Edible Startup Summit offers Wisconsin residents food business insights

Edible Startup Summit offers Wisconsin residents food business insights 

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Dane County UW-Extension are co-hosting a three-day workshop at the end of the month for Wisconsin residents interested in developing a local food business. 

The fourth annual Edible Startup Summit on August 24-26 will provide people interested in the food industry with educational and networking experiences necessary to start their own food business.

Kietra Olson, a summit organizer, believes the workshop is an excellent opportunity for people in the first stages of starting a food business to gain insight from seasoned professionals.

“Starting your own business can be so intimidating and scary,” Olson said. “It’s a lot of money, it’s a lot of time, so I get excited when I see people doing their networking, learning from other entrepreneurs and sometimes developing collaborations or partnerships.”

Local and regional food business experts will discuss topics such as raising money to start a business, working with a distributor and food safety requirements. Participants also will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with professionals in the industry.

The startup summit is primarily designed for Wisconsin food products and value–added food, or food that has been processed into something other than its raw state to make an extra profit, such as apple cider.

According to Olson, Wisconsin food products are important because they help stimulate the economy, and new businesses can add to state economic growth.

“Wisconsin food means Wisconsin dollars being spent in the community,” Olson said. “New food businesses can create jobs and foster a communal feeling. You like to buy Wisconsin products you know versus something you see on the grocery shelf because it’s familiar. People are supporting their community by supporting that Wisconsin business.”

To register for the Edible Startup Summit, visit their website before Aug. 19. The event will take place at the Goodman Community Center in Madison.