Food Finance Institute

What Food Finance Institute does

The Food Finance Institute (FFI) is a non-profit educational program operated under the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, headquartered in Madison, WI. Founded in 2015 and growing out of the Wisconsin FaBcap Accelerator (originally a collaboration with FaB Wisconsin), FFI delivers finance-forward training, coaching, and consulting to food and farm entrepreneurs across the United States. Its core deliverable is the Food Business Fellows Program, a free cohort-based accelerator that admits 15 businesses per cohort three times a year (approximately 45 annually), combining boot-camp training, weekly coaching, peer cohort meetings, and a culminating investor pitch. Complementary cohort programs include the Agroforestry Accelerator, Food and Ag Capital Readiness, and Unlocking Capital for Beginning Farmers, alongside a catalog of live and on-demand training modules (Financial Foundations for Food Brands and Farms, Raising Equity, GROW 1-4, Navigating Uncertainty, Funding Your Farm's Future). Content extensions include the Edible-Alpha podcast and two branded ebooks.

FFI monetizes almost entirely through grant funding rather than participant fees. Cumulative grant dollars secured reach $7M from sources including WEDC (the primary Fellows funder), USDA (LFPP, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development, Increasing Land/Capital/Market Access), and industry sponsors. A $180,000 WEDC grant was recorded in February 2023. A limited fee-based consulting/technical-assistance layer exists for customized engagements. Distribution is multi-channel: the Food Finance Learning Center (on-demand and live), the annual Food Finance Forum & Expo, a monthly email newsletter, social media, and a referral pipeline through SBDC, USDA, WEDC, FaB Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center (where FFI is Wisconsin State Lead). Impact metrics to date include 1,843 entrepreneurs trained across 49 states and Puerto Rico, 476 consultants trained across 38 states, and $40.5M in capital infusion facilitated for Fellows through 2024.

The organization is led by Director Sarah Larson (appointed permanent in June 2023) and counts among its team and Experts-in-Residence founder Tera Johnson (serial food entrepreneur who raised $14M and exited to a public firm), Peter Robertson (RP's Pasta / Tribe 9 Foods), Brad Rostowfske (Oscar Mayer / Sargento / Palermo's), Eric DeLuca (food systems finance), and Andy Larson (farm lending and Extension). Strategic positioning emphasizes a continuum-of-care model supporting businesses from startup through sale-ready stage, with growing national reach anchored by Wisconsin institutional legitimacy.

Name

Food Finance Institute

Legal name

Food Finance Institute (a program of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System)

Website

https://foodfinanceinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Food Finance Institute (FFI) is a University of Wisconsin System non-profit program that delivers finance-forward training, coaching, and consulting to U.S. food and farm entrepreneurs through its flagship national Fellows Program, additional cohort accelerators, and an online learning center, funded primarily by grants from WEDC, USDA, and industry sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food & Farm Business Financial Training

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Self-Employment Personal Finance (Income, Expenses, Cash Reserves) (EDAAAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student & Education Finance (Aid, Loans, Repayment Options) (EDAAAJAK)

Keywords

• Food business financing
• Farm financial training
• Entrepreneur coaching programs
• Agricultural capital readiness
• Value-added producer grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: FFI operates as part of the Universities of Wisconsin System and receives grant funding from organizations including WEDC, USDA, and other public-private partners to support programming. The organization has secured $7M in grants to help food and farm businesses at no cost to participants.
2. Training and Consulting Services: Some programs are free (Fellows Program, Financial Foundations, Raising Equity, GROW Program) while consulting and technical assistance services may be fee-based for certain engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FFI delivers finance-forward training, coaching, and consulting to food and farm businesses through cohort-based accelerator programs (notably the Food Business Fellows Program) and a suite of live and on-demand courses. It helps entrepreneurs build investible business models and access capital via traditional and alternative sources. The institute is supported by WEDC, USDA, and other grant funding, with most programming offered free to participants.

Product overview

Food Finance Institute is a service-based organization offering a multi-product portfolio of finance-forward training, coaching, and consulting programs for food and farm entrepreneurs. Its core offering is the Food Business Fellows Program — an intensive cohort-based accelerator that helps entrepreneurs build investible business models and financing strategies. Complementary programs include the Agroforestry Accelerator and Food and Ag Capital Readiness Program for specialized segments, and the Unlocking Capital for Beginning Farmers Program. The institute delivers training through both live sessions and the Food Finance Learning Center (an online on-demand portal), with programs spanning Financial Foundations for Food Brands, Financial Foundations for Farms, the multi-module GROW Program (covering Sales, Marketing, Ingredient Technology, and Operations), Raising Equity, Navigating Uncertainty, and Funding Your Farm's Future. Consulting services provide customized financial projections and business model strategy. Content resources include the Edible-Alpha Podcast, the 10 Questions to Future-Proof Your Food Business ebook, and the VAPG Application Planner ebook. The Naturally Wisconsin initiative extends support to the broader natural products sector statewide. Annual events include the Food Finance Forum & Expo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Edible-Alpha Podcast: FFI's podcast featuring interviews with food and farm entrepreneurs and industry experts
• Food Finance Learning Center
• Food Business Fellows Program
• GROW Program
• Naturally Wisconsin
• Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center

Products and services

• Food Business Fellows Program Intensive cohort-based program supporting food-focused entrepreneurs through building an investible business model and financing strategy unique to their business, culminating in an investor pitch. Free to participants; three cohorts per year of 15 businesses each.
• Agroforestry Accelerator Program Cohort program providing finance-forward training and technical assistance tailored to agroforestry entrepreneurs and sustainable farming businesses.
• Food and Ag Capital Readiness Program Cohort-based program preparing food and agricultural businesses to access capital through training and coaching on financing strategies.
• Unlocking Capital for Beginning Farmers Program Cohort program helping beginning farmers access financing and develop financially viable business models through specialized training and technical assistance.
• Financial Foundations for Food Brands Live training course teaching core financial concepts and best practices for consumer packaged goods and food brand entrepreneurs.
• Financial Foundations for Farms Live training course covering financial management, planning, and capital access strategies specifically for farm businesses.
• GROW Program (Generating Readiness for Overall Wins) Multi-module training program covering Sales (GROW 1), Marketing/CPG Strategy (GROW 2), Ingredient Technology (GROW 3), and Operations (GROW 4) for food business growth; available on-demand through the Food Finance Learning Center.
• Raising Equity Training Live training focused on equity financing strategies, investor relations, and structuring investment rounds for food and farm businesses.
• Navigating Uncertainty Training Live training helping food and farm businesses build resilience and adapt to economic uncertainty through strategic planning and risk management.
• Funding Your Farm's Future Training Live training covering farm financing options, credit readiness, and capital strategy for agricultural operations.
• Consultant Training Program Rigorous training, resources, tools, and mentorship program for consultants providing sophisticated financial technical assistance to food, beverage, and value-added agriculture businesses; 476 consultants trained across 38 states.
• Food Finance Learning Center Online learning portal providing on-demand courses, live trainings, and resources for food and farm businesses, including the GROW 1-4 modules (Sales, Marketing, Ingredient Technology, Operations) and other specialized workshops.
• Consulting & Technical Assistance Sophisticated financial consulting and technical assistance for growing food, beverage, and value-added agriculture businesses, including customized financial projections and business model strategy.
• Food Finance Forum & Expo Annual forum and expo event bringing together food and farm businesses, industry experts, buyers, and investors for networking, panels, pitch competitions, expo, and discussions on food and farm investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,843 entrepreneurs trained across 49 states and Puerto Rico (2015-2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI works with trained and certified food business consultants through Wisconsin SBDCs to provide high-impact business model optimization and financial technical assistance. SBDCs help entrepreneurs access free professional business consulting. Consultants provide services to FFI clients throughout Wisconsin.
• Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (Universities of Wisconsin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI is one of five programs within the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship at University of Wisconsin System. Provides institutional support, infrastructure, and connection to academic resources.
• Food and Beverage Wisconsin (FaB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaB Wisconsin is a cross-industry food and beverage membership organization and founder of the FaBcap Accelerator. FFI developed the accelerator in collaboration with FaB Wisconsin, which has grown into the national Fellows Program.
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI supports DATCP in launching a certified food business consultant program to train existing technical service providers in high-impact business model optimization and financial technical assistance.
• Willy Street Co-op / Willy Street Vendor Loan FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI collaborates with Williamson Street Cooperative Grocery, Forward Community Investments, and Slow Money Wisconsin on the Willy Street Vendor Loan Fund, providing loans up to $50,000 to vendors seeking to expand.
• Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research (CDR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI provides capital source cultivation to CDR so they can continue to test and develop dairy products. CDR is the premier dairy research center with 30+ researchers and scientists.
• Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI serves as Key Partner and Wisconsin State Lead for this four-state partnership led by Michigan State University. FFI provides coordination support, represents Wisconsin in planning meetings, and serves as conduit for outreach and business builder awards (up to $100,000).
• North American Food Systems Network (NAFSN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI announced partnership with NAFSN in June 2025 to nurture food and farm business growth. NAFSN is a professional association strengthening local and regional food systems.
• Naturally WisconsinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFI launched Naturally Wisconsin, a chapter of the Naturally Network, to support investment and innovation in Wisconsin's natural sector. Brings together entrepreneurs, investors, brands, farmers, retailers, and industry experts.
• Holistic Management International (HMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMI collaborates with FFI to support family farmers, ranchers, and communities through educational programs on regenerative agricultural practices that strengthen businesses and protect the environment.
• Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAURI helps develop new uses for agricultural products through science and technology, partnering with businesses and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to reality.
• Wisconsin Farmers UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven organization, is committed to enhancing quality of life for family farmers and rural communities through educational opportunities and cooperative endeavors.
• Think RegenerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink Regeneration is a coalition supporting regenerative food supply projects that repair food growing ecosystems and build community resilience.
• Wisconsin Farm Bureau FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs the largest general farm organization in Wisconsin, Farm Bureau Federation serves as a voice for farmers through legislative representation, education, and leadership development.
• EurofinsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEurofins provides food safety expertise and support as a sponsor of the Fellows Program. Industry partner contributing expertise in food safety for program participants.
• Ogden Glazer + SchaefermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal firm providing expertise to Fellows Program participants. Supports entrepreneurs with legal guidance on business formation, contracts, and compliance.
• Catapult Commercialization ServicesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides commercialization expertise as a sponsor of the Fellows Program, helping entrepreneurs bring food products to market.
• Tribe 9 FoodsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMadison-based food company portfolio providing industry expertise as a sponsor of the Fellows Program. Formerly included Yumbutter brand.
• Real Food BrandsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBranding and marketing agency providing expertise as a sponsor of the Fellows Program. Helped clients like Yaya's Skordalia get ready for retail markets.
• QuigisticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing firm providing expertise as a sponsor of the Fellows Program.
• P2R (Product to Retail)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct to retail consulting firm providing expertise as a sponsor of the Fellows Program, helping brands get products on retail shelves.
• SupplyOneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPackaging company providing expertise as a sponsor of the Fellows Program, supporting packaging and supply chain needs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SCORE: SCORE is a national nonprofit network providing free mentoring, training, and resources to small business owners across all industries. SCORE's volunteer-driven, no-cost educational model is structurally similar to FFI's approach, though SCORE serves all sectors at much greater scale rather than specializing in food and farm.
• Accion: Accion is a global nonprofit focused on financial inclusion for small businesses, pairing capital access with educational resources for underserved entrepreneurs. Accion's model of combining small business lending with educational support is structurally similar to FFI's approach, but at significantly greater scale and broader industry scope.

Direct peers

• Naturally Network: Naturally Network is a nonprofit that supports natural products entrepreneurs through education, networking, and capital access resources. FFI's Naturally Wisconsin initiative is an explicit chapter of Naturally Network, making this a closely aligned peer in mission, audience, and programmatic model.
• Slow Money: Slow Money is a national nonprofit that catalyzes patient capital flow to local, sustainable food and farm businesses, with a strong focus on entrepreneur education and investor readiness. FFI's Expert in Residence Eric DeLuca led Slow Money Vermont, making this a directly connected peer in food system finance education.

Regional players

• Food and Beverage Wisconsin (FaB Wisconsin): FaB Wisconsin is a cross-industry food and beverage membership organization and the founder of the original FaBcap Accelerator, which FFI grew into its national Fellows Program. FaB Wisconsin is FFI's closest operating partner in the Wisconsin food and beverage cluster.
• Wisconsin SBDC: Wisconsin SBDC is a statewide network providing no-cost business consulting and training to small businesses, and is a core FFI partner that places trained and certified food business consultants. SBDC represents the broader small business support model that FFI's food-specific specialization complements and extends.

Others

• Food Tank: Food Tank is a global nonprofit food systems think tank that produces research, events, and educational content focused on sustainable food. While primarily a content and advocacy organization rather than a direct training provider, Food Tank shares FFI's food system focus and overlaps with the same audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers.
• Net Impact: Net Impact is a nonprofit community of professionals and students advancing social and environmental impact through business, offering education, networking, and career resources. Net Impact's education-and-community-building model for mission-driven professionals is thematically aligned with FFI's nonprofit, mission-driven training approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/ediblealpha
• Facebookfacebook.com/foodfinanceinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-finance-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodfinanceinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Finance Institute