The Ment'or BKB Foundation
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains Team USA for the Bocuse d'Or, awards culinary stage-experience grants to young American chefs, and runs the Young Chef & Commis Competition series, serving emerging culinary talent and donors nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Ment'or BKB Foundation does
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York that supports American culinary excellence through three interconnected programs: the Bocuse d'Or Team USA program (recruiting, training, and funding American chefs for the biennial Bocuse d'Or competition in Lyon, France), the André Soltner Grant Program (awarding stage-experience grants to young chefs, with cumulative disbursements exceeding $2.2 million since 2014), and the annual Young Chef & Commis Competitions held across multiple U.S. cities. The foundation was co-founded by chefs Jérôme Bocuse, Daniel Boulud, and Thomas Keller, and is supported by a 40+ member Culinary Council of volunteer mentors drawn from the highest tier of the American fine-dining establishment.
Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual and corporate donations, event and gala ticket sales, tiered sponsorships (ranging from $3,000 to $50,000 for the Grant Gala), Team USA merchandise sales via the Bocuse d'Or Store, and ticket and table sales for competitions and benefit dinners. The organization is staffed by 1–10 paid employees led by Executive Director Young Yun, with operational scaling achieved through its volunteer chef network and a roster of 15+ corporate and product sponsors including Cangshan Cutlery, Steelite, Ecolab, Areas, and SevenRooms. The foundation has no technology product surface: its competitive moat is built on the brand heritage of the Bocuse d'Or name, the prestige of its founder-chefs, and the network density of its culinary mentor and restaurant partner ecosystem. The organization achieved its landmark milestone when Team USA won the Bocuse d'Or Gold in 2017 — the first U.S. victory in the competition's 30-year history.
The Ment'or BKB Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Ment'or BKB Foundation
- Legal name
- Ment'or BKB Foundation
- Website
- https://mentorbkb.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains Team USA for the Bocuse d'Or, awards culinary stage-experience grants to young American chefs, and runs the Young Chef & Commis Competition series, serving emerging culinary talent and donors nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Ment'or BKB Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Culinary Education and Training
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)
Keywords
Where The Ment'or BKB Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Ment'or BKB Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Ment'or relies primarily on donations from individuals and corporations to fund its programs including Team USA training, grants, and competitions.
- Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales for competitions, galas, and special events such as the Grant Gala, Young Chef Competitions, and Road to Lyon dinners.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of Team USA merchandise including official t-shirts, scarves, and the Bocuse d'Or Store products.
- Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from culinary industry partners including equipment manufacturers, food suppliers, and hospitality companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | General admission competition ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Spirit Bundle merchandise package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 2026 Young Chef & Commis Competitions event tickets |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 2025 Ment'or Grant Gala tickets and sponsorships |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Ment'or BKB Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that supports young American professional chefs through national team training for the Bocuse d'Or international cooking competition, tuition and travel grants via the André Soltner Grant Program, mentorship led by leading U.S. chefs, and national Young Chef and Commis competitions. It also operates the Ment'or Online Store for branded merchandise and runs fundraising galas and events to sustain its programs.
Product overview
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of three interconnected core programs focused on inspiring culinary excellence: the Bocuse d'Or Team USA Program that trains and supports American chefs competing in the prestigious international culinary competition; the André Soltner Grant Program that awards grants enabling young chefs to gain stage experiences at top restaurants worldwide; and the Young Chef & Commis Competitions that identify and nurture emerging culinary talent through annual competitive events. The organization supplements these programs with an online store selling Team USA merchandise and events including the annual Grant Gala and Road to Lyon benefit dinners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bocuse d'Or Team USA Program A flagship program that selects, trains, and funds the U.S. team representing America at the Bocuse d'Or international cooking competition held biennially in Lyon, France. Targeted at elite American professional chefs and their commis.
- André Soltner Grant Program A grant-based financial aid program that provides tuition, training, and travel support to young American chefs pursuing advanced culinary education and competition opportunities.
- Young Chef & Commis Competitions National competitions in the United States designed to identify and elevate rising culinary talent, including young chef categories and commis selections, serving as qualifiers feeding into the Team USA pipeline.
- Ment'or Online Store An online retail storefront selling branded merchandise (apparel and culinary-themed items) that generates revenue to support the foundation's charitable programs and raises public awareness of the organization.
- Events & Gala Programs Annual and special fundraising galas, dinners, and events that generate donations and sponsorships while showcasing the foundation's chefs, programs, and Team USA candidates.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $2.2 million in grants awarded to young chefs since 2014
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Ment'or BKB Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Ment'or BKB Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Ment'or BKB Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- AreasminorSponsor of Ment'or's programs and Team USA Bocuse d'Or preparation
- Cangshan CutleryminorCreated limited edition knife series inspired by Team USA with proceeds donated to Ment'or initiatives
- Crucial DetailminorDesigned platter and tools used by Team USA in 2015 and 2017 Bocuse d'Or competitions
- EcolabminorCorporate sponsor supporting Ment'or programs and competitions
- Equator CoffeesminorCoffee sponsor for Ment'or events and competitions
- Everyday UniformsminorUniform sponsor for Ment'or events and competitions
- Gourmet AttitudeminorSponsor of Ment'or programs
- LEVELminorSponsor of Ment'or programs
- Lugano DiamondsminorSponsor of Ment'or programs and events
- Paris GourmetminorFoodservice supplier sponsor for Ment'or events
- SevenRoomsminorReservation and hospitality platform sponsor
- ShawmutminorSponsor of Ment'or programs
- SteeliteminorTableware sponsor for Ment'or events and competitions
- Chefs' GardenminorSpecialty produce supplier sponsor for Ment'or events
- Jungsik SeoulcoreHigh-level restaurant in Seoul, South Korea where Ment'or grant recipients complete stages to learn Korean cuisine and techniques
- Osteria FrancescanacoreThree-Michelin-starred restaurant under Chef Massimo Bottura where Ment'or grantee Ashten Garrett staged
- Le 1947 à Cheval BlanccoreThree-Michelin-starred restaurant where grant recipient Zack Soss worked alongside Chef Yannick Alléno
- PRESS RestaurantcoreMichelin-starred restaurant in St. Helena, CA where multiple Team USA members and grant recipients have been affiliated
- Charlie Trotter'sminorHistoric Chicago restaurant venue hosting Road to Lyon fundraising dinner benefiting Team USA 2027
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Ment'or BKB Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: Industry-backed nonprofit operating ProStart and scholarship programs across the wider US restaurant industry; overlaps on culinary education and scholarships at a much broader scale.
- Culinary Institute of America: Premier US culinary education institution; while more of a degree-granting school than a foundation, it sits in the same talent pipeline and shapes the pool of grantees Ment'or serves.
- American Culinary Federation: Larger, established professional body for US chefs offering certifications, competitions, and scholarships — a broader incumbent in the same culinary talent ecosystem.
Direct peers
- The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts: Independent nonprofit funding culinary education, research, and scholarships — operates the same grantmaking model in the same culinary talent-development niche as Ment'or.
- Disciples Escoffier International: International gastronomic society with a US chapter that promotes French culinary tradition and supports young chefs through scholarships — overlaps with Ment'or's mission of preserving classic cuisine and developing culinary talent.
- International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP): Member-driven culinary professional organization offering grants, awards, and educational programming — competes with Ment'or for chef-community engagement and donor mindshare.
- James Beard Foundation: A US nonprofit foundation focused on celebrating and elevating the culinary arts through awards, scholarships, and education — a structurally identical peer competing for the same donor and chef community.
- Women Chefs & Restaurateurs: Nonprofit professional organization supporting women in the culinary industry through scholarships, mentorship, and awards — comparable mission and operating model in a narrower demographic slice.
- Bocuse d'Or: The parent international culinary competition that Ment'or BKB supports as the US entity. Both organizations exist to operate and steward the Bocuse d'Or platform, making them direct, tightly coupled peers.
Others
- Slow Food USA: Mission-driven food nonprofit focused on heritage cuisine and sustainable food systems; an adjacent peer that overlaps thematically on classic cuisine preservation but operates a different programmatic model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Ment'or BKB Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Ment'or BKB Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Ment'or BKB Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Ment'or BKB Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Ment'or BKB Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Ment'or BKB Foundation
What does The Ment'or BKB Foundation do?
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that supports young American professional chefs through national team training for the Bocuse d'Or international cooking competition, tuition and travel grants via the André Soltner Grant Program, mentorship led by leading U.S. chefs, and national Young Chef and Commis competitions. It also operates the Ment'or Online Store for branded merchandise and runs fundraising galas and events to sustain its programs.
Is The Ment'or BKB Foundation a public or private company?
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Ment'or BKB Foundation founded?
The Ment'or BKB Foundation was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Ment'or BKB Foundation based?
The Ment'or BKB Foundation is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Ment'or BKB Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue, merchandise Sales and sponsorships.
Who are The Ment'or BKB Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Culinary Institute of America and American Culinary Federation. Direct peers are The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, Disciples Escoffier International, International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), James Beard Foundation, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs and Bocuse d'Or. Slow Food USA is listed as an others.
Does The Ment'or BKB Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Ment'or BKB Foundation.
What industry is The Ment'or BKB Foundation in?
The Ment'or BKB Foundation's product category is Culinary Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking, with a secondary code of MPAKAFAC, National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Its NAICS code is 813211.