We're serious about helping you build the next great food or beverage brand here in Queens – but in turn, our 360° incubator program is designed for entrepreneurs who are serious about their new business.
The Entrepreneur Space is a non-profit incubator dedicated to helping you bring your food and beverage business dreams to life. We're not here to simply rent you a kitchen, we're here to help you thrive.
To that end, we're serious about working with serious entrepreneurs. Although we help make it a lot more accessible, the food business can still be a tough industry – and we want clients who are ready for that challenge.
Applications for our incubator program are free and accepted year-round, and our team is available if you have any questions about the process.
Please note that while the Entrepreneur Space is a program of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, businesses from all areas are welcome to join.
All prospective clients start with a free tour of our Long Island City kitchen and consultation with one of our food business experts. Tours take approximately 45 minutes and are offered regularly on Mondays (6:00PM) and Wednesdays (11:30AM), however special scheduling may be available on some occasions.
For more information, and to schedule your visit, please fill out the form here.
After your tour, you'll receive a link to the online client application for the Entrepreneur Space. Here you'll be able to upload the required documents, complete the business questionaire, and then submit for review. Application review typically takes approximately one week, and we may follow-up with additional questions.
As a fully equipped, licensed, and insured food production facility, we require that all clients provide the following before beginning cooking:
Note that business insurance can be provided after the application, but is required before contract signing.
For new business clients, we work with you to develop a sustainable pricing strategy, evaluate the competitive landscape, and put together a comprehensive business and marketing plan. You'll see several prompts in the application that ask tough questions: Who is your product for? How much do your ingredients cost? What outlets do you want to be carried in?
Why is this important? Because we're not here just to rent space and equipment – we want you to build a sustainable business. Thinking about branding, distribution, packaging and everything else beyond your recipe, then putting these answers to paper, is the first step in becoming a successful entrepreneur.
If you need additional help with these questions, or technical assistance in getting your business off the ground, we encourage you to take advantage of the no-cost business counseling offered by our parent organization, QEDC.
Once your application is approved, we'll schedule a contract signing and onboarding meeting at the incubator. At this meeting we'll cover the following:
Please bring photo ID, a copy of your insurance, a check for your security deposit ($1,000, but subject to adjustment based on expected use), and a check for your onboarding fee ($300). This onboarding session typically takes around 90 minutes.
Welcome to the Entrepreneur Space community! After you are onboarded, you can book regular shifts as needed, and we continue to work together to help you tackle any business challenges you may have. Learn more about all of our ongoing offerings, including Made in Queens certification, buyer showcases, and more on the about page.
Your Entrepreneur Space journey starts with a visit. Book your free tour and counseling session today – we look forward to seeing you in in the kitchen.
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