RE:Her has announced the women chosen as Scholars for the inaugural RE:Her Academy, a new combined grant and education program for women food and beverage entrepreneurs in Los Angeles. Through our partnership with DoorDash and FOUND/LA, RE:Her will distribute 10 cash grants of $20,000 each to women-identifying hospitality business owners, which recipients can use for business growth. In addition, they will receive $2,500 worth of professional culinary equipment and individual consultations from Matfer Bourgeat USA. The RE:Her Scholars will also complete a ten-week in-depth learning program with industry experts to help sustain and grow their businesses. 

The 2022 RE:Her Scholars are:

The 2022 Academy program focuses on supporting women owners of food and beverage businesses. The Scholars were chosen from applicants who are members of RE:Her’s Los Angeles chapter whose businesses are at least 50% female-owned and have projected 2022 revenues between $250,000 and $1 million.

RE:Her received an overwhelming number of applications for the ten Academy slots, 80% of which were from women of color.

More statistics about the Scholars’ businesses include:

  • Combined projected 2022 revenue: more than $5 million
  • Combined full- and part-time employees: 93
  • Types of businesses: restaurants, popup, taproom, coffee shops and roasteries, wine bar, and plant-based food maker
  • Locations: Inglewood, Los Angeles, Montebello, Redondo Beach, Tarzana
  • Length of time in business: two businesses opened in 2021, three in 2020, four in 2019, and one in 2006

An independent committee of industry, business, and philanthropic experts, led by Kimberly Velazco, RE:Her Director of Grant Relations and chef/owner of  Alice’s Southern Comfort, selected the grantees. The committee includes Kristin Aldana-Taday of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, chef and food TV personality Monti Carlo, Mendocino Farms founder Ellen Chen, Speaking Broadly podcast host and former Food & Wine editor-in-chief Dana Cowin, Los Angeles Times food writer Jenn Harris, Jessica Kaczmarek of the James Irvine Foundation, Shake Shack culinary director Mark Rosati, and trademark attorney Elizabeth Sbardaletti. 

RE:Her is a national non-profit on a mission to empower and advance all women-identifying food and drink entrepreneurs by way of innovative platforms that:

  • UpliftHER Business
  • SupportHER Community
  • AdvocateHER Industry

RE:Her supports its members through industry-focused and consumer-facing initiatives, virtual and physical events, and promotion and representation. The organization launched in 2020 with a focus on providing opportunities and resources—financial, educational, and more—to women owners in Los Angeles and beyond.

In 2021, RE:Her’s inaugural grant program sponsored by DoorDash distributed 15 COVID-19 relief grants of $10,000 each to women restaurateurs in Los Angeles and provided access to professional, marketing, and human resources coaching, along with introductions to RE:Her’s community of peers and mentors.

The 2022 Academy program builds on this concept and partnership, targeting early-stage women-owned businesses and providing funding, a comprehensive ten-week curriculum of education and coaching to help participants grow their businesses in smart and sustainable ways, and access to a deep network of women owners and industry experts.

“We are thrilled to have support from DoorDash, FOUND/LA, and Matfer Bourgeat USA,” says RE:Her founding member and Co-Executive Director Dina Samson. “The program will help women owners navigate the hurdles of hospitality industry small business ownership, develop the skills to take their businesses to the next level, develop critical connections, and become leaders in the Los Angeles food and beverage community.”

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