Agri-Food Startup Program

The Agri-Food Start-Up Program is designed to support equity-deserving and Indigenous entrepreneurs in building and growing successful food-based businesses.

In collaboration with Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, local municipalities and industry partners like Boreal Farms, the program aims to break down systemic barriers in the agri-food sector and foster inclusive economic growth across the Region.

By addressing barriers like limited access to commercial kitchens, financing and tailored support, the goal of the program is to empower equity-deserving and Indigenous entrepreneurs to fully participate in this vital sector.

The program is offered free of charge and provides participants with a wide range of support and resources. While it does not include a financial grant, it delivers valuable services and access to tools to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.  

The program will run in two cohorts over the course of two years. In 2025, the first cohort will welcome 10 entrepreneurs to participate in the program. A second cohort, also consisting of 10 entrepreneurs, will be selected in 2026 to continue building on the program’s impact.

• Tailored entrepreneurial support: Participants will receive mentorship, regulatory guidance and training in food safety, operational efficiency and business planning led by Foodpreneur Lab
• Access to commercial kitchen spaces: Entrepreneurs will have access to subsidized commercial-grade kitchens through the platform Syzl. Participants will also receive access to AI-driven tools to optimize production, support with business planning and reduce waste
• Culturally relevant Indigenous support: Elders and Advisors from the Chippewas of Georgina Island and neighbouring First Nations will mentor Indigenous participants, incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into sustainable business models
• Community engagement and research: York Region Food Network will engage with program participants to identify systemic barriers and gather feedback to ensure the program remains responsive to the unique needs of local equity-deserving and Indigenous entrepreneurs

The program will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining both online and in-person sessions, and will run from September to December. Participants are expected to commit a minimum of four hours per week to complete modules and attend workshops. 

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Identify as Indigenous of a member of an equity-deserving group* (e.g., Member of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGTBQI+)
• Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
• Be an Ontario resident
• Be 18 years or older
• Have a food product concept or early-stage product
• Be in the pre-revenue or early-revenue stage (less than $25,000 annual sales)
• Commit to completing the full 14 week program (4 to 6 hours per week)
• Demonstrate readiness to learn through coaching, workshops, and peer mentorship

Preference will be given to applicants that are based in York Region or that are looking to expand to York Region.

Applications are open until Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

Contact agrifood@york.ca

* Equity-deserving groups: Communities that experience significant collective barriers in participating in society. This could include attitudinal, historic, social and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation and transgender status, etc. Equity deserving groups are those that identify barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination and actively seek social justice and reparation. 

The program is funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial-initiative.