Organization · Accelerator

Good Food Accelerator

Good Food Accelerator, now part of Good Food Catalyst, supports food-focused entrepreneurs in the Chicago area through educational programs and community connections, with a focus on underrepresented groups.

AcceleratorProgram hostCommunity

Overview

What Good Food Accelerator does

What Good Food Accelerator is

Good Food Accelerator, now part of Good Food Catalyst, supports food-focused entrepreneurs in the Chicago area through educational programs and community connections, with a focus on underrepresented groups.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports program host and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.

Operational profile

Organization status and context

Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.

Operational status
Active
Organization type
Accelerator
Structured capabilities
Program host · Community
Last reviewed
March 5, 2026
What Accelerator means

An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.

Open the glossary entry

Official channels

Find Good Food Accelerator elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

Good Food Accelerator as a program host

Program thesis

The program focuses on building a local food system that is accessible and sustainable, advocating for a healthier food industry by connecting various stakeholders.

Focus narrative

The Good Food Accelerator provides educational resources and access to a network of mentors and business leaders for food-focused businesses. It also runs programs like Farmer Training to educate farmers on marketing, food safety, and post-harvest handling, and the Good Food is Good Medicine program, which emphasizes nutrition education and access to locally-sourced food.

Value and support

Founders participating in the Good Food Accelerator gain access to valuable educational resources, mentorship from industry leaders, and a supportive network that can help them navigate the challenges of building a food-focused business.

Availability

Application state
Not published

Focus and fit

Capability profile

Good Food Accelerator as a community

Community overview

Good Food Catalyst, formerly known as Good Food Accelerator and Good Food is Good Medicine, has been active for over two decades in building a local food system focused on accessibility and sustainability. The organization is dedicated to advocating for a healthier, environmentally viable, and inclusive food industry by connecting key stakeholders, including farmers, food producers, trade buyers, investors, and families.

Community focus

Good Food Catalyst operates several programs aimed at supporting food-focused businesses and improving community health. The Good Food Accelerator is a membership-based initiative that provides educational resources and access to a network of mentors and business leaders. The organization also runs a Farmer Training program that collaborates with local partners to educate farmers on wholesale and direct sales marketing, food safety, and post-harvest handling. Additionally, the Good Food is Good Medicine program focuses on nutrition education to enhance access to information and locally-sourced food for individuals and families.

Membership

Pricing models
free

Format and cadence

Modality
in-person
Schedule
rolling-admissions
Commitment
light

Availability

Membership state
Accepting

Audience and fit

Audience
Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
Benefits
mentorship and network-access
Program types
accelerator and community
Selection criteria
open

Community activity

Notable members

Shelby Parchman - CEO

Common questions

What to know about Good Food Accelerator

Upseed classifies Good Food Accelerator under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes program host and community capabilities.

Next step

Keep comparing startup organizations

Return to the organization index or continue through a verified sector, place, peer, or program connected to this profile.

Source and update disclosure

Know what this page is based on

Source basis

Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.

Last reviewed

March 5, 2026

Known limits

Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.

Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.