Empowering Entrepreneurs
Chef Antwon Brinson, Founder and CEO of Culinary Concepts AB, of Charlottesville - most recently seen on the Max cooking competition ‘The Big Brunch’- is bringing his Culinary Training Program to Richmond! Partnering with us at Hatch Richmond, the non-profit community development loan fund Bridging Virginia, and Capital One, the program is the first of its kind to focus on helping local entrepreneurs develop key skills to empower themselves and take their business to the next level.
“Leveraging our experience in development projects, we’ve been able to provide the space necessary for food & beverage entrepreneurs to scale, but the business support and networking this pilot will provide is going to be invaluable. Small business owners wear many hats and this will be a chance for them to hone their skills and work smarter,” Hatch Communication Director Jordan Hanna says.
Over the past five years, Culinary Concepts AB (CCAB) has been expanding their programs across Central Virginia with a mission to empower people and build communities in the kitchen. The robust local culinary scene and innovative entrepreneurial spirit in Richmond made it the perfect next-stop for Chef Brinson.
“Our goal is simply to add value. Working with Hatch, we can provide a space for people to learn, share and grow together. Ultimately, I would like to see each business set a clear goal that can be achieved within one year. Pending the success of this collaborative program, we plan to expand our offering to more businesses in the Richmond area,” Brinson says.
Upon completion of the program, Bridging Virginia will offer financial services to help assist entrepreneurs as they scale their businesses. President and CEO Leah Fremouw knew that this was the perfect partnership. “Bridging Virginia’s commitment to provide the right capital tool to entrepreneurs at the right time aligns perfectly with this chance to partner with these amazing business owners, Hatch, and CCAB. We appreciate the opportunity and thank Capital One for their support of this program,” she says.
The Capital One Insights Center recently released a report with Boston Consulting Group on boosting wealth growth for Black and Hispanic small business owners in Richmond, Virginia. The study identified three conditions that drive wealth growth:
Initial funding and growth funding (B&H businesses that received growth funding grew their wealth by 45% more than those who did not)
Capabilities and expertise (e.g., skill sets, access to markets and networks, internal infrastructure)
A coordinated business ecosystem
On the heels of this research, and building on a long-standing commitment to support small businesses, Capital One is a key funder in the pilot launch of the Culinary Training Program.
This 6 week program began on August 16th, 2023, and includes the following businesses: