Pre-Venture

Rachael Young of yaupon beverage brand YAYAYA joins Tera to talk about building a beverage brand around an unknown plant, working with copackers and courting investor partners who know the food space.

If e-commerce wasn’t a priority for food brands before, COVID-19 has certainly made it one. Online food sales are soaring right now, and many shoppers want to buy direct from producers. A big part of your online strategy is deciding which online platforms to pursue. Our latest podcast explores how to figure this out. Also check out our free business tools to guide businesses during this tricky time, and remember to join our Monday virtual huddles for entrepreneurs and consultants.

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #66, Tera sits down with Matthew Starr, founder of Rally Energy, a caffeinated mint and cough lozenge brand based in Madison,...

Given the global pandemic, now might not seem like the best time to court investment. Well, it’s true the current economic climate isn’t ideal...

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #65, Tera interviews Heidi Huntington, vice president of finance at AVL Growth Partners in Boulder, Colorado, which lends finance and operations...

With the COVID-19 crisis assailing most food businesses, entrepreneurs must take a hard look at cashflow and decide: try to keep going or close up shop? Consultant Bartlett Durand talks with Tera about the realities of bankruptcy (it’s not a moral failing!), the leverage that small businesses have, how bankruptcy lawyers can help, and the measures that can best protect companies’ interests whether they opt to forge ahead or fold. This podcast is loaded with useful information and strategies to help food and farm entrepreneurs through the current economic downturn.

This on-demand course features FFI Director, Tera Johnson, walking you through how to use FFI’s 13-week cash flow template. We encourage you to follow along...

Ted LeBow of Kitchen Table Consultants joins Tera to offer guidance for food and farm entrepreneurs affected by the coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the importance of staying calm, knowing your cashflow, prioritizing certain expenses to free up cash and communicating honestly with vendors, suppliers and banks.

The answer to "where is your growth path" lies in the company's business model and their willingness to find creative solutions to how they can grow their unique brand and strengths. No path is easy, but we encourage entrepreneurs to consider creative ways they could grow, including horizontally, to reach profitability and sustainability.