DoorDash Announces Accelerator for Local Goods to Empower Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Rhea-AI Summary

DoorDash (NYSE: DASH) launched the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods program, aimed at uplifting local consumer packaged goods businesses owned by women, transgender individuals, immigrants, and people of color. The six-week educational course, developed with Next Street, will assist 50 entrepreneurs from New York City, Chicago, and Washington DC. Participants will receive a $5,000 grant, marketing support, and guaranteed sales opportunities through DashMart. Applications are open until April 1, targeting businesses with under $1M in revenue.

Positive

• Empowers 50 local entrepreneurs with $5,000 grants each.
• Provides crucial educational resources in key business areas.
• Guarantees product placement in DashMart, enhancing sales channels.

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• None.

50 local businesses from New York City, Chicago, and the greater Washington DC area will participate in the inaugural instructional program designed in partnership with Next Street

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DoorDash (NYSE: DASH) today announced its newest Main Street Strong initiative: the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods, an educational program designed to uplift local consumer packaged goods businesses owned by entrepreneurs who are women, transgender, immigrants, or people of color. Through the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods, DoorDash is empowering 50 entrepreneurs by giving them important resources, education, and funding to bring their local products to market for distribution via DashMart.

The DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods consists of a live and self-guided six-week course designed in partnership with Next Street, a mission-driven small business solutions firm, which will cover six specific topics, including supply chain management, wholesale vendor relationship management, managing cash flow and business development.

Beyond the educational component, participants will receive a $5,000 grant to support their business needs, access to marketing and sales support from DoorDash, and the guarantee to sell their products via DashMart – a DoorDash-owned and operated grocery and convenience store. First introduced in 2020, DashMart is a new type of neighborhood store, brought to you by DoorDash offering customers thousands of fresh groceries, household essentials, local treats, and more — delivered right to their doorsteps. DashMart offers local businesses a new channel to reach customers, transforming how merchant partners can sell their products across the country. With DashMarts nationwide, DoorDash already supports over 400 local and regional producers from coast to coast.

"Local businesses generate a substantial amount of economic return for the communities they thrive within, while also creating notable job opportunities for residents," said Tasia Hawkins, Social Impact Program Lead at DoorDash. "By developing the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods, we are equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the educational and financial capital to become wholesale-ready and create an even stronger relationship between local businesses and consumers residing in the community."

At the end of the six-week curriculum, DoorDash will commit to purchasing products from participating entrepreneurs to sell through at least one DashMart location as another way to help further bring these local businesses to market and connect them with more customers. DoorDash Chief Restaurant Advisor Chef Stephanie Izard, alongside Next Street, has been intimately involved in the curation of the curriculum as the owner of This Little Goat, a packaged goods brand.

"Before assuming the role of Chief Restaurant Advisor, I partnered with DoorDash to offer my line of This Little Goat sauces and spices in many DashMart locations across the country," said Chef Stephanie Izard, Chief Restaurant Advisor at DoorDash. "This is a full circle moment where I was able to help shape the curriculum for this inaugural cohort, especially as I've experienced the challenges of launching a packaged product firsthand – including creating a distribution plan and coordinating with manufacturers."

Ariel Barbouth, Founder and CEO of Nuchas, said "By partnering with DoorDash to sell our empanadas through DashMart, we're able to reach new customers and diversify our revenue streams in an effective way. We're happy that DoorDash is creating the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods to help entrepreneurs and assist them in reaching their goals."

Merchants are eligible to apply for the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods if they are a registered and actively operating packaged food local business in New York City, Chicago, or the greater Washington DC area, if they have twenty or fewer employees, if they have generated less than $1M in revenue in fiscal year 2021, and they must have been in business for at least two years. An active partnership with DoorDash is not required or considered to participate in this program.

Eligible businesses can apply for the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods beginning today through Friday, April 1 and can learn more about the program by clicking here.

About DoorDash
DoorDash is a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses across the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and Germany. Founded in 2013, DoorDash enables local businesses to address consumers' expectations of ease and immediacy and thrive in today's convenience economy. By building the last-mile logistics infrastructure for local commerce, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time.

Contact:
press@doordash.com

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SOURCE DoorDash

FAQ

What is the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods program?

The DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods is an educational initiative designed to empower local consumer packaged goods businesses owned by diverse entrepreneurs.

How many entrepreneurs will benefit from the DoorDash Accelerator program?

50 entrepreneurs will participate in the program, receiving education and funding.

What financial support does the DoorDash Accelerator provide?

Each selected participant will receive a $5,000 grant to support their business needs.

Where can eligible businesses apply for the DoorDash Accelerator program?

Eligible businesses can apply starting today until April 1 through the DoorDash Impact website.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Accelerator program?

Eligible businesses must be local packaged food companies in NYC, Chicago, or the DC area, with 20 or fewer employees and less than $1M in revenue in fiscal 2021.