In 2018, Chipotle launched a business incubator to help food entrepreneurs to build their business ideas. The incubator brings food entrepreneurs in for a 7-month program that includes mentoring from industry leaders, such as urban farming entrepreneur, Kimbal Musk, and Richard Blais, the winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef All-Stars.” The program is designed for businesses operating in the areas of alternative farming, agricultural technology, food waste and recovery, and plant and alternative products.

“Chipotle has been committed to the future of food with integrity since opening our first restaurant 25 years ago,” CEO Brian Niccol said in a statement. “Since then, we’ve changed how customers and the industry think about food, and as part of our mission to cultivate a better world, we’re looking for the next generation of entrepreneurs who are disrupting the food landscape.” (Meyer, Z. 2018)

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Chipotle’s New Accelerator Program

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of company-sponsored incubators as a way to support corporate entrepreneurial ventures?
• A culture of entrepreneurship is one in which the search for venture opportunities permeates every part of the organization. Everyone is attuned to opportunities to leverage the assets and capabilities of the corporation to create new businesses.
• What are some examples of firms that you are familiar with that have an entrepreneurial culture?
• What are the elements of an entrepreneurial culture? That is, what does it take in terms of beliefs, values, incentives, rewards, and so forth for an organization to be continually thinking about entrepreneurial opportunities?

Reference

Meyer, Z. (2018). Chipotle joins growth field of food start-up incubators. USA Today, August 24: 3B