiffen -- Sales, shopper/consumer analytics -Andrew Dominick -- Media relations   4:15pm: Pitch competition ($50k in total prizes)   Judges -Deane Sullivan (Stop & Shop) -John Fraro (Big Y) -Seth Nieman (Wakefern) -Charlotte Myer (FreshDirect) -Rafi Taherian (Yale Hospitality)   Pitch competition participants -East Coast Kombucha -Gorilla Lemonade -Caribe Soul -Maia Yogurt -Secret Salad   5:15pm: Sampling, tabling, announcement of pitch competition winners   6pm: Event concludes

🎤Charles Negaro JR, CEO at sister companies Chabaso Bakery and Atticus New Haven, and co-founder at CT Food Launchpad, will be a participant at The Big Connecticut Food Event in the panel discussion Connecting the dots: Cross-sector partnerships in the entrepreneurship pipeline. 🎟 Read more about Charlie below and get your tickets for the Feb 9 event at ctfoodevent.com. Charlie is the CEO of Chabaso Bakery and Atticus in New Haven, CT. Chabaso is a wholesale manufacturer of frozen artisan breads, and distributes to retailers on the east coast. Atticus has 2 retail locations in New Haven – a bookstore cafe that opened in 1975 and a market that opened in 2021. Charlie has spent 20 years in all aspects of the manufacturing and retail industry. Most recently he co-founded CT Food Launchpad to leverage his experience with bringing products to market to help emerging CT food brands with market ready products to grow their business and get on retailer shelves. As a certified B Corp (B Lab U.S. & Canada), Chabaso looks to utilize its buying power and local connections to create strategies that benefit the greater New Haven Community.