Attention Small Food Business Owners!
Santander’s award-winning Cultivate Small Business helps early-stage entrepreneurs build and sustain businesses in the food industry, with a focus on historically underserved founders in low-to-moderate income communities. Cultivate is a FREE 12-week MBA-style program that provides a customized curriculum through live virtual classes. Successful graduates will leave the program with a fully formulated business plan and pitch, a strong grasp on their target market, financials and growth goals, and up to $20,000 in capital grants.
Our Fall 2025 cohort targets entrepreneurs in Rhode Island, Connecticut and the Greater Boston, Philadelphia, New York City and Miami areas. Submissions from outside these geographies will be considered for admission if space is available. Applications will be considered for early acceptance on May 20, 2025 and for regular admission on July 8, 2025.
When is it?
The 12-week virtual program runs September 4th to November 20th with classes on Tuesday, Thursday and / or Friday afternoons from 3-5pm
️ Why Cultivate? The program provides: live virtual classes taught by Babson College professors curriculum built for food business owners a network of fellow food entrepreneurs & industry experts capital grant awards from $2,500 up to $20,000
Can anyone apply?
Yes! Any entrepreneur leading an early-stage food business that meets the criteria below is eligible to participate:
in operation for at least one year as of March 1, 2025
have 1-10 FTEs (full-time equivalent) employees
revenues between $25,000 and $1,000,000 in the last calendar year
located in Rhode Island, Connecticut or the Greater Boston, Philadelphia, New York City or Miami area
Who runs this?
Cultivate Small Business is fully funded by Santander. The program is a collaboration between Santander, Babson College, and ICIC.
How can I get more information?
Join one our upcoming info sessions. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3QrtjeD
If you have any questions about the program, please contact CultivateSmallBusiness@santander.us