FoodLab Sydney’s Post

🤝 Calling Rhode Island-based food and foodtech entrepreneurs! Join our FREE Connections for Growth program! 🤝 Our new initiative supports emerging businesses, particularly those run by women and minority founders, by harnessing the expertise of our community. If you could benefit from the support of experts in distribution, e-commerce, manufacturing, legal, payroll, or something else, let us know by filling out our intake form. We will follow up with more information. Please share this invitation with anyone who might benefit from such support. https://lnkd.in/eXaxHqp5 Branchfood is honored to partner with the Rhode Island Minority Business Accelerator, an initiative of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation on this program, Foster Garvey PC, CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center), and ConnectPay Payroll Services. Lauren Abda, Karen Macumber, Julianne Stelmaszyk, Olinda Urizar-Mendez, ALM - Government/ Social Justice, Doris Blanchard, Mollie Frazer Williams, Lisa A Ranglin, MS, PMP, CSSGB, Annette Tonti, Mia Nolan, Cathy Robinson; Deborah Pannullo, ESQ, Maureen McNamara, MBA; Constance Ferber, Stefanie Engelhardt, Nina Pande, Melba Depena Affigne, Diane Fournaris, Reilly Kons, Mike Mowry #cicprovidence #rhodeisland #madeinRI #madeinrhodeisland #foodentrepreneur #foodstartups #foodconsultant #foodbusiness #foodpreneur #foodinnovation #foodbranding #foodtechnology #businessnetworking #foodstartup #foodindustry #foodnews #foodadvertising #foodmedia #foodproject #foodbrand #foodmarketing #foodtech #startupcommunity #foodmanagement #branchventuregroup

The rising tide of entrepreneurs in the Philippines is something very thrilling to witness. This culture of entrepreneurship is boosting resilience and innovation in a number of industries in addition to boosting our economy. Recent articles have highlighted a surge in entrepreneurial activities as more Filipinos aspire to become business owners and drive economic growth in their country. Much of this progress can be attributed to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which has streamlined business registration processes and provided robust support to MSMEs. At SAFC, we recognize the vital role that MSMEs play in advancing economic development and creating employment opportunities. Our objective is to empower these entrepreneurs by offering tailored financial solutions to meet their specific needs. Through our competitive funding options, flexible financing solutions, and comprehensive support services, we aim to equip MSMEs with the necessary tools for success. This recent post on Philstar emphasizes how Filipino entrepreneurs are becoming more and more well-known, especially as a result of DTI programs like the 10th Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair. A wide variety of MSME items were on display at this event, highlighting their contribution to the economy. The fair showcased the competitiveness and quality of Filipino goods, highlighting how crucial it is to assist small businesses in the community in order to spur innovation and economic success. From where I stand, we can create a future in which Filipino business owners can lead the way in economic transformarion and exhibit resilience and creativity in the face of challenges. https://lnkd.in/gmZDeKaZ

Micro, small and growing businesses are a formidable force for change. November 18-24 is Global Entrepreneurship Week, and we're celebrating ygap's exciting, innovative entrepreneurs from around the world. This year's theme, 'Entrepreneurship is for Everyone', speaks to our mission to advance global equity through inclusive entrepreneurship. From agribusiness ventures designed to reduce food insecurity in South Africa, to women-led sustainable businesses changing the face of tourism in Fiji, ygap entrepreneurs are using the brilliance of locally led solutions to solve global problems. To learn more about what we do, head to ygap.org today. #entrepreneurship #enterprise #globalentrepreneurshipweek #socialimpact #business #change #gew Global Entrepreneurship Network

🌍✨ Celebrating Social Enterprise Day ✨🌍 Today, we honour the incredible businesses prioritising purpose over profit, tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges through innovation and impact. As Bill Drayton famously said: "Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionised the fishing industry." 🎣 Social enterprises such as our lovely sister company Start Liverpool and their Digital Futures Initiative go beyond addressing immediate needs—they strive for systemic change, rethinking industries, empowering communities, and creating lasting solutions for a better future. Let’s take a moment to: ✅ Recognise their achievements. ✅ Amplify their voices. ✅ Support businesses driving meaningful change. 🌟 Together, we can build a future where purpose and profit thrive side by side. Check out what Start Liverpool are doing for the City of Liverpool on the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eauPdkZJ #SocialEnterpriseDay #PurposeOverProfit #SocialEntrepreneurship #BusinessForGood #MakingAnImpact #SustainableChange

One thing I love about being Nigerian is gaining access to food items from source. For instance, I can make purchases of freshly harvested leaves and also see first hand the raw processing of pepper at the market without any additives. All of these stems from my exposures to buying fresh foods from the open market early on. In recent times, the idea of ensuring more transformational entrepreneurship (building larger businesses that will achieve rapid growth and create job opportunities) as against subsistence entrepreneurship ( running tiny operations that do not grow into larger firms but merely provide an alternative employment opportunity to the entrepreneur and potentially their family members) has been topmost on my mind. I envision creating an informal education platform where subsistence entrepreneurs can form partnerships, leading to transformational change. On one of my visits to the market, I engaged with a seller and because I had the 'solution' in mind, I started asking questions that would attempt to reinforce my solutions. Our conversations went like this: Me: Mama Emma, if you had the opportunity to partner with your neighbour selling the same food items, especially if it could increase your earnings and improve your business, would you consider it? Mama Emma: I am fine with what I receive from my own stall and I am not interested in any partnerships. With these interactions, I moved from asking questions from the standpoint of a solution, to truly understanding how we can proffer a solution to an existing problem, and with this approach, I learned a lot. I realised that the challenge isn't merely about education; many have been in this business for over 15years and understand its dynamics. The real issues include: - Improving supply chains - Navigating policy uncertainties - Achieving better pricing to ensure profitability - Providing affordable education for their children The truth is, anyone intent on developing Nigeria without paying attention to these things may hit a roadblock. It’s clear that we cannot super impose other ways of doing things than what exists; the question is ‘how can we make it better’. I expected that Mama Emma would seek avenues of being better but she’s content with being in the market provided that these problems are addressed. As an instance, demolishing small markets with hopes of creating larger ones (a prevalent situation in Nigeria) might not be the answer to the problem. In fact, if we keep demolishing, they, i.e. these open market stalls, will keep finding avenues to continue. The question we can address is: Can we have transformational entrepreneurs that can solve these problems? Is it possible that when these problems are solved, these subsistence entrepreneurs would begin to move towards transformational entrepreneurship since a favourable business environment has been created? More professional or research backed thoughts on this would be helpful.

#Zim_entrepreneuersThe zeal and determination of our local young entrepreneurs continues to inspire me and challenge me. Nyanga is very well known for its apples grown in the hills and valleys among other fruits like peaches and strawberries. Pineapples are grown in the Eastern Highlands too.  There is potential to build strong geographic specific brands and I have admired how one young cider maker has experimented with the fruits of Nyanga to make alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages that have very distinctive Nyanga flavours. The apple juice is the best I have had, their ciders and the Keeved cider is amazing. This post is about supporting such entrepreneurs to scale. 1. They fund themselves to start the business.  2. As they test the market or develop it, they are not exempt from any regulatory cost. 3. The various costs are not sensitive to their scale or age of business. 4. They struggle to attract funding. I worry about the constraints to scaling up. It worries me because if we do not assist them on time,  their hard work may become proof of concept for somebody else as their products now enter into the competitor product analysis for all. Is it possible to restrict similar product developments for such products for some time to give start ups some runway? Is it possible to segment regulatory costs? I am pleased that Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries is now working to support entrepreneurs and to play a significant role in the entrepreneurship development ecosystem. Marlvin Chieza

Selling to mainstream enterprises 🚀 This month, the Baltic Sea Impact Network hosted an expert session with Lina Siksniute-Vaitiekuniene, partner and attorney at law at WIDEN Legal Lithuania, who shared actionable tips for social entrepreneurs looking to position themselves as valuable partners for mainstream businesses.  Here are the key takeaways 👇 💡 Network strategically: Go beyond social enterprise networks—join industry and traditional enterprise networks to unlock more opportunities. Use events and conferences wisely: look at attendee lists, identify key people, and arrange meetings in advance. 💡 Don’t pitch right away—ask questions to find out what their problems are. Speak less and listen more. 💡Focus on building long-term relationships by emphasizing: Visibility – Make your enterprise known. Credibility – Show you’re reliable and trustworthy. Profitability – While profit may not be your top priority, remember that it's important to traditional businesses. 💡 Perfect your elevator pitch: Keep it short, creative, and don’t use professional jargon. Focus on benefits - they're less interested in what you do and more interested in how you can solve their problems. 💡 Remember: people like to buy, but they hate being sold to. Members then took part in a lively discussion, sharing their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges social entrepreneurs face in building partnerships with mainstream businesses. – 🤝 Baltic Sea Impact Network is done with the support of the Svenska institutet and in partnership between Reach for Change Sweden, Reach for Change Latvia, Social Enterprise Estonia, Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (Latvijas Sociālās uzņēmējdarbības asociācija), and the Lithuanian Social Business Association. #FundedbySI #socialentrepreneurship #peersupport

"Weekend Economy" You have seen Students/ IT professionals and Homemaker standing with one table chair and the selling some food products ! In the heart of every city & Specially in tier 2/3 gem, weekends come alive with an inspiring display of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit! Our city's streets transform into bustling hubs where residents set up simple stalls with just a table and chair, offering a variety of homemade food, artisanal coffee, crafts, and more. From local families sharing traditional recipes to young professionals exploring their culinary passions, these weekend vendors showcase the rich diversity and talent within our community. It's a reminder that entrepreneurship isn't confined to corporate boardrooms; it thrives in the hands of those who dare to dream and innovate, even on a modest scale. Also, People are showing their support our local entrepreneurs by exploring these vibrant markets, tasting unique flavors, and enjoying the warm, personal touch that only small businesses can offer. Together, they are not just boosting the local economy but also building a stronger, more connected community. #WeekendEconomy #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #CommunitySpirit

Anything can become a business idea 💡 A huge eye-opener at the Enactus UK & Ireland Expo 2024 last week! The bulk of the expo is a business competition, with the most impact-driven and scalable business model ultimately wins funding to further scale their initiative (after the international competition round). The project truly showed how they're changing lives, generating revenue, and breaking boundaries. The most mind-blowing one? The project done in Nairobi (Kenya), where the team tackled waste dumping, food and job security challenges in the region. They repurposed waste into fuels to run community ovens so that Kenyans within the target region could make a living out of baking bread and selling them to nearby communities 🍞 They're literally tackling three challenges with 1 idea 🤯 I just thought, how are they able to build this idea and how did they take it from there? It's fascinating that they just identify a problem and start tackling it head-on, no matter the scale. Really cool stuffs here! Side note - I’m working on my MSc project to look into startups and/or scale-ups, focusing on what makes some of them the most resilient + most successful 🚀 If you’re interested to chat about these, hit me up! #entrepreneurship #business #psychology

Rules For Thee, Not For Me *Update: Several stakeholders directly involved in the process have clarified some of the proposed & developing regulatory enactments - mainly, no change to decrim or homegrow provision but rather a proposed axing of at home prep / integration services etc. if I’m understanding correctly. Today's Mycopreneur Newsletter unpacks the regulatory enactment around Prop 122 in Colorado, which effectively eliminates the cottage industry around psilocybin services that the state has supported since Prop 122 passed with a 54% to 46% vote in 2022. The statute included language specifying that the state will in "late 2024, allow the supervised use of psychedelic mushrooms by individuals aged 21 and over at licensed facilities and require the state to create a regulatory structure for the operation of these licensed facilities" - it looks like the time has come for that regulatory structure to be put into place. The previous Mycopreneur Newsletter covers mushroom entrepreneurs in Africa - where there are now quite a few impressive mushroom startups spread out across Uganda, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, South Africa, and numerous other countries. The newsletter also serves as the de facto invitation to our weekly 'Mycopreneur Incubators' , a free online business mentorship and networking opportunity for mushroom entrepreneurs. I'm committed to covering mushroom entrepreneurs and the 'mycopreneurial' landscape globally - Thanks for checking it out, hit me in the DM's if you ever have any questions or ideas related to this ( : Newsletter Linked below