Cultivating Capital Workshop

Farm and food businesses often know where they want to go but may need greater clarity around their business model, financial position, growth strategy, and capital needs before pursuing funding. This interactive workshop introduces participants to the Cultivating Capital Readiness toolkit, a practical resource designed to help farm and food businesses prepare for loans, grants, investment, and other growth opportunities.

Participants will receive an overview of the complete Capital Readiness toolkit, including resources related to financial readiness, loan financing, grant funding, and investment. The workshop will then take a deeper dive into Fast Track 1: Finding Clarity and Alignment Before Making Decisions, helping participants better understand how their business works today, identify assumptions and constraints, and align their business story, strategy, and financial information before pursuing outside capital.

Through guided discussion and hands-on activities, participants will explore what it means to be capital ready, assess their current level of readiness, consider how their business creates and captures value, and identify practical next steps for strengthening their business.

Participants will leave the workshop with:

• An understanding of the key components of capital readiness and why they matter.
• Greater clarity about their business model, priorities, and readiness for future growth or funding.
• An introduction to the different capital pathways available to farm and food businesses, including loans, grants, and investment.
• Practical tools for assessing strengths, identifying gaps, and preparing for future funding opportunities.
• A clearer understanding of where to focus next based on their individual business needs.
• Access to the complete Cultivating Capital Readiness toolkit, including worksheets, templates, examples, financial tools, and other resources that can be used beyond the workshop.
  

This workshop is appropriate for farm and food business owners at a variety of stages, whether they are actively considering funding, planning for future growth, or simply looking to better understand and strengthen the foundations of their business.