UNLOCK THE FUNDING YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS TO SCALE
Scale is a 12-week accelerator program for operating food businesses seeking capital to grow. You’ll join a cohort for group and 1:1 education and coaching to strengthen your financial fundamentals, refine your business’s financial story, define your capital needs, and understand the funding landscape to identify the right sources for your business. You’ll build a clear capital plan, then connect with potential partners across loans, crowdfunding, and grants, explore investor pathways, or identify operational strategies to increase working capital, so you can identify and tap into the right funding to achieve your growth goals.
| Eligibility Requirements | – In business for at least 2 years – At least $25K in 12-month trailing revenue – Identified capital need, intended use, and amount – Working full-time on your business, or able to commit full-time through participation in the program – Registered as an LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or other formal business entity – Household income at or below 120% of NYC Area Median Income – Demonstrated barriers to entrepreneurship |
| Location | – Workshops and 1:1s are virtual via Zoom |
| Time Commitment | – Educational coaching includes biweekly 2-hour sessions for the first 2 months, plus 5–10 hours of independent work each week to prepare financial documents and your capital plan – After capital referrals, expect to independently prepare funding applications, with review support from our team; time commitment will vary based on application type and funding request size |
| Cost | – Free to participate |
| Application Process | – Apply by the deadlines – Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview – Final participants will be notified by email |
| What You’ll Graduate With | – A capital plan that identifies best-fit funding options for your business – At least 2 referrals to each funding type in your plan Core financial statements for your business, tied to a clear financial story around your growth plan |
2026 PROGRAM SCHEDULE
| Cohort | Apply By | Interviews | Final Participants Notified | Program Dates |
| 26.1 | July 12, 2026 | Week of July 13, 2026 | July 17, 2026 | July 27 -September 11, 2026 |
| 26.2 | September 13, 2026 | Week of September 14, 2026 | September 21, 2026 | October 5 -November 20, 2026 |
ALUMNI NETWORK
Once a member, always a member! Graduates of our programs stay connected with HBKi through our alumni hub, office hours, ongoing technical assistance, and access to market and capital connections, so your business can keep growing and thriving.
