Chicago · Founder Community & Accelerator
For founders disrupting food and foodservice.
Food Foundry is a founder community and accelerator program built with Relish Works and Gordon Food Service — advancing early-stage businesses through strategic investment, network access, and hands-on guidance.
Our Mission
Helping grow the companies disrupting foodservice.
Food Foundry, a founder community and accelerator program built in collaboration with Relish Works and Gordon Food Service, advances innovative businesses who are reshaping the food and foodservice industry.
From early-stage innovators to established industry leaders, Food Foundry cultivates a dynamic ecosystem of support through strategic investment, network access, guidance, and tailored programming.
How we help
Three ways Food Foundry backs founders
Funding Intros
1:1 introductions to our extensive network of investors and venture capitalists, and connections to other funding opportunities to help our founders secure the financial support they need to thrive.
Resources
We facilitate connections for our founders to national foodservice business resources, offering specialized programming and access to exclusive events. Food Foundry also provides 1:1 support from our dedicated mentors, in-house entrepreneurs-in-residence, and our wider network of investors and industry experts.
Community
We organize a variety of events and workshops that bring together founders, like-minded entrepreneurs, experienced mentors, startups, and industry leaders in one of the most vibrant startup hubs in the nation, Chicago, Illinois.
The Program
From application to Demo Day
A guided path from your first application to pitching investors on stage.
01
Apply
02
Onboarding
03
Mentorship & Curriculum
04
Funding Intros
05
Demo Day & Alumni Network
Portfolio
Founders building the future of food
30+ companies have come through Food Foundry since 2018 — here's a handful from across our cohorts.
Encounter AI
Cohort 6Redefining the frontline worker experience with MAI, an AI drive-thru assistant.
FAQ
Common questions
Ready to build the future of food?
Join a growing network of 30+ founders who've come through Food Foundry since 2018.