Cakeable

What Cakeable does

Cakeable Charlotte, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) workforce development organization founded in 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina by John and Renee Ratcliffe. It provides vocational training internships for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through a working cafe, Cakeable Cafe, located at 401 North Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte (open Monday–Friday 7AM–2:30PM). Interns complete 3–6 months of on-the-job training in food service and coffee preparation while receiving job coaching; the Placement Director team then matches graduates with employer partners, providing IDD training to employer teams and ongoing consultation for the life of each placement. As of May 2026, Cakeable merged with ZABS Place to operate a unified workforce development organization with two training sites, the Charlotte cafe and the Matthews boutique, under a single SAM Ebersman Training Program application. The cafe became Kosher-certified under Chabad of Charlotte supervision in June 2026.

The organization's commercial product surface is built around three whole-bean coffee blends (Cakeable Blend, Breakfast Blend, Decaf) roasted in partnership with Haerfest Coffee. These blends are sold at the cafe, through the online store, and via a subscription service with weekly-to-monthly delivery frequency and a 10% subscription discount (12 oz. bags at $16.50 one-time / $14.50 subscription; 5 lb. bags at $92.50 one-time / $83.25 subscription). Additional revenue comes from cafe merchandise, walk-in beverage and baked-good sales, and tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporate sponsors including Truist, Ally Foundation, Compass Foundation, and Canteen Cares. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging PR coverage (WBTV, PBS Charlotte, Queen City News, Charlotte Observer), the @wearecakeable Instagram account, a newsletter, group tours for schools and organizations, and sponsor amplification through nonprofit networks SHARE Charlotte and the NC Center for Nonprofits. Cakeable earned the 2024 Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and has placed graduates with 80+ area businesses.

Name

Cakeable

Legal name

Cakeable Charlotte, Inc.

Website

https://wearecakeable.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cakeable is a Charlotte, NC nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2019 that runs vocational training internships for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through its Uptown Charlotte cafe, with job placement support to 80+ area employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment & Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Retail Bakeries (311811)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Neighborhood Cafes (THAFADAC), Dessert Cafes (Coffee + Desserts) (THAFADAH)

Keywords

• Vocational training programs
• Specialty coffee retail
• Workforce development services
• Nonprofit disability employment
• Inclusive employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cafe Retail Sales: On-site sales of coffee, drinks, and merchandise at Cakeable Cafe in Uptown Charlotte. Cafe operates Monday-Friday 7AM-2:30PM.
2. E-commerce Coffee Sales: Online sales of whole bean coffee with one-time purchase or subscription options. Coffee shipped directly to customers. Three blends available: Cakeable Blend, Breakfast Blend, and Decaf.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Nonprofit relies on donations from community to fund workforce development program. Tax-deductible donations support vocational training operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cakeable Charlotte, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the Cakeable Cafe in Uptown Charlotte as a real-world vocational training venue for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization sells three specialty whole-bean coffee blends (Cakeable Blend, Breakfast Blend, Decaf) roasted by partner Haerfest Coffee, both at the cafe and through its online store with one-time and subscription purchasing. It also delivers a 3-6 month internship program plus graduate job placement services that match trained interns with 80+ area employer partners.

Product overview

Cakeable is a nonprofit workforce development organization offering vocational training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The primary offerings include the Cakeable Cafe physical location (401 North Tryon Street, Uptown Charlotte) and an online coffee store. Coffee products consist of three whole bean blends (Cakeable Blend, Breakfast Blend, and Decaf) sourced from Haerfest Coffee, available for one-time purchase or subscription delivery. The vocational training program provides 3-6 months of on-the-job training, and as of May 2026, merged with ZABS Place to create a unified training platform with shared application process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cakeable Blend coffee Whole bean specialty coffee roasted for Cakeable by Haerfest Coffee, featuring notes of brown sugar, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and molasses with a nutty, earthy, full-bodied taste. Sourced from Indonesia and Central America; medium roast; available in 12 oz. and 5 lb. bags as one-time purchase ($16.50-$92.50) or recurring subscription with flexible delivery cadence.
• Breakfast Blend coffee Whole bean coffee roasted by Haerfest Coffee for Cakeable. Crisp and clean with a hint of sweetness and smooth mouthfeel; well-balanced cup with notes of citrus and vanilla. Sourced from Central and South America; blend of light and medium roasts; available in 12 oz. and 5 lb. bags as one-time purchase ($16.50-$92.50) or subscription.
• Decaf coffee Whole bean decaf coffee roasted by Haerfest Coffee. Two different styles roasted separately and blended for a balanced cup with deep finish; notes of dried fruit and dark chocolate. Sourced from South America; blend of light and medium roasts; available in 12 oz. and 5 lb. bags as one-time purchase ($16.50-$92.50) or subscription.
• Cakeable Cafe Physical cafe location at 401 North Tryon Street, Suite 106 in Uptown Charlotte where interns produce coffee, drinks, and baked goods under job coaching as part of their vocational training. Open Mon-Fri 7AM-2:30PM; certified Kosher as of June 2026 under supervision of Rabbi Yossi Groner and Chabad of Charlotte.
• Cafe merchandise Cakeable-branded apparel and accessories available for purchase at the physical cafe location to support the nonprofit's mission.
• Vocational Training Program Personalized vocational training internships at Cakeable Cafe for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program provides 3-6 months of on-the-job training to develop transferable job skills, build confidence, and prepare for integrated community employment. As of May 2026, the program is unified with ZABS Place Special Talent under a single application process.
• Graduate Placement Services Job placement services that match trained Cakeable graduates with employer partners. Includes IDD training for employer teams, on-site job coaching during the transition period, and ongoing consultation for the lifetime of each placement to support successful long-term employment outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80+ area businesses have hired Cakeable graduates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZABS PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger completed May 2026. ZABS Place and Cakeable joined forces as one organization with shared mission of inclusive employment. Interns at Cafe and Special Talent at ZABS Place share single application process. Both brands retained as public faces of training programs. Cakeable Cafe stays in Uptown Charlotte, ZABS Place Boutique stays in Matthews.
• Haerfest CoffeecoreTechnology or IntegrationHaerfest Coffee supplies specialty roasts for Cakeable Cafe. Founder Toby Foreman was inspired to create inclusive coffee company by his late brother and son who were born with intellectual disabilities. Haerfest Coffee also offers employment to individuals with disabilities. Coffee available for order through Cakeable shop.
• Canteen CaresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity sponsor supporting Cakeable's mission through Canteen Cares program
• TruistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity sponsor supporting inclusive employment mission
• Ally FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate foundation sponsor supporting workforce development for people with disabilities
• Compass FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation sponsor supporting inclusive employment programs
• CRG (Civic Resource Group)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduced video to tell the story of partnership with Cakeable
• SHARE CharlotteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember organization - nonprofit network to raise awareness of mission and collaborate with like-minded organizations
• North Carolina Center for NonprofitsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership organization supporting nonprofit capacity and community engagement
• Cabo Fish Taco BallantyneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Taco Dash event benefiting Special Olympics and Cakeable

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brewability: Nonprofit restaurant/brewery in Colorado that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities — directly comparable foodservice-as-vocational-training model to Cakeable Cafe.
• Bitty & Beau's Coffee: Specialty coffee chain that employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across multiple U.S. locations — the closest comparable social-enterprise cafe model to Cakeable's mission and operating approach.
• ZABS Place: Inclusive-employment nonprofit that merged with Cakeable in May 2026 to form a unified IDD workforce development organization operating a boutique as a training venue — same mission and complementary training format.

Emerging players

• KultureCity: Nonprofit advancing inclusion and employment opportunities for people with disabilities across hospitality and retail — adjacent mission targeting the same employer and donor ecosystem.
• Rising Tide Car Wash: Car wash social enterprise employing individuals with disabilities — comparable 'business-as-training-ground' model, but in a different retail vertical than Cakeable's cafe.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics: Global nonprofit with significant U.S. programming around employment and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities — competes for similar corporate sponsorship and grant funding.
• Easterseals: Major national disability-services nonprofit providing employment, vocational, and workforce development programs — comparable mission, much broader geographic and programmatic scale.
• Best Buddies International: Large national nonprofit focused on employment and social inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — competes for the same corporate and foundation donor dollars.
• The Arc of the United States: National community-based nonprofit advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including employment programs — comparable mission, broader scope.

Others

• Haerfest Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster that supplies Cakeable's three blends and itself employs individuals with disabilities — included as the company's core operating partner and adjacent specialty-coffee brand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wearecakeable
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wearecakeable

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Cakeable