Food Business Accelerator : Graduate Showcase — 2025 Recap

Featuring: Business Food Accelerator Graduate Showcase — 2025

Last month, we wrapped up CitySeed and Collab’s Food Business Accelerator with a celebration we won’t forget. Our 2025 Graduate Showcase brought together friends, family, and community members to honor nine incredible food ventures—and the passionate entrepreneurs behind them.

These founders spent the last few months building their businesses from the ground up. They poured in countless hours, shared their stories, and brought their dreams to life. At the showcase, each one took the stage to pitch their venture, and it was nothing short of inspiring.

The showcase was not only a celebration of these entrepreneurs' hard work and dedication, but also a testament to the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit thriving within our community.

This kind of growth and community-building wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible partners. We’re deeply grateful to The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Santander, WBDC, Chabaso & Atticus Market, and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce for believing in our mission and investing in local entrepreneurs. Your support truly fuels this work!

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Meet the 2025 Graduates

Antonio's Cider Project

Founder: Antonio Rivera

@antoniosciderproject

Antonio's Cider Project specializes in crafting hard cider using locally grown and foraged heirloom apples to honor farmers, land stewardship, and cider-making traditions.

Hook & Arrow

Founders: Sam & Henry Dziekan

@Hookandarrow.co

Hook & Arrow is a condiment brand that offers small-batch hot sauces and mustards, tailored for outdoor enthusiasts and characterized by high-quality, natural ingredients.

Kosy’s African Kitchen

Founder: Kosarachi Okwunna

@Kosys _african_kitchen

Kosy’s African Kitchen offers authentic Nigerian and Ghanaian cuisine in New Haven County, providing a taste of home with traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients.

Across Our Table

Founder: Geoffrey Croteau

@geoffcooks

Across Our Table is a food subscription and delivery service dedicated to providing meals designed to bring families warmth and connection at the dinner table. Utilizing local, seasonal ingredients, the service caters to working families who lack the time, energy, or culinary experience to prepare meals themselves.

Relished Roots

Founders: Sam Kraszewski & Gino Cordone

@relishedroots.ct

Their venture specializes in gut-healthy fermented foods and pickles made from locally grown produce, aiming to introduce healthy, sustainable eating options at farmer's markets and potentially a dedicated storefront.

The Honcho Club

Founder: Tashea Younge

@thehoncho.club

Cooking with Honcho offers elevated Caribbean fusion cuisine through catering and event production, focusing on creating inclusive dining experiences that empower underrepresented culinary talents.

Chef Will Meals

Founder: Willie Mewborn III

@chefwillmeals

Chef Will Meals offers a food subscription and delivery service that targets busy employees and health-conscious individuals. The service emphasizes fresh, organic meals that not only taste good but also contribute to the clients' health and fitness goals.

ina Sweet Bakery

Founder: Florina Gosturani

@ina_ sweet_bakery

ina Sweet Bakery specializes in traditional Albanian desserts like baklava, aiming to expand its presence through multiple outlets while maintaining authentic, high-quality culinary traditions.

Founder: Barbara Gioia Scharlau

Gioia aims to provide convenient, time- and cost-saving, individually tailored solutions to support environmentally- and health-conscious consumers. The venture focuses on creating and curating fresh, wholesome, quality artisanal foods that are beautifully presented.

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Congratulations again to all of our graduates, and thank you to everyone who joined us to support these inspiring local entrepreneurs. Here are some photos from the wonderful night—we hope you can feel the energy and love in the room.

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Meet the Hosts Behind the Magic

Collab is an early-stage business accelerator that helps local entrepreneurs—especially people of color and women—turn ideas into thriving ventures. Since 2017, we’ve supported over 120 Accelerator graduates, 83% of whom are POC-led and 74% women-led.

CitySeed supports food entrepreneurs by removing the biggest barriers—from commercial kitchen space and farmers market access to workshops, business coaching, and more. Our mission is to ensure food entrepreneurship is accessible for all.

reSET is an organziation that supports entrepreneurs through technical assistance, mentorship, and connections to capital and statewide resources. Their collaboration strengthens the ecosystem around our ventures and broadens opportunities for every founder we serve.

www.collabnewhaven.org | cityseed.org/food-business-incubation | https://www.resetco.org