EIT Food Startup Manual - EIT Food Startup Manual

Better Businesses For a Better Food System

This guide is filled with invaluable lessons on how to build an agrifood company that can transform the food system in a scalable and sustainable way. Best of all, it is written by other agrifood entrepreneurs so that you can learn directly from their challenges, successes and wisdom.

Course Progress:

EIT Food Startup Manual – Course Contents

1. So you want to change the food system!

This section introduces you to the course, with important things you need to know before starting an agrifood business. Including tips from entrepreneurs, ideas on where to start, and how to create a sustainable business.

6 Lessons

Course Content

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Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 1 Quiz

2. Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

You have a brilliant idea for changing the food system. You have some idea of how you’ll execute it. But how do you go about proving to yourself and others that your idea is worthy of all the blood, sweat and tears that will go into it for the months or years to come?

5 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 Quiz

2. Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

5 Lessons

3. Developing a business model & building your business plan

Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, you need to figure out how to make money from it. In other words, you need to figure out what your business model is. There are lots of questions that fall under this! This next chapter focuses on guiding you through both of these stages.

6 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 Quiz

4. The legal stuff…

Getting your legal and trading requirement foundations in place is key. Doing it early in your journey will save you a headache in the future. Unfortunately, this area is complicated and technical. Legal documents are
often incomprehensible to normal human beings and mistakes can be costly.

5 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 Quiz

4. The legal stuff…

5 Lessons

5. Funding & Investment

Raising money is a key part of being an entrepreneur. Agrifood has some specific challenges around finance given the typically slower growth rates, the seasonality of cashflow and time needed for a return on investment.

7 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 Quiz

6. Making it Happen

A startup takes an idea and transforms it into a business. This chapter focuses on making sure that your business has strong foundations from which your idea and proposition can thrive. 7

8 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 Quiz

6. Making it Happen

A startup takes an idea and transforms it into a business. This chapter focuses on making sure that your business has strong foundations from which your idea and proposition can thrive. 7

8 Lessons

7. Sharing your story

Telling your story plays a crucial part of your startup journey: it helps you gain the attention of all key stakeholders whether customers, suppliers, or investors. It helps you sell your product or service. People love stories. The better story you tell, the more successful your startup will be.

6 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 Quiz

8. Your Dream Team

The people you bring on board are one of the most important components of your startup success. Building the right team plays a huge part in how your startup will do from your employees to the support network you build around you.

4 Lessons

Course Content

Expand All | Collapse All

Modules Status

Module 1 - So you want to change the food system!

1. Introduction

2. What you need to know before starting an agrifood business

3. Where do you start?

4. Entrepreneur testimonials on having co-founders

5. Creating a sustainable business

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 2 - Proving to the world that your idea is worthy and developing a proposition

1. Understanding problems & solution fit

2. Market research

3. Getting your idea in front of customers quickly & learning from it

4. Approaches to Product/Service Design

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 3 - Developing a business model & building your business plan

1. From idea to business model

2. Phases of growth: understanding the startup journey

3. Writing a business plan

4. Creating a financial plan

5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 4 - The legal stuff...

1. Protecting your intellectual property

2. Food specific legal/trading requirements

3. Registering your business & choosing a business structure

4. Non-food specific legal aspects

5. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 5 - Funding & investment

1. Advice for your personal finances

2. Types of funding

3. Crowdfunding

4. Learn how to pitch

5. How much should you raise and when

6. Financial jargon lexicon

7. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 6 - Making it Happen

1. Commercialising your offering

2. Tips for engaging with supplier

3. Sales

4. Approach to sales

5. Managing cashflow and accounting

6. Organisational management

7. Accelerators & incubators

8. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 7 - Sharing your story

1. Building your brand

2. Creating a marketing strategy on a shoestring budget

3. Social media

4. Events conferences tradeshows

5. Measuring & communicating impact

6. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 - Your dream team

1. Building a team

2. Your wider startup team

3. Company culture

4. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 9 - Taking care of yourself

1. How not to burnout & how to enjoy the journey

2. Final thoughts from entrepreneurs

3. Module wrap-up and Key take-aways

Module 8 Quiz

8. Your Dream Team

4 Lessons

9. Taking care of yourself

Starting your own business is an extremely rewarding adventure. You find something you’re passionate about and you decide to give it everything. You get so committed to making it a success, you find yourself working more than you ever thought you could and under the kind of pressure you didn’t even know existed.

3 Lessons