Cultivate Small Business Program
APPLYSisterly Love Collective is thrilled to be serving as the local recruitment partner for Santander’s award-winning Cultivate Small Business in 2025.
Cultivate helps early-stage entrepreneurs build and sustain businesses in the food industry, with a focus on historically underserved founders in low-to-moderate income communities. Cultivate is a FREE 12-week MBA-style program that provides a customized curriculum through live virtual classes. Successful graduates will leave the program with a fully formulated business plan and pitch, a strong grasp on their target market, financials and growth goals, and up to $20,000 in capital grants.
Our Fall 2025 cohort is open to entrepreneurs in Rhode Island, Connecticut and the Greater Boston, Philadelphia, New York City and Miami areas. Applications will be considered for early acceptance on May 20, 2025 and for regular admission on July 8, 2025.
📆 WHEN IS IT?
The 12-week virtual program runs September 4th to November 20th .
🍽️ Why Cultivate? The program provides:
🎓 live virtual classes taught by Babson College professors
🧠 curriculum built for food business owners
🤝 a network of fellow food entrepreneurs & industry experts
💰 capital grant awards from $2,500 up to $20,000
🎯 CAN ANYONE APPLY?
Yes! Any entrepreneur leading an early-stage food business that meets the criteria below is eligible to participate:
in operation for at least one year as of March 1, 2025
have 1-10 FTEs (full-time equivalent) employees
revenues between $25,000 and $1,000,000 in the last calendar year
located in Rhode Island, Connecticut or the Greater Boston, Philadelphia, New York City or Miami area
Note that if you do not meet all of the criteria you can still be considered. If you apply for early acceptance, attend an info session, AND meet the above criteria, your acceptance is guaranteed.
WHO RUNS THIS?
Cultivate Small Business is fully funded by Santander. The program is a collaboration between Santander, Babson College, ICIC and Sisterly Love Collective.
How can I get more information?
Join one of our upcoming info sessions. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3QrtjeD
If you have any questions about the program, please contact phillyfoodadventures@gmail.com.
Apply at https://bit.ly/4gRtx9m