Food Investment Program

Overview of the Food Investment Program program:

The Food & Beverage Investment Program, operated by York University's YSpace, is a specialized six-week hybrid accelerator created for Canadian food and beverage CPG (consumer-packaged goods) companies that are seeking to raise capital. This program focuses on preparing startups to become investment-ready by educating them on fundraising strategies, pitch development, financial modeling, valuation, and the legal aspects of investment. Participants are supported through targeted workshops, 1:1 coaching with venture capital experts, and group mentorship with founders who have successfully raised capital in the industry. In addition to educational content, the program provides participants with direct access to a curated network of CPG investors and investment firms through an investor demo day at the end of the program. The accelerator is cohort-based, with a competitive selection process that assesses a company's traction, scalability, market potential, and commitment to fundraising. The program is open to companies across Canada and is especially suited for those that have already achieved some traction and are actively seeking to raise investment within the next 6–12 months. Programming is hybrid, with virtual sessions and an in-person demo day, allowing access from various regions while fostering real-world investor engagement. The ultimate goal is to help food and beverage entrepreneurs gain the tools, connections, and confidence to secure funding and scale their operations effectively.

Benefits of the Food Investment Program program:

• 6-week hybrid accelerator tailored for CPG food and beverage startups.
• Access to investment education, including pitch development, financial modeling, valuation, and legal preparation.
• 1:1 coaching sessions with seasoned venture capitalists.
• Group mentorship with founders who have previously raised capital.
• Inclusion in a national peer network of food and beverage founders.
• Exclusive access to a network of CPG investors across Canada.
• Opportunity to present at Investor Demo Day, enabling exposure to active investors.
• Participation in a highly curated cohort with personalized support.

Eligibility criteria of the Food Investment Program program:

• Full-time founder(s) who can commit to 6-months YSpace programming
• CPG Ventures active for over a year with Monthly Recurring Revenue of $45,000 monthly or an Annual Recurring Revenue of $500,000+
• AgTech & FoodTech Ventures pre- or post-revenue with evidence of a strong growth trajectory (will be assessed on a case-by-case basis)
• Must be for profit, incorporated in Ontario or majority Canadian owners, with 500 or less employee
• You are looking to create foundational funding insights
• You are looking to understand the funding process by Angels & VCs (reading a term sheet, funding vehicles, etc)
• Focus on scaling and raising capital to achieve high impact
• Driven, coachable, growth-oriented and collaborative leader(s)