News

Boot camp offered in partnership with Center for Dairy Research

MADISON – The Food Finance Institute and Center for Dairy Research will be holding a four-day boot camp in February at Babcock Hall to help food and beverage companies take their business to the next level. 

This fast-paced, intense workshop combines training, one-on-one consulting and networking — taking entrepreneurs out of their day-to-day environment and giving them the tools they need to build a more resilient food business.

Boot Camp is right for you if:

  • Your business is profitable and you want to take its performance to the next level.
  • Your market position and profitability are eroding, and you know you need to adapt.
  • Your young company has never reached profitability, and you know things need to change.
  • You need to raise money and get prepared to be successful.

Part One, Feb. 4-5: Business Models, Market Research

Day 1 – Optimizing Your Business Model to Make Money

Day 2 – Fixing Your Financial Infrastructure

Part Two, Feb. 25-26: Your Financial Plan and Raising Money

Day 3 – Developing Your Financial Plan

Day 4 – Getting Ready to Raise the Money You Need to Execute Your Plan

Tera Johnson, Director of the Food Finance Institute, will lead morning training sessions; in the afternoons, she will work individually with clients. Johnson, a nationally recognized food and beverage business consultant and successful entrepreneur, has used this boot camp model across the country.

Boot camp registration is $1,200 per company (2 attendees per company). Wisconsin-based food or beverage companies that utilize dairy ingredients and have 50 or fewer employees will be eligible for a 25 percent rebate.

For more information or to register, go to https://www.cdr.wisc.edu/shortcourses/boot_camp_20. Or contact CALS Conference Services, 608-263-1672.

Meet the Winter 2023 FFI Food Business Fellows and watch for Spring and Summer cohorts!

The Food Finance Institute (FFI) excitedly enters year two of their Fellows program and year seven of providing programming designed to accelerate food-focused business growth.