The deadline for restaurant entrepreneurs to apply to Grubhub and The Hatchery Chicago’s Private Kitchen Pitch Competition is approaching.
This is part of a $300,000 partnership between Grubhub and the Hatchery, a nonprofit incubator dedicated to fostering successful food and beverage businesses on the west side of Chicago.
Announced in August, the competition opens up the opportunity for Chicago-based F&B businesses to win a year of rent-free access to a private Grubhub Kitchen at the Hatchery plus additional support from the two companies.
Here’s how to apply:
- Interested businesses will need to apply by 5:00 p.m. CT on Monday, Oct. 23 by visiting The Hatchery’s website.
- Once the application period closes, five finalists will be selected to pitch their business plans on how they will grow their restaurant concept—and provide samples of their foods to a panel of judges during the Hatchery’s annual fundraiser on Friday, Dec 1.
- See the official rules here.
The first-place winner will receive one year of rent-free access to the private Grubhub Kitchen at The Hatchery.
“Our partnership with The Hatchery Chicago is especially exciting because their mission to help local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses is exactly what we do at Grubhub every day with our own restaurant partners,” said Liz Bosone, Grubhub’s vice president of restaurant success. “Not only are we offering financial support, but teams across Grubhub are working with The Hatchery Chicago to offer deeper, meaningful engagement that can help put their entrepreneurs on a path to sustained growth and success.”
“Since opening our doors on the west side of Chicago in 2019, The Hatchery Chicago has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs get their starts in our kitchens and learn the necessary skills to launch and grow viable businesses,” said Natalie Shmulik, The Hatchery’s chief strategy & incubation officer. “On top of our existing services, our partnership with Grubhub allows us to look at new ways to support our community of entrepreneurs, including helping them successfully leverage online marketing and delivery resources to increase efficiencies and generate revenue.”
The Hatchery Chicago is just the latest effort by Grubhub for community impact in Chicago—the delivery company’s home state. Through their Grubhub Community Fund, the company has also partnered with local organizations like Nourishing Hope, Union League Boys & Girls Club and the Restaurant Strong Fund to administer restaurant grant programs. To date, the Grubhub Community Fund has enabled more than 400 grants totaling more than $4 million to independent restaurants and awarded nearly $660,000 to nonprofit organizations in Chicago.
