Meet our 2017 Cohort

What did they Achieve?

Validated their ideas through product testing and market research opportunities

Developed a strategy and business plan with clear milestones and goals

Launched at our Demo Day to industry leaders, media, potential customers and investors

Gained brand exposure and built a community of followers through our PR and video opportunities

Built a global network of key business connections and mentors with industry experience

Expanded their business knowledge through our 12-week industry focused program

Understood how to manage their finances, become investment ready and pitch to investors

Launched a rewards based crowdfunding campaign to raise seed funds and build traction

Meet the Program supporters & Mentors

Our food and beverage entrepreneurs participated in business workshops and received mentoring, one to one support and industry insights from our community of industry leaders, including our extensive mentor network from the IC and FAN.

Our Program Manager

Grow Coastal was delivered by Tara Mei, Founder of Kitchen Table Projects. Tara has international experience in launching and scaling innovative food businesses.

As a foodpreneur herself, Tara is passionate about turning ideas into a reality. Since launching London’s first retail incubator in June 2015, Tara has supported over 500 food and drink brands from startup to scale up through ground-breaking business bootcamps, incubator and accelerator programmes and building retail pathways for emerging producers to access national retailers. Tara has also developed an unrivalled international network of industry experts, food producers, distributors and buyers, with events attended by hundreds of food community members.

Want to find out more about Tara or about the Grow Coastal program? Email her tara@innovationcentre.com.au