About the Program
Learn, make, grow, sell.
FoodLab Sydney's incubator program helps entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds formalise and grow their food businesses. We walk alongside you to make your dream a reality.
New businesses in the program undertake a series of practical workshops in finance, marketing, sales, menu and operations, specifically tailored to the Sydney food context. We provide 1:1 mentoring, individualised growth plans, resources like graphic design, food photography and legal advice, and also offer affordable kitchen space and market opportunities including catering jobs, food trucks, markets and more.
Step 1
Application
FoodLab's program has limited places but opens registration throughout the year in order to work with participants on their applications. Qualified applicants must submit a completed application and business plan before being considered in the program.
Please visit our application page for more information.
Step 2
Pre-incubation
A 6-month period where participants receive training and technical assistance to lay the foundations of their food businesses in the areas of finance, marketing, operations and product.
Step 3
Incubation
Participants who have achieved the benchmarks set in the program will continue to receive technical assistance as the focus turns toward entrepreneurs' getting access to market opportunities and sales.
Qualifications
The FoodLab Sydney program is limited to qualified businesses who go through the application process. FoodLab Sydney screens applicants for the following:
Background and Barriers to Entry
Our mission at FoodLab is to support entrepreneurs facing high barriers to entry to foster a more inclusive food system focused on gender, ethnic and racial equity. We work primarily with those from low-income backgrounds, migrants, refugees, women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or others who are socio-economically vulnerable.
Local to Sydney
We want to build on the beautiful good food system in Sydney that is already thriving, so we only accept those who reside in the greater Sydney region. We welcome those in the Illawarra, Blue Mountains, and Hawkesbury regions, but you must be prepared to travel to Sydney to attend workshops.
Business Ready
You must apply to FoodLab Sydney with a food business idea ready to put into action, at the very least. You can of course refine it during the program, but if you do not have a business plan or an existing business, you will need to attend one of our orientation sessions.
Entrepreneurial and Community Minded
Growing a food business is incredibly hard work! The food industry is extremely competitive, so entrepreneurs need to have a lot of passion, motivation and determination. Our program brings together a number of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, so we are also looking for those who are community-oriented, generous and willing to learn, help and work with others.
Step 4
Graduation
Participants who have reached all the required incubation benchmarks set in the program graduate and remain part of the network as FoodLab alumni. FoodLab helps these participants find their own kitchen spaces in Sydney.
FoodLab has been my biggest support
to date. It is because of FoodLab that I
keep going, I have had more confidence
and happiness than ever.
I am now an independent business woman, starting my own market stall and catering with Malaysian recipes that I learned from my father.
Malar, Founder of Sangee's Kitchen
I run a food business that teaches Australians about African culture and cuisine. Getting to meet others in the food industry who share that passion for food is something I haven’t experienced before.
I’m really excited to finally showcase a brand that I am proud of because I just didn’t have the connections to do it myself."
