THE KITCHEN ACCELERATOR
The Kitchen Accelerator (TKA) discovers and supports emerging chefs and restaurateurs. We help culinary founders succeed with no-cost incubation services, expert mentorship and integrated sales and marketing opportunities.
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The Program
Participating chefs commit to a six-month intensive residency that focuses on developing all aspects of their business—inside and outside the kitchen. There is an optional, additional 6-month extension. Upon graduation, our chefs may also have opportunities to continue building their business through our network of partners. Each participant spends five to ten hours per week on program activities.
Total Chef Revenue:
Lifetime in-program revenue earned by our chefs
$105,898
Total Coaching Hours:
736
Lifetime total coaching hours provided
The Purpose
More than just food
We believe that as a community, society and nation that the systems of opportunity and access are broken. New, reimagined systems and solutions are needed to create lasting, positive socioeconomic progress. Immigrants, people of color, women and most historically marginalized groups have lower rates of entrepreneurship combined with lower long-term success rates. Yet there are known resources that can help create lasting equity in our ecosystem. Incubated businesses have over double the success rate. And 86.9% of new entrepreneurs create their business out of opportunity instead of necessity.
Nothing creates culture and connection and can break down barriers and stereotypes in the process, than food. Around the table is where we can see and hear each other, discovering and building common ground.
News
Gallery
TKA participant and Founder of Beyond The Salt Executive Chef Samad Mickens delivers remarks at SupperClub
It's chef Marta's first day in The Kitchen
Guests enjoy SupperClub featuring Executive Chefs Samad Mickens and Fabio Manoel
TKA participant Jamie Ramirez presents her amazing ceviche
TKA Executive Chef Ivan Romero prepares signature dishes at the grand opening of GE Appliances' CoCREATE
Luigi of Winebow curates the wine selection at the first SupperClub dinner.
The chefs are in The Kitchen, having a blast and crushing it
Executive Chef Ivan Romero prepares tortillas as part of a lunch demonstration
Select participants and coaches from the first cohort gather for a group shot
TKA participant prepares food for an offsite catering opportunity at The Capitol Theatre
The People
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Chef Ivan Romero
TKA Executive Chef, Culinary, and Events Leader
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Chef Joy Pierson
TKA Coach, Award Winning Vegan Chef and Restaurateur
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Chef Jeff Trombetta
TKA Coach, Former head of Norwalk Community College’s Culinary Program
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Chef Fejsal Demiraj
TKA Advisor, Former Chef de Kitchen at Noma
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Nette Compton
President and CEO at Mill River Park Collaborative
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Michelle Donovan
Head of Experiential Marketing & Director at CoCreate at GE Appliances
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Lisa Feinberg
Partner, Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP
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Isis-Rae Goulbourne
TKA Marketing Coach, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Events, Realist Lab
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PJ Kennedy
Founder, HeyStamford!
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Olga Lopez
Skills Development Program Manager at Building One Community
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Marie Rocha
Chief TKA Business Advisory Partner, CEO & Founder, Realist Lab
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Christine Sullivan
TKA Business Coach, Chief Program Officer, Realist Lab
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Jon Winkel
TKA Development & Partnerships Leader. President, Village Community Foundation