Thinking of launching a food product or opening a restaurant/cafe?
Learn how to start and succeed in the food business!
Interested in learning:
- Profitable food business ideas and trends
- What does it take to start a successful Food Business? Business Models, Financial Models, Feasibility Analysis, Menu and Recipe Costs?
- License and Permits Needed
- Financing for food entrepreneurs
- Marketing and Advertising to target customers
East Bay SBDC presents
Food Entrepreneurship Training Academy
East Bay SBDC and the Alameda County Community Development Agency offer a free 10-part series on “Food Business Entrepreneurship” for participants interested to launch and grow food businesses in Alameda County.
We offer the following series of Food Entrepreneurship Training Academy. Click the program title to download the program flyer.
- Fundamental FETA I – October 27, 2026 to Dec. 8, 2026
- Intermediate FETA I – January 12, 2027 to February 11, 2027
- Fundamental FETA II – March 2, 2027 to April 6, 2027
- Intermediate FETA II– April 27, 2027 to June 1, 2027
- Spanish FETA – January 13, 2027 to March 17, 2027
What’s in it for me?
Great question! This program is 100% free to qualifying businesses in the East Bay Area. There is no cost for the training. In this training you will learn:
- Profitable food business ideas and trends
- What does it take to start a successful Food Business? Business Models, Financial Models, Feasibility Analysis, Menu and Recipe Costs?
- License and Permits Needed
- Financing for Food Entrepreneurs
- Marketing and Advertising to target customers
Fundamental FETA-I Schedule
Starting on October 27, 2026
| Course No. | Date | Days | Topic | Instructor | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/27/2026 | Tuesday | Profitable Food Business Ideas & Trends | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 2 | 10/29/2026 | Thursday | Do you have what it takes? -Food Industry Exploration | Mani Niall | NorCal SBDC Advisor |
| 3 | 11/5/2026 | Thursday | Market Research Ideas, Know Your Competition & Your Niche | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 4 | 11/10/2026 | Tuesday | Start Up a Food Business | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 5 | 11/12/2026 | Thursday | Alameda County License, Permits & Regulations | Kristin Perrault, Rodel Villa, Rodrigo Orduna | Alameda County ECD |
| 6 | 11/17/2026 | Tuesday | Menu Development & Recipe Costs | Shawn Walker-Smith | NorCal SBDC Restaurant Program Advisor |
| 7 | 11/19/2026 | Thursday | Mobile Food, Cottage Food, Catering & Event Food Business | Shawn Walker-Smith | NorCal SBDC Restaurant Program Advisor |
| 8 | 12/1/2026 | Tuesday | Marketing, Branding & Acquiring Customers | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 9 | 12/3/2026 | Thursday | Establish Your Online Presence – Website & Social Media Marketing | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 10 | 12/8/2026 | Tuesday | Business Presentation Networking, Certificates (in-person) | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
Intermediate FETA-I Schedule
Starting on January 12, 2027
| Course No. | Date | Days | Topic | Instructor | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1/12/2027 | Tuesday | Intro to IFETA-1; Business Plans, Business Legal & Ownership Structure & Taxation | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 2 | 1/14/2027 | Thursday | Market Research, Competitor Analysis, Target Markets & Customer Segments | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 3 | 1/19/2027 | Tuesday | Marketing Strategy – Positioning, Differentiation, & Distribution Strategies | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 4 | 1/21/2027 | Thursday | Pricing, Costing, Break Even Analysis, &Budgeting for Food Business | Pablo Gomez | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 5 | 1/26/2027 | Tuesday | Basic Financial Statements & Bookkeeping using Quickbooks | Al Gohary | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 6 | 1/28/2027 | Thursday | Creating Project Profit &Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, &Cash Flows Statement | Pablo Gomez | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 7 | 2/2/2027 | Tuesday | Funding Your Food Business | Blair Abee | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 8 | 2/4/2027 | Thursday | POS System, Food Labels & Nutrition Facts | Shawn Walker-Smith | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 9 | 2/9/2027 | Tuesday | Marketplace, Farmers Markets, & Commercial Kitchen | Invited Guests | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 10 | 2/11/2027 | Tuesday | Business Plan Presentation, Awards, & Certificates (in-person) | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
Fundamental FETA-I Schedule
Starting on October 27, 2026
| Course No. | Date | Days | Topic | Instructor | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/27/2026 | Tuesday | Profitable Food Business Ideas & Trends | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 2 | 10/29/2026 | Thursday | Do you have what it takes? -Food Industry Exploration | Mani Niall | NorCal SBDC Advisor |
| 3 | 11/5/2026 | Thursday | Market Research Ideas, Know Your Competition & Your Niche | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 4 | 11/10/2026 | Tuesday | Start Up a Food Business | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 5 | 11/12/2026 | Thursday | Alameda County License, Permits & Regulations | Kristin Perrault, Rodel Villa, Rodrigo Orduna | Alameda County ECD |
| 6 | 11/17/2026 | Tuesday | Menu Development & Recipe Costs | Shawn Walker-Smith | NorCal SBDC Restaurant Program Advisor |
| 7 | 11/19/2026 | Thursday | Mobile Food, Cottage Food, Catering & Event Food Business | Shawn Walker-Smith | NorCal SBDC Restaurant Program Advisor |
| 8 | 12/1/2026 | Tuesday | Marketing, Branding & Acquiring Customers | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 9 | 12/3/2026 | Thursday | Establish Your Online Presence – Website & Social Media Marketing | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 10 | 12/8/2026 | Tuesday | Business Presentation Networking, Certificates (in-person) | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
Intermediate FETA-I Schedule
Starting on January 12, 2027
| Course No. | Date | Days | Topic | Instructor | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1/12/2027 | Tuesday | Intro to IFETA-1; Business Plans, Business Legal & Ownership Structure & Taxation | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 2 | 1/14/2027 | Thursday | Market Research, Competitor Analysis, Target Markets & Customer Segments | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 3 | 1/19/2027 | Tuesday | Marketing Strategy – Positioning, Differentiation, & Distribution Strategies | Sneha Lundia | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 4 | 1/21/2027 | Thursday | Pricing, Costing, Break Even Analysis, &Budgeting for Food Business | Pablo Gomez | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 5 | 1/26/2027 | Tuesday | Basic Financial Statements & Bookkeeping using Quickbooks | Al Gohary | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 6 | 1/28/2027 | Thursday | Creating Project Profit &Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, &Cash Flows Statement | Pablo Gomez | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 7 | 2/2/2027 | Tuesday | Funding Your Food Business | Blair Abee | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 8 | 2/4/2027 | Thursday | POS System, Food Labels & Nutrition Facts | Shawn Walker-Smith | Advisor, East Bay SBDC |
| 9 | 2/9/2027 | Tuesday | Marketplace, Farmers Markets, & Commercial Kitchen | Invited Guests | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
| 10 | 2/11/2027 | Tuesday | Business Plan Presentation, Awards, & Certificates (in-person) | Nancy Mangold | Executive Director East Bay SBDC |
Food Entrepreneurship Training Academy 2022-23 Business Presentation Winners
FETA I – Business Presentation Winner
Kang Naikang Kuan
Former Sous Chef at French Laundry, Executive Chef at Morimoto Napa, and current Principal Consultant to DoorDash Kitchen.
Aspiration: Tasty snack of Waffle Bites with Amarena Cherry & Whip Cream for all occasions.
FETA II – Business Presentation Winner
Gerardo Jeronimo Lorenzo
Aspiration: Started a family business Panaderia El Quetzal, to bring Guatemalan Traditional Breads and Food, to the communities.
FETA III – Business Presentation Winner
Shweta Saokar
Degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics, Technical Communications Specialist at Meta, Former Presentation Specialist at Facebook.
Aspiration: The Goan DeTour, a full-service, sit-down restaurant to bring the Goan culinary scene to the Bay Area.
Intermediate FETA – Business Presentation Winner – 1st Place
Kehinde Koyejo – Choc’late Mama Cookies
Choc’late Mama Cookies specializes in artisanal plant-based classic cookie treats that are consciously-crafted with the intention to spread love and happiness.
Intermediate FETA – Business Presentation Winner – 2nd Place
Cathy Rodriguez – Classic Casita Café
Classic Casita Café (CCC) will be a locally established coffee shop located in Hayward, serving coffees from international origins and unique blends and flavors.
Intermediate FETA – Business Presentation Winner – 3rd Place
Dustin Passalalpi – Cherryland Nectars
Dustin’s aspiration is to make wines made from honey raised on small farms in the Bay Area, non-GMO, free of fluoride, glyphosate, added chemicals and nitrites.
Food Entrepreneurship Training Academy Graduation Ceremonies
Check out FETA I, FETA II and FETA III graduation ceremonies in previous years.
