Are you looking to grow your Maryland specialty crop and/or value-add farm business?

At Cureate, we often say: you may know how to make jam, but may not know how to run a jam business.

Complex steps are required to start and grow a small business — from branding and marketing strategy to exploring new growth channels. And, while as a small business owner, you may offer products and services that meet customer needs, you may not have the systems in place to take advantage of meaningful sales opportunities.

That’s where Cureate Courses comes in — join us!

Is My Business a Fit for
Cureate Courses - Maryland?

We're looking for the best specialty crop farmers and value-add products in Maryland!

Fall 2024 applications for Cureate Courses - Maryland are now closed. This cohort includes specialty crop farmers and/or value-add producers looking to expand operations, both direct-to-consumer and wholesale.

This cohort will run from end of October-January with breaks for holidays.

All Maryland cohorts will have a community capstone event to showcase your business growth —and one business will walk away with a $5,000 cash prize!

2023 Made in Maryland Vendor Fair

Fall 2022 Holiday Market

Spring 2023 Farm-to-Table Dinner

University of Maryland Medical System & Baltimore Community Lending present Cureate Courses - Maryland

Cureate Courses is made possible by visionary leadership at University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Baltimore Community Lending (BCL). Our vision: to build a more resilient, local, diverse supplier network of food and beverage businesses throughout the state of Maryland, generating economic impact in every community. This innovative yearlong program is executed by Cureate, with the support of and in collaboration with BCL, through a grant from UMMS, funder of the program.


Meet Some of Our Recent Graduates

 

Are You Ready for Cureate Courses?

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Cureate Courses is for health-focused farm, food and beverage entrepreneurs looking to diversify their revenue streams and grow into new sales channels. Are you a farmer looking to develop value-add products or grow into wholesale? Are you producing healthy food product or operating health-focused food concept and now you’re ready to take it to the next level? Cureate Courses is for you. This is a free 10-week small business program to grow their business in a highly competitive landscape. Accepted businesses participate in cohorts that consist of 10 businesses as well as an end-of-program event. One business from each cohort is eligible to win a $5,000 cash prize which will be announced at the end-of-program event. We have a focus on supporting underrepresented founders, which includes women and BIPOC-owned businesses.

 
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Sample Cureate Courses Curriculum

  • Kick-Off Class: Defining Your Why (in-person)

  • Establishing Your Unique Value Proposition (virtual)

  • Developing Your Brand and its Positioning (virtual)

  • Identifying Growth Opportunities, B2B & B2C (virtual)

  • Cash Flow Management (virtual)

  • Tips On Winning Over Retail Buyers (virtual)

  • Pitching & Financing Your Small Business (virtual)

  • 2 Week Dress Rehearsal (virtual/in-person)

  • Graduation Pitch Competition & End of Program Showcase (in-person)

Your Commitment:

Enrolled businesses are to complete online video modules and worksheets prior to each workshop. All virtual workshops will be held via Zoom, and peer learning & resource sharing via Slack. Each business will receive a total time of instruction between online courses and virtual workshops between 2-3 hours per week, plus an additional 2 hours over the course of the program dedicated to executive leadership coaching. With work to be completed pre- and post- workshops, the worksheets and peer review over Slack, an additional 4 hours is suggested. This totals to approximately 6-8 hours per week commitment by each business.

 

The Perks

This program is FREE of cost to selected entrepreneurs — 10 businesses per cohort

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At the end of each cohort, there will be a pitch competition with a $5,000 cash prize!

  • At the end of both cohorts, all businesses will have the opportunity to participate in a Vendor Fair where we will invite area Buyers to taste, sip & sample goods produced by the graduates in order to hopefully land more sales!

  • Graduates of Cureate Courses will have a direct pipeline and potential access to funding via Baltimore Community Lending (BCL). Our program is designed to pinpoint how you're looking to grow and what you may need in order to get there.

  • FREE registration on Cureate Connect's procurement platform to connect with larger buyer opportunities

  • Both cohorts will have the opportunity to stay engaged with one another through our Cureate Collective channel

 

MEET YOUR TEAM

  • KIM BRYDEN

    FOUNDER, CEO CUREATE

  • WATCHEN BRUCE

    CEO, BALTIMORE COMMUNITY LENDING (BCL)

  • KARL BINNS JR.

    FACILITATOR + COACH, CUREATE

  • JULIA RAYMOND

    REGIONAL DIRECTOR, CUREATE

  • TESSA VELAZQUEZ

    FACILITATOR + COACH, CUREATE

  • WALTON SMITH

    FACILITATOR + COACH, CUREATE

  • CANDY SCHIBLI

    FACILITATOR + COACH, CUREATE

  • CLARENCE SNUGGS

    COO, BALTIMORE COMMUNITY LENDING