What The Hatchery does

The Hatchery Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food and beverage business incubator operating from a 67,000-square-foot facility at 135 N. Kedzie Avenue in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood. Founded in 2018 as a joint venture between Allies for Community Business (a community development financial institution formerly known as Accion Chicago) and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC), the organization was built on the operating experience of its founders (ICNC has 30-plus years of incubator history) and supported by City of Chicago land contribution, tax increment financing, new markets tax credits, and grants from major foundations including MacArthur, Pritzker Traubert, Walton Family, and the Coleman Foundation. The core offering centers on commercial kitchen infrastructure — 54 private food-grade kitchens plus a shared commercial kitchen equipped with convection ovens, chargrills, ranges, commercial mixers, and walk-in cold/dry/freezer storage — alongside coworking, meeting rooms, cold storage, loading docks, and event space accommodating 100-200 people.

The product portfolio extends well beyond real estate. The Hatchery runs a four-month Incubation Cohort Program built on Lean Startup methodologies, an Entrepreneur Membership tier with coaching, classes, and trade show access, an on-demand online course catalog (Accounting & Finance, Insurance, Legal Aspects of Raising Capital), a B2B Partner Network for service providers and manufacturers, and Immersion Experiences paid by CPG companies for innovation training. Revenue combines monthly private kitchen rent, hourly shared-kitchen and event-space usage (event space disclosed at $50-$400/hr), course purchases ($40 per course), and membership dues, layered against substantial recurring corporate sponsorship from Conagra Brands Foundation, Griffith Foods, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez Foundation, PepsiCo, OFI, Ingredion, Square, Target, and partners such as Grubhub (expanded December 2024), Wintrust, Wells Fargo, and Fifth Third Bank.

The customer base comprises 100-plus resident food and beverage startups (44% CPG, 42% women-owned, 37% minority-owned, with catering, bakery, and allergen-friendly sub-segments represented), West Side residents seeking food industry job training, and corporate/CPG partners purchasing immersion programming. Projection targets call for 900 jobs and $25 million in pre-tax wages generated by tenant businesses over the first five years of operation. Dual leadership is provided by CEO Natalie Shmulik (2020 Specialty Food Association Leadership Award for Vision) and Director of Incubator Engagement Margaret Doherty. The organization is single-site, with no disclosed plans for multi-location expansion.

Name

The Hatchery

Legal name

The Hatchery Chicago

Website

https://thehatcherychicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Hatchery Chicago is a nonprofit food and beverage business incubator operating a 67,000-square-foot facility in Chicago's Garfield Park with 54 private commercial kitchens, shared kitchen space, and entrepreneurship programming serving over 100 resident food startups and West Side residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Business Incubation Services

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (72231)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

CPO (Central Production/Commissary) + Satellite Ghost Kitchens (THAFAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Rentals & Catering Equipment Services (Linen, Tableware, Kitchen, Furniture) (THAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Food business incubator
• Commercial kitchen rental
• Entrepreneurship support services
• Food industry coworking
• Small business incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Kitchen Space Rental: Monthly rental of 54 private commercial food-grade kitchens and hourly rental of shared kitchen space. Private kitchens range in sizes and configurations. All spaces are move-in ready with food-grade licensing.
2. Event Space Rental: Rental of event space, conference rooms, and coworking spaces. Event space accommodates 100-200 people. Coworking space available exclusively to kitchen users.
3. Educational Courses: Paid online on-demand courses covering Accounting & Finance for Startups, Choosing the Right Insurance, and Legal Aspects of Raising Capital. Classes and workshops offered at discounted or no-cost to West Side residents.
4. Membership Fees: Entrepreneur Membership providing access to incubator services including coaching, networking events, business development resources, and discounts on services. Classes and events are free or discounted for members.
5. Corporate & Foundation Sponsorship: Financial support from corporations and foundations including Conagra Brands Foundation, Griffith Foods, MacArthur Foundation, Pritzker Traubert Foundation, and others. Supports nonprofit mission of training and job opportunities.
6. Grants: Grant funding from the City of Chicago, MacArthur Foundation, and other donors. The City provided land, grants, tax increment financing, and new markets tax credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Hatchery Chicago provides commercial kitchen space rental (54 private food-grade kitchens and shared production space) along with comprehensive business incubation services for food and beverage entrepreneurs. It also rents event space, coworking space, and meeting rooms, and offers paid on-demand courses, an Entrepreneur Membership program, an Incubation Cohort Program, and access to financing through partner Allies for Community Business.

Product overview

The Hatchery Chicago is a non-profit food and beverage incubator offering a comprehensive ecosystem of physical facilities and business development services. The core offering centers on commercial kitchen infrastructure (54 private food-grade production kitchens and shared commercial kitchen spaces), supplemented by coworking and meeting facilities, storage solutions, and event space rental. Business support services include an Incubation Cohort Program (4-month accelerated program), Entrepreneur Membership with ongoing coaching and networking, and On-Demand Courses covering accounting, insurance, and capital raising. Additional programs include B2B Partner Network for industry connections, Immersion Experiences for corporate learning, and access to financing through partner Allies for Community Business. The facility also provides job training programs and community outreach through the Garfield Park Neighborhood Market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Kitchen Space Shared and private commercial kitchen facilities for food and beverage production, including 54 private food-grade production spaces and shared kitchen equipment such as convection ovens, chargrills, 6-burner ranges, commercial floor mixers, and walk-in cold/dry/freezer storage. Designed for food entrepreneurs launching or scaling CPG brands, catering, food trucks, bakeries, and meal delivery services.
• Coworking & Meeting Space Shared open coworking area and private conference rooms available to kitchen users for conducting business outside the kitchen, with options including small conference room (8-12 people) and large conference room (25 people) at The Hatchery, plus meeting rooms and coworking space at Make City. Available exclusively to kitchen users at certain tiers.
• Storage Solutions Cold, dry, and freezer storage, loading docks, and food truck allocation for food and beverage entrepreneurs operating at the facility, including walk-in cold/dry/freezer units.
• Incubation Services Comprehensive business development support including coaching, consulting, classes, workshops, networking events, access to financing, and one-on-one advising for food and beverage entrepreneurs across all stages of business growth.
• Incubation Cohort Program Accelerated four-month program using Lean Startup methodologies to help entrepreneurs transform their food business concept from idea to launch to market, including business planning, licensing guidance, branding support, and graduation with a launched concept.
• Entrepreneur Membership Membership program providing access to the full incubator services stack including no-cost classes, workshops, and events, business development services, strategic connections, placement in the online directory, trade show access, coaching appointments, and discounted partner services.
• On-Demand Courses Online educational courses for food and beverage entrepreneurs covering accounting, finance, insurance, and legal aspects of raising capital (including Accounting & Finance for Startups, Choosing the Right Insurance, Legal Aspects of Raising Capital at $40 each). Available for 30 days from purchase; includes Closed Captions and full transcripts.
• Events & Workshops Monthly networking and speaker series events, cornerstone courses such as Starting a Food Business, and curriculum covering Legal & Regulatory, Finance & Tax, Culinary Arts & Food Science, Operations & HR, Branding, Marketing, and Sales topics for food and beverage entrepreneurs.
• Event Space Rental Rental venue options including large event hall for seminars and webinars, large conference room with screen, multiple meeting rooms with varying capacities, and outdoor space. Event space accommodates 100-200 people with A/V equipment available; pricing example: Small Conference Room (8-12 people) $50/hr, Large Conference Room (25 people) $100/hr, Coworking Space (30 people) $200/hr, Large Event Space (100-200 people) $400/hr.
• B2B Partner Network Partner program enabling service providers, corporations, and manufacturers to build relationships with the entrepreneurial community through networking events, preferred vendor listing, discounted classes, and strategic connections.
• Immersion Experiences Customizable programs for consumer packaged goods companies, consulting firms, and food-focused companies to learn about food and beverage innovation trends, featuring panel discussions, team building, and entrepreneurial mindset training.
• Access to Financing Connection to financing opportunities through partner Allies for Community Business, offering loan capital between $500 and $100,000 to qualifying Hatchery residents and members, along with free on-site business coaching.
• Jobs & Training Programs Food industry job training, culinary arts education, and employment placement services targeted at West Side Chicago residents, supporting pathways to food industry credentials (ServSafe, food handler licenses) and employment in growing food businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projected creation or maintenance of 900 jobs during first five years of operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Allies for Community Business (formerly Accion Chicago)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner and building owner. Provides access to loan capital between $500 and $100,000 for qualifying Hatchery residents and members. Offers free on-site business coaching. Headquartered in The Hatchery building. Prioritizes Black, Hispanic/Latinx, women, and low-income entrepreneurs.
• Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner and building owner. ICNC runs one of the largest business incubators in the country with 50+ years of experience. Provides business incubation expertise, workforce development programs, and operates the larger 416,000 sq ft Make City facility at 320 N. Damen Avenue.
• GrubhubmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerExpanded partnership announced December 2024 to support local food and beverage entrepreneurs. Hosted private kitchen pitch competition at The Hatchery Chicago. Provides kitchen access, educational materials, and the Grubhub Community Fund for Hatchery entrepreneurs.
• Garfield Park Community CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner facilitating the Garfield Park Neighborhood Market. Local community organization supporting West Side economic development.
• Garfield Park Garden NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 32 growing spaces spanning three acres in Garfield Park. Provides hyper-locally sourced fresh produce for the Neighborhood Market. Gardeners pool harvest and proceeds help maintain and expand local gardens and urban farms.
• Community Advisory Council MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory council including leaders from Garfield Park, West Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and Austin neighborhoods. Meets quarterly with The Hatchery team. Members include Adrienne Whitney, Angela Taylor, Angelina Arnold, Anton Hilton, Barry Howard, Brandon Smith, Charles Wilson, Conner Kerrigan, Danielle Tate, David R. Blackmon, E. Bernard Jennings, Eddie Amin-Rasul, Jessica Surma, Lafayette Ford, Rose Mabwa, Shirley Williams, and Vanessa Stokes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Union Kitchen: Washington, D.C.-based food business accelerator and shared kitchen operator supporting CPG and food service startups with private kitchen space, distribution, and capital. Closest direct peer to The Hatchery in terms of multi-tenant commercial kitchen model and entrepreneur support programming.
• La Cocina: San Francisco nonprofit food incubator providing affordable commercial kitchen space, business development, and market access to women- and immigrant-owned food businesses. Highly comparable nonprofit mission, shared kitchen infrastructure, and target entrepreneur demographics.
• Hot Bread Kitchen: NYC-based nonprofit food incubator and workforce development program providing commercial kitchen access and culinary training to immigrant women and entrepreneurs. Direct peer on nonprofit food incubation plus job-training dual mission.
• CommonWealth Kitchen: Boston-area nonprofit food business incubator providing shared commercial kitchens, technical assistance, and wholesale distribution to food entrepreneurs. Direct peer on nonprofit shared-kitchen model serving early-stage CPG and food service businesses.
• KitchenTown: Brooklyn-based food business incubator offering shared and private commercial kitchens plus product development support. Closely aligned to The Hatchery on private kitchen rental and CPG startup incubation, with similar facility scale and target customer.

Broad incumbents

• Chobani Food Incubator: Corporate-branded food startup incubator (Chobani) with shared kitchen and mentorship infrastructure in New York. Comparable in mission (food startup support, job creation) but operates as a corporate program within a much larger organization rather than a standalone nonprofit.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit technology and business incubator. Comparable as a Chicago-headquartered nonprofit incubator providing coworking, programming, and corporate partnerships to early-stage companies, though focused on tech rather than food production.
• mHUB: Chicago-based independent innovation center and product manufacturing incubator. Comparable nonprofit/incubator operating model with heavy physical infrastructure, corporate partnerships, and entrepreneurship programming — focused on hard-tech manufacturing rather than food.

Regional players

• MADE in Hollywood: Los Angeles-based nonprofit food and beverage incubator offering commercial kitchen access, business support, and retail/distribution assistance to food entrepreneurs. Comparable nonprofit food incubator model with a different geographic focus.

Emerging players

• Foodportunity / Food Business Incubator Network (FBIN): Industry network of food business incubators in the U.S. and Canada. Relevant as a peer ecosystem and potential collaboration/co-expansion channel for The Hatchery, though operates as a network rather than a single facility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thehatcherychi
• Xx.com/thehatcherychi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Hatchery