George Brown Polytechnic and IEF partner to help rural and northern food entrepreneurs bring products to market

New Access to Innovation Ecosystem for Founders program will provide free technical education and mentorship to food and beverage entrepreneurs

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — George Brown Polytechnic is partnering with the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) to deliver specialized food innovation education and mentorship to rural and northern food and beverage entrepreneurs across Canada.

The organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the Access to Innovation (A2I) Ecosystem for Founders – Food & Beverage Stream, a free, virtually delivered learning and mentorship program designed to help rural and northern entrepreneurs navigate the technical challenges of developing and bringing food and beverage products to market.

The program is the only one of its kind in Canada, combining specialized food innovation expertise with structured education and mentorship for rural and northern food and beverage entrepreneurs. George Brown Polytechnic is uniquely positioned to deliver the technical component through its Food Innovation & Research Studio (FIRSt), in partnership with IEF’s entrepreneurship expertise and network.

Launching in January, the program will include eight biweekly 90-minute learning sessions with targeted technical mentorship. Participants will have opportunities to work directly with experts from George Brown’s FIRSt on challenges specific to their products and businesses.

Since 2012, FIRSt has helped food and beverage businesses develop, test and commercialize innovative products.

“Bringing a new product to market involves navigating complex technical considerations at every stage,” said Michelle Kienitz Henderson, Manager, Industry Liaison & Business Development, FIRSt. “We’re excited to work alongside entrepreneurs, drawing on our experience in innovation and product development to help them make informed decisions and advance their businesses.”

By combining FIRSt’s specialized food innovation capabilities with IEF’s entrepreneurship expertise and reach, the program provides a distinct model for connecting rural and northern food entrepreneurs with technical expertise that can be difficult to access outside major urban centres.

“At IEF, we know that talent and ambition are not limited by geography, but access to the right expertise often is,” said Catherine Adare, Chief Executive Officer of Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation.

“This partnership with George Brown Polytechnic helps close that gap by bringing specialized food innovation expertise directly to rural and northern entrepreneurs, wherever they are. We’re particularly pleased to create a pathway that combines practical technical knowledge with the entrepreneurship support founders need to move an idea forward and bring it to market.”

The program will launch in January 2027, with programming continuing through to June. The inaugural cohort marks the first step in building a broader network of support for food entrepreneurs across rural and northern Canada. George Brown and IEF will use insights from the pilot to explore future cohorts and expanded programming opportunities.

Applications are now open. Apply by November 13, 2026.

Entrepreneurs interested in participating can learn more and apply here.

About George Brown Polytechnic

George Brown Polytechnic equips graduates with the career-ready skills and real-world experience to thrive in today’s dynamic job market. With three campuses in downtown Toronto, we blend academic excellence with hands-on learning. Our students sharpen their skills in simulated work environments like The Chefs’ House and WAVE Clinics, engage with 5,000+ industry partners through experiential learning and research, and access global opportunities across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. George Brown offers more than 200 career-focused programs, including degrees, diplomas and certificates, along with 175 continuing education certificates and designations. Each year, we welcome nearly 30,000 full-time students and receive more than 63,000 continuing education registrations. Learn more at georgebrown.ca.

About Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation

The Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) is a national charity dedicated to celebrating, educating and supporting founders and innovators belonging to racialized and/or equity-deserving groups as they navigate institutional, structural and interpersonal barriers.

IEF works to support, educate and celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship among business owners across Canada by expanding access to knowledge, opportunity, resources and connections.

Through initiatives such as its scholarship programs, financial literacy and investment readiness programming, research and community-building work, IEF is working to create a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For media inquiries: [email protected]; 

For more information: ief-fie.ca

SOURCE George Brown Polytechnic