The City of Napa launched the Napa Food Startup Studio, a free, six-week online accelerator and the newest addition to the Napa Makes initiative. Co-created and hosted in partnership with the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and sponsored by Redwood Credit Union, the program reflects a targeted effort to support the artisan food sector and further diversify the local economy beyond wine production and experiences.
Napa is home to talented artisans and culinarians creating exceptional products in home kitchens, food trucks and commercial commissary kitchens. While many have mastered their craft, they often face challenges related to basic business strategy, distribution, marketing and regulatory compliance. The Food Startup Studio is designed to bridge this gap by providing personalized and specialized business expertise to help local food entrepreneurs formalize their operations and scale for growth.
Nearly 40 applications were submitted for the program’s first cohort, from which the City selected 16 local businesses. The group represents a wide range of food-based businesses, including a father-daughter salsa company, a provisions company that upcycles cosmetically-imperfect produce, alcohol-infused chocolates and Asian-inspired handcrafted noodle soups, among others…