FoodLab Chicago 7.0 Cohort
Applications open now

FoodLab Chicago is an insightful educational program designed for chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, food truck vendors, culinary artists, and other food-related businesses who are looking to take their businesses to the next level.

FoodLab Chicago is excited to invite you to apply to our 7.0 cohort to engage in a blend of classroom training sessions and one-on-one coaching curated to enhance and strengthen your skills in food service account management, food costing, and more.

Foodlab Chicago 7.0 will kick off on Monday, April 20, 2026. Sessions will take place in the Community Room of Seaway, a Division of Self-Help Federal Credit Union, at 639 E. 87th Street.

Please submit your application early for review, as seating is limited.

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, participation in our FoodLab 7.0 Cohort is offered at no cost to participants.

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Why FoodLab Chicago?

  • Since its launch, FoodLab Chicago has assisted 105 BIPOC-owned food-based businesses, primarily located in Greater Chatham or the broader South Side. Selected participants have secured over $8.5 million in grants and loans and increased their profits with menu engineering from 3% to 38%.
  • FoodLab Chicago seeks to support Black and Brown food service entrepreneurs who have been operating for at least 12-18 months and are located in Chicago.
  • Topics include Menu Engineering, Plate Costing, Food Service Accounting, Financial Management, Marketing, and more.

Cohort Member Responsibilities

  • Attend weekly in-person sessions each Monday from 9:00 am to 12:00pm.
  • Location: Seaway, a Division of Self-Help Federal Credit Union – Community Room
    • 639 E. 87th Street, Lower Level
    • Chicago, IL 60619

Questions? Contact ciera@greaterchathaminitiative.org

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FoodLab Chicago

Your restaurant’s financial prosperity begins on the plate.  We partner with restaurant owners for rapid growth and prepare them to access capital and build great company culture. Our growth-oriented, practical, peer-to-peer driven workshops are designed to drive our cohort members to enhance their business practices, resulting in increased revenues, and a strong company culture required to hire and retain great staff.

Thank You to Our Funders

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