We use a collaborative business model to expand the reach of our consulting work by partnering with a wide range of individuals and organizations, including community partners, financial institutions, lenders and investors, to accomplish our mission of making sophisticated, high-quality technical assistance available to food, beverage and value-added farm businesses throughout the state of Wisconsin and beyond.
You’re supporting and guiding food and farm entrepreneurs. You need partnerships and tools that increase your value while delivering on your mission. Edible-Alpha® can partner with you to equip your organization and your team with live trainings and premium resources to help your organization better serve food and farm entrepreneurs.
Partners
Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship
The Food Finance Institute is one of five programs within the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and the University of Wisconsin System that aims to make sophisticated financial technical assistance available for every growing food, beverage and value-added agriculture enterprise.
Wisconsin Small Business Development Center
We work with trained and certified food business consultants by helping them provide their clients with high impact business model optimization and financial technical assistance. Wisconsin SBDCs help entrepreneurs access professional business consulting, free of charge. Through SBDCs, entrepreneurs can obtain knowledge, tools and connections that help them grow their businesses.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
In late 2016, we received an LFPP grant to provide our training and certification programs to at least 60 technical assistance providers working with food hubs and the farm and food businesses they work with. Under the grant, our Food Hub Financial Management Boot Camp will provide at least 100 food hub managers with four intense, focused days to learn and work individually on their hub’s business model path, financial infrastructure, financial plan and fundraising needs with consultant assistance.
Food and Beverage Wisconsin (FaB)
FaB Wisconsin is a cross-industry food and beverage membership organization and the founder of the FaBcap Accelerator. Their 250 member employers embody Wisconsin’s industry strength: big and small, local and global, from nutrient-dense to decadence, from farm to factory to fork. Mostly clustered in Wisconsin, FaB offers interwoven industry experience, know-how, and spirit that is the FaBric of Wisconsin’s thriving food and beverage scene.
Willy Street Vendor Loan Fund
In collaboration with the Williamson Street Cooperative Grocery, Forward Community Investments and Slow Money Wisconsin, the Willy Street Vendor Loan Fund provides loans of up to $50,000 to Willy Street vendors seeking to expand their businesses. We help applicants prepare their loan submittal packages and provide business counseling to entrepreneurs for the life of their loans.
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
With our support, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is launching a certified food business consultant program that will train existing technical service providers to offer high impact business model optimization and financial technical assistance to the clients they work with.
Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research (CDR)
With more than 30 researchers and scientists conducting basic and applied research that explores the functional, flavor and physical properties of dairy products, The Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research is the premier dairy research center. Located within a licensed, operating dairy plant on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, the CDR builds on Wisconsin’s tradition as the “Dairy State.” We provide capital source cultivation to the CDR so they can continue to test and develop dairy products that exceed consumer expectations.
Lenders, Investors, Accounting & Legal Firms
Our work with clients involves raising money from both traditional and non-traditional sources of capital. By working closely with lenders, investors, accountants and legal service providers, we cultivate an ecosystem of professionals to help support food, beverage and value-added agriculture businesses as they grow and raise money.
UW Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic
In late 2016, we received an LFPP grant to provide our training and certification programs to at least 60 technical assistance providers working with food hubs and the farm and food businesses they work with. Under the grant, our Food Hub Financial Management Boot Camp will provide at least 100 food hub managers with four intense, focused days to learn and work individually on their hub’s business model path, financial infrastructure, financial plan and fundraising needs with consultant assistance.
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) helps develop new uses for agricultural products through science and technology, partnering with businesses and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to reality.
Holistic Management International (HMI)
Since 1984, HMI has collaborated and worked alongside government agencies, NGOs, and businesses who work with family farmers, ranchers, tribal members, and pastoralists to support their communities as they grow and thrive. HMI shares its educational programs and the knowledge and experience of its international network with these communities to support their adoption and evolution of regenerative agricultural practices that empower them to strengthen their businesses, produce healthier food, improve local wildlife habitats and protect the environment.
Wisconsin Farmers Union
Wisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven organization, is committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement.
Think Regeneration
Think Regeneration is a coalition of organizations, farmers, ranchers, scientists, researchers, and philanthropists who want to accelerate on-the-ground regenerative food supply projects. Think Regeneration supports projects that repair food growing ecosystems, reverse trends in chronic disease rates, elevate the voices of regenerative growers, and build more community resilience.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) provides significant financial support for FFI’s Fellows program. As Wisconsin’s lead economic development agency, with more than 600 regional and local partners, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) fosters the cooperation necessary to support sustainable business growth and job creation.
Ways to Partner with FFI
We work with the programs and individuals dedicated to making an impact on the food, beverage and value-added farm sectors throughout the state of Wisconsin and beyond. Join our diverse ecosystem of consultants with specializations in Business Model Optimization and Financial Packaging by participating in our Consultant Training Program.
Grow your food business with our Financial Management Boot Camp! Boot Camp combines training, one-on-one consulting and networking that will help you combat unprecedented changes as you develop a financial plan and prepare to raise money. Can’t attend a Boot Camp? Work with us to see how we can bring one to you!