Services

New Venture Advisors follows a multi-stage planning process from food system assessment to growth strategy. The early stages examine the food system to uncover gaps and opportunities for development. Where enterprise ideas are indicated, we develop and refine the business case in a phased approach that tests its viability before advancing.

 

 

 

The specific scope of New Venture Advisors projects varies based on the needs of our client teams. For some, we focus on a single step in this process; for others, we work from initial assessment to business development to venture launch and ongoing business support. Whether at just one or multiple phases, we work alongside the project team to help manage process, frame strategies, analyze data, problem solve and make decisions.

In addition to the consulting services we provide as part of our rigorous food venture planning process, we also deliver training workshops and speaking engagements to share our expertise with the community of practice or to address more targeted needs.

To learn more about the services we offer and how they’ve delivered value to our clients, choose from the Services menu on the left.

We’re thrilled to be partnering with New Venture Advisors on the business planning aspect of the project. As experts in this space, NVA provides direction to guide the process and insight to inform sound business decisions to strengthen the broccoli supply chain.

Cheryl Thayer

Agricultural Economic Development Specialist, Cornell University

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)