Learn, expand, and bring ideas to market.
Incubate your food business with Hot Bread Kitchen’s Start Program! This program provides eligible businesses with a subsidized licensed commercial kitchen space where entrepreneurs can produce their food product. Entrepreneurs will also have access to tools and resources to test their business model.
Hot Bread Kitchen’s Start program provides:
- Affordable Commercial Kitchen Space: Access to subsidized and time-bound commercial kitchen space
- Access to Markets: Opportunities to raise brand awareness, acquire new customers, and generate revenue through Hot Bread Kitchen’s networks, such as catering jobs, buyer showcases, restaurant pop-ups, tasting events, and more
- Technical Expertise: Opportunities to consult with Hot Bread Kitchen’s roster of food business experts, including food scientists, brand strategists, labeling experts, food buyers, and more
- Mentorship and community: Access to topic experts in the field, through business mentors
- Capital Readiness Counseling and Startup Capital: Receive capital readiness counseling and apply for startup capital through Hot Bread Kitchen’s network of partners
Best For | Entrepreneurs who identify as women, non-binary, or gender non-conforming AND have operated their food business for at least 6 months |
When | Applications are accepted on a rolling basis |
Kitchen Locations | Cypress Hills East New York Community Kitchen (276 Chestnut Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208) OR Mangrove at Flatbush Central (2123 Caton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226) |
Cohort Size | 7 food businesses |
Ready to take the next step?
To apply, complete an application that includes your business plan and financial statements. Hot Bread Kitchen will assess the applicant’s professional experience, entrepreneurial spirit, business idea and viability, openness to learning new skills, and ability to cooperate in a challenging and busy environment. 2024 applications are now closed!
Kitchen Facilities
Hot Bread Kitchen currently partners with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation and Mangrove at Flatbush Central to provide commercial kitchen access to entrepreneurs.
Cypress Hills East New York Community Kitchen
Cypress Hills East New York Community Kitchen is a light filled kitchen run by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC). With community residents leading the way, the mission of CHLDC is to build a strong, equitable East New York.
Kitchen Size: 2000 sqft commercial kitchen that can be used by up to 4 businesses at a time.
Kitchen time: Monday-Friday, 10-9pm, Saturday by appointment
Entrepreneurs in the START program will have
- Access to equipment including gas and induction cooktops, multiple convection ovens, deep-fryer and large capacity tilt skillet
- Daily access with a street level receiving bay and off-street delivery area
- Dry, cold, and frozen storage covered by Hot Bread Kitchen
- Access to $20/hour rental rate, further subsidized based on business revenue (see FAQ below)
Mangrove at Flatbush Central
Mangrove at Flatbush Central is an open workspace, learning annex, and cultural development center that supports local BIPOC creative producers, makers, workers, and entrepreneurs.
Kitchen Size: 1600 sqft commercial kitchen which features 3 Hot Stations and 4 Cold Prep Stations and a Studio Kitchen for tasting pop-ups and media production.
Kitchen time: Monday-Saturday 7am-8pm, Sunday 12pm-7pm
Entrepreneurs in the START program will have
- Access to kitchen including gas ranges, gas grills, flat tops, rational Combi ovens, reach-in refrigerators, fryers, stainless steel Worktables, standing mixers, as well as the smallwares and tabletop equipment library
- Daily access with street level receiving and off-street delivery area
- Dry, cold, and frozen storage covered by Hot Bread Kitchen
- Access to $18—20/hour rental rate, further subsidized based on business revenue (see FAQ below)
FAQs
Who is eligible for Hot Bread Kitchen’s small business programming?
What kinds of business are you looking for? What stage entrepreneur is right for Start?
All kinds of food products and businesses are welcome, including caterers, bakers, beverage makers, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and more! The entrepreneur must have operated a business for at least six months, have a minimal viable product, and can demonstrate a demand for their products/service either through financial statements or a product demand analysis.
What licensing/permitting is required?
The entrepreneur must have formed either an LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or other registered entity prior to the start of the program and have a New York Food Protection Certification, Certificate of Authority with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and Food Service Establishment Permit.
How does subsidized kitchen space work?
The kitchen spaces at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation and Mangrove are $18—20/hour, below the market rate in New York City.
Please see below for the kitchen rental subsidy schedule that is based on business revenue (please note that this is subject to change). Subsidies will decrease as business revenue increases. The business is expected to sustain the full rental rate at an agreed upon timeline.
MONTHLY REVENUE | ANNUAL REVENUE | KITCHEN RENTAL RATES |
$0 to $499 | $0 to $5,999 | 0% – 19% ($0—$3.80/hour) |
$500 to $1,999 | $6,000 to $23,999 | 20% – 39% ($4—$7.80/hour) |
$2,000 to $4,999 | $24,000 to $59,999 | 40% – 59% ($8—$11.80/hour) |
$5,000 to $10,999 | $60,000 to $131,999 | 60% – 79% ($12—$15.80/hour) |
$11,000 to $31,999 | $132,000 to 384,999 | 80% – 90% ($16—$18/hour) |
Over $32,000 | Over $385,000 | 100% ($20/hour) |
If I am accepted into the program, when will I be able to access the kitchen?
Cypress Hills kitchen: Entrepreneurs will have access to the kitchen Monday—Friday, 10—9pm, and Saturdays by appointment.
Flatbush Central Mangrove Kitchen: Entrepreneurs will have access to the kitchen Monday—Saturday 7am—8pm, Sunday 12pm—7pm.
Entrepreneurs will be required to utilize the kitchen for at least 20 hours per month.
How long is the program?
The Start program is a business incubator where entrepreneurs will test their business model. Our goal is to support you with business resources and subsidized kitchen space until you are ready to take the next step on your own! Eligible entrepreneurs can remain in the program for up to 5 years.
If I am accepted, what are the commitments? What information will I be expected to share during the program?
Hot Bread Kitchen Start Member commitments:
- Meet twice a month with Hot Bread Kitchen staff
- Utilize the kitchen at least 20 hours per week
- Develop a long term strategy to grow your business
- Participate in Hot Bread Kitchen events, storytelling, and access to market opportunities as available
- Establish and progress against short-term business goals, sharing financial documents to show business growth (at a cadence to be agreed upon entry into the program)
What products may not be manufactured in the commercial kitchen?
Cannabis-based products may not be manufactured in the commercial kitchen.
I have a question not listed here!
Email us at hbkincubates@hotbreadkitchen.org!
Community and Business Resources
“Hot Bread Kitchen has given me such a community of women. They are a resource beyond resource, connected [me] with financial planning, mentorship, photography support… The entire team, this entire experience, has taught me how to dream. That’s huge.”
—Shelly Flash, owner of 2 Girls & A Cookshop and Hot Bread Kitchen member