Cureate Press, Features & Tidbits of Knowledge 

Cureate Announced Winners of Farm Pitch Showcase, Held at Maryland’s Best Expo
Stacey Simmons Stacey Simmons

Cureate Announced Winners of Farm Pitch Showcase, Held at Maryland’s Best Expo

Cureate, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, hosted a pitch competition for Maryland farm businesses graduating from the Cureate Courses program at the annual Maryland’s Best Expo on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The graduates of Cureate Courses pitched live in front of event attendees and a panel of expert judges for a $5,000 grand prize. Event attendees included Secretary Kevin Atticks and University of Maryland Medical System’s Vice President of External Affairs, Chuck Tildon, who met with program participants to learn more about their unique business offerings. In addition, $500 in community prize funds were awarded to the businesses who received the most community votes during the event. The funds awarded are used by the businesses for the growth goals they defined as part of the curriculum. Learn more about the winners!

Read More
An entrepreneurship panel and breakfast for diverse communities
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

An entrepreneurship panel and breakfast for diverse communities

Cureate is hosting a diverse entrepreneurship panel and breakfast. Cureate is a woman-owned and operated food-tech company that focuses on business development. Earlier this week, Ozarks at Large's Matthew Moore spoke with Amanda Arafat, the host of the event, as well as Stephanie Kirkpatrick, owner of Bartleby’s Food. Tune in!

Read More
Cureate Courses' leader, graduates reflect on program
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

Cureate Courses' leader, graduates reflect on program

Cureate Courses' graduates are local food entrepreneurs, wholesalers, restaurateurs, farmers and chefs. For months, the participants learned business and networking skills while still perfecting their food. The latest version ended last month with the Eclipse Food Festival, presented by Cureate and FORGE. This week, Allie Jones, owner of JAML Jams, Katie Helams, proprietor of Grow NWA, and Kim Bryden, the CEO of Cureate, joined Ozarks at Large's Kyle Kellams at the Carver Center for Public Radio.

Read More
A Gathering of Local Markets and Minds
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

A Gathering of Local Markets and Minds

In February, farmers market managers from Loudoun participated in a workshop and networking event to discuss and collaborate on the future of their enterprises. Led by Kim Bryden and Kelly Guglielmino of Cureate, a woman-owned and operated food-tech and business development consulting firm that focuses on building local/regional food and beverage supply systems, the cohort marked a significant milestone in the ongoing journey of understanding and improving local farmers markets.

Read More
Plant-based chef showcased at Arkansas Children’s Northwest - Talk Business & Politics, Arkansas
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

Plant-based chef showcased at Arkansas Children’s Northwest - Talk Business & Politics, Arkansas

On April 15, Watson served tacos, rice and award-winning cheese dip in the family meal for the Cureate Courses participants before the capstone event at Mount Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville. Watson also judged event’s pitch competition, which she won last spring. Two participants received $5,000 at the end of the competition.

Cureate CEO Kim Bryden said the event’s farm-to-table dinner was sold out.

Cureate Courses is funded by Huntsville-based Forge Inc., a revolving loan fund with multiple supporters, including the U.S. Small Business Administration and Walton Family Foundation. Details on Cureate Courses’ fall cohort are expected to be released later this spring.

On April 19, Watson offered samples of Vito’s Deconstructed Lasagna and Big Bertha’s Fat Stack that were served in the cafeteria at Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale to celebrate Earth Day and the launch of Vito and Vera’s meals to go becoming available at the hospital.

“I think it’s life-changing for me as a person,” Watson said. “It’s all I dreamed about because I believe that food is medicine, and I believe in taking care of healthcare workers and patients. I think it’s the road to seeing a plant-based menu available in all the hospitals.”

Read More
Cureate: Growing Businesses - The Bowie Banner
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

Cureate: Growing Businesses - The Bowie Banner

“You know how to make jam, but do you know how to run a jam business?” Kim Bryden, CEO and Founder of Cureate, is in the business of helping small businesses focus on the latter. Cureate develops courses and networks to answer the essential questions for a small business: how to grow company culture, build a brand, build a team, manage a supply chain, win new customers, establish a creative process, develop a media strategy, optimize for E-commerce, manage expenses, and secure venture capital. In short, how to achieve a vision.

Read More
Cureating Farm-to-Table Connection in the Heartland: 2023 Spring Graduates
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

Cureating Farm-to-Table Connection in the Heartland: 2023 Spring Graduates

Our vision at Cureate is to build a more interconnected, economically-vibrant community where big and small business do business with one another and resources are shared freely to uplift and empower our local, regional business community. This vision was on full display at our farm-to-table dinner at Mount Sequoyah on Saturday, April 15 when two graduating cohorts from Cureate Courses NWA worked together to pull off one of the most beautiful, collaborative 5-course meals we have ever witnessed.

Read More
Food Logistics Magazine 2023 Rockstar of the Supply Chain: Kim Bryden, Cureate
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

Food Logistics Magazine 2023 Rockstar of the Supply Chain: Kim Bryden, Cureate

“Congrats to Kim Bryden, who has helped innumerable #NWArk food & beverage startups scale and expand!

Bryden, the founder and CEO of @cureateco, was named a winner of this year's Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award by Food Logistics magazine.

According to the @nwademgaz, "the award recognizes influential individuals in the industry whose achievements, hard work and vision have shaped the global cold food supply chain." - @uark_ent

Read More
These Three Maryland Small Businesses Won $10,000+ to Grow Their Operations
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

These Three Maryland Small Businesses Won $10,000+ to Grow Their Operations

Representatives from University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore Community Lending, and Cureate celebrated the most recent crop of Cureate Courses graduates from Prince George’s County, Charles County, Baltimore City and County. Mini donuts, loose leaf tea, handmade pasta, cold-pressed juice, and buttermilk waffles, amongst many other goodies were sampled and sold. Local faculty, media, and UMMS representatives judged the Pitch Showcase and awarded $5,000 checks to Omega 3 and Treehouse Juicery for clearly articulating their growth plans and goals for their businesses.

Read More
$743K Grant Awarded to Strengthen Regional Food Supply Chains - Arkansas Business
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

$743K Grant Awarded to Strengthen Regional Food Supply Chains - Arkansas Business

The project is one of 16 to receive funding under the foundation's Convergence Accelerator program. It brings researchers from the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and University of Florida together with two startups, Cureate and Junction AI Inc., and a team of consultants to tackle challenges such as food insecurity while offering novel business solutions.

Read More
You’re Invited: UMMS & Baltimore Community Lending Present Cureate Courses Holiday Market & Pitch Showcase
Kim Bryden Kim Bryden

You’re Invited: UMMS & Baltimore Community Lending Present Cureate Courses Holiday Market & Pitch Showcase

Join us at Baltimore's newly revamped Lexington Market for a Holiday Market & Pitch Showcase on December 14th, 5-8:30pm. The most recent crop of Cureate Courses graduates are coming together to share stellar food & drinks and vie for a chance to bring home a $5,000 check. Plus, attendees will get to vote in real time for the winner of a separate community prize fund. Tickets are only $5 and include entry and a complimentary drink. Good times are guaranteed by our emcees, IG food-celebs, @CharmCityTable and @CousinKim_.

Read More