Regarding Her (RE:Her) announced the opening of applications for the 2024 Regarding Her Academy presented in partnership with leading restaurant tech platform, OpenTable, FOUND/LA, and SoCalGas. The combined grant and education program for women food and beverage entrepreneurs will expand this year to include members of Regarding Her in Washington DC, in addition to Los Angeles. Following successful grant programs beginning in 2021, awarding over $350,000 to date, Regarding Her will host a ten-week in-depth learning program and distribute 20 cash grants of $5,000 each to women-identifying hospitality business owners.
The Regarding Her Academy distinguishes itself by providing a combination of group and one-on-one training sessions, held via zoom and in-person, with a fixed core curriculum and custom sessions. The educational and networking opportunity includes sessions on goals and strategy, technology and data, leadership, personal and business financial modeling, culture, legal, media, negotiation, capital raising, and more. It also extends beyond core business training to include development for the whole woman, with an emphasis on mental health and challenges unique to women business owners.
“It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in leadership roles within the food and beverage industry. Regarding Her aims to change that narrative. Programming like our Academy, a transformative 10-week educational program, fosters a community where women can learn, collaborate, and propel their businesses forward.” said RE:Her founding member and Co-Executive Director Dina Samson.
The 2024 Academy program focuses on women-identifying owners of early-stage food and beverage businesses looking to grow. Applicants must be members of Regarding Her’s Los Angeles or Washington D.C. chapters whose businesses have been open from one to five years, with 2023 gross revenues between $250,000 and $1 million a year. Applicants must own at least 10% of the business and at least 25% of sales must be direct to consumers.
Applications for the Regarding Her Academy program will be accepted from June 3 to June 19. An independent committee of industry, business, and philanthropic experts will select the Academy participants based on project significance, feasibility, impact, and alignment with the grant’s goals.
The application, along with details about the Academy and how to become a member of Regarding Her, are available at regardingherfood.org/academy2024.
“OpenTable is passionate about fostering a stronger, more resilient F&B industry, and greater diversity and equity is key to that,” said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable. “Through our partnership with Re:Her, we’re proud to play a role in creating more opportunities for women entrepreneurs.”
In 2021, Regarding Her’s inaugural grant program distributed Covid-19 relief grants to women restaurateurs in Los Angeles and provided access to professional, marketing, and human resources coaching, along with introductions to Regarding Her’s community of peers and mentors. In 2022 the program expanded to introduce a 10 week Academy for 12 businesses in Los Angeles, in addition to grants. The Academy has helped accelerate success stories like those of Laidrey Coffee Roasters who expanded to a second shop, Saucy Chick Rotisserie who opened a brick and mortar location last year, and Bridgetown Roti who will open a brick and mortar location this year.
“Regarding Her’s Academy Program, it was a game changer for me. It’s one thing to have a vision, talent, and passion for cooking delicious food; it’s quite another to know how to run a successful and profitable business. RE:Her gave me the tools that I need to move forward and taught me how to hone my business skills—and at no cost!”, said Rashida Holmes, Chef-owner of Bridgetown Roti and 2022 Academy graduate.
About Regarding Her
Regarding Her (RE:Her) is a national nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the growth of women entrepreneurs and leaders in food and beverage. With founding chapters in DC and Los Angeles, Regarding Her supports members from coast to coast. Founded by women chefs and restaurant owners in 2020 to support women in food and beverage negatively impacted by Covid-19, the organization has evolved to become a talent incubator and mentorship organization that champions more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs and leaders in food and beverage through its innovative membership model, projects, and events. Its signature offering, the Regarding Her Academy, helps meet the critical business needs confronted by new entrepreneurs. Regarding Her provides up to the minute education, community, and transformative financial resources with a vision for women to create the type of industry in which they and future generations can thrive. Visit www.regardingherfood.org or follow on Instagram @regardingherfood for more info.
About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps 55,000 restaurants, bars, wineries and other venues worldwide fill 1.7 billion seats a year. OpenTable powers reservations, experiences, payments, guest insights and operations, enabling restaurants to focus on doing what they do best: providing great hospitality.
About FOUND/LA
FOUND/LA, an initiative of Wurwand Foundation, supports local entrepreneurs to help them build their business, purpose, and community. They connect future and existing business owners – particularly women, immigrants, and entrepreneurs of color – with resources to help them succeed. That includes funding, educational tools, incubator-style workshops, unique mentorship opportunities, and most importantly, a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. For more information, visit www.foundla.org.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas aims to deliver affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to approximately 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. We believe gas delivered through our pipelines plays a key role in California’s clean energy transition by supporting energy system reliability and resiliency and enabling integration of renewable resources. For more information, visit https://www.socalgas.com/.
