Celebrity Chef Opens Bay Area Culinary Entrepreneurship Program

BAY AREA, CA -- Culinary and wine education institution the International Culinary Center has launched a entrepreneurship program on its Campbell campus in Santa Clara County, led by Food Network star Tyler Florence.

The new ICC Culinary Entrepreneurship Program is an immersive, personalized program that provides students with the tools, strategies, and confidence needed to launch and fuel a new business within the food industry.

Florence, a restaurateur, cookbook author and owner of multiple food and wine-focused businesses including a food app and wine label, will serve as an instructor and class discussion leader, providing knowledge and advice while fostering brainstorms and discussions amongst the students and instructors throughout the program.

The six-week program, designed for aspiring food entrepreneurs looking for a fast-paced, food-focused environment, will be taught by industry experts with the goal of demystifying the startup process by guiding students through the steps of business planning.

The inaugural program takes place from Sept. 30, 2017 – Nov. 4, 2017.

“It has been a goal of mine, for quite some time, to foster a culinary program in my very own backyard,” Florence said in a statement. “In order to keep The Bay Area a world-class leader in the food space, we are in need of a constant pool of talented, passionate, well-trained restaurateurs and food-related business owners."

"I remember, when I was a culinary student, that the one thing that would have added tremendous value to my overall experience would have been to be taught by and have the opportunity to interact with folks that had ‘skin in the game'," he said. "I believe that the dynamic combination of ‘boots-on-the-ground’ and solid academic instruction will provide a well-rounded opportunity for success.”

During the six-week program, students are taught:

• Foundations of successful entrepreneurship
• Key elements of concept design and business modeling
• Tools for evaluating the marketplace and building a brand
• Effective financing and cash flow management
• Resource allocation and how to manage a winning team
• How to build a business plan for their own venture
• How to pitch their idea and source funding

The program is comprised of six eight-hour, in-person sessions on Saturdays, as well as 42 hours of online coursework. It's designed to allow flexibility for busy professionals seeking the tools to develop their food business.

For more information, call (866) 318-2433 or visit www.internationalculinarycenter.com.