June 11, 2022- MS KICK-SUSLA presented business workshops in collaboration with the Launch Network, together with the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP) in their Spring into Summer Startup Series. The workshops covered How to Start a Food Culinary Business which gave an overview of steps on starting a food business, menu building and pricing, and certifications and regulations needed to start their culinary business.
This program was created to build a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment and raise awareness of the company-building mentorship that exists in North Louisiana while providing educational services for those wanting to start or grow their business. It was a Capital One grant that really sparked the idea for this series. EAP and Launch Network brought the idea to fruition and ultimately wanted entrepreneurs to understand that these amazing resources are available right here in Shreveport-Bossier. The grant, provided by Capital One, is allowing EAP and Launch Network to fill the gap in entrepreneurial education in North Louisiana.
“Being an entrepreneur in an established community can be lonely and overwhelming. No entrepreneur, no matter their level of talent, can know everything,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director, EAP. “Launch Network exists to connect small businesses with the resources they need, and together with EAP they have linked arms to create an opportunity for entrepreneurs and small businesses to connect with, and learn from the business-building experts in North Louisiana.”
The startup series included private and non-profit organizations such as CoHab, Capital One, America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS). The series provided entrepreneurs and small businesses access to business building experts in North Louisiana. The goals of the series were to teach fundamental basics that are lacking in the entrepreneurial world. Work through real-world examples was utilized to provide concrete, up to date, and tactical advice for the startups and small businesses.
With North Louisiana offering a plethora of company-building mentorship programs that many new businesses are unaware of, MS KICK was able to reach potential and current business owners and assist them with their questions
on which paths they need to take to start or maintain their culinary businesses.
Presentations were given by the Interim Executive Director, Monique Armand, along with Joslin Pickens of Vegans on the Run, a current tenant of MS KICK. The information provided gave these small business owners gave a step-by-step overview on what needs to be accomplished in order to get their businesses going in the right direction legally with certifications and profitably with menu development, staffing, and the marketing aspects. The series
ran from May 14th to August 20th at the various organization’s locations.
For more information, please contact Monique Armand at (318) 670-9780, or email mskick@susla.edu. Visit our
website at www.mskick.org to learn more about the MS KICK program.
