DoorDash has launched a new initiative to "uplift" small businesses that are owned by pretty much anyone — except straight white men.
The program, called the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods, is described in their press release as "an educational program designed to uplift local consumer packaged goods businesses owned by entrepreneurs who are women, transgender, immigrants, or people of color."
The press release, obtained by Timcast, announced that they will be helping "50 entrepreneurs by giving them important resources, education, and funding to bring their local products to market for distribution via DashMart."
The program will assist the local businesses with a free course on supply chain management, wholesale vendor relationship management, managing cash flow and business development — and give them $5,000."Beyond the educational component, participants will receive a $5,000 grant to support their business needs, access to marketing and sales support from DoorDash, and the guarantee to sell their products via DashMart – a DoorDash-owned and operated grocery and convenience store. First introduced in 2020, DashMart is a new type of neighborhood store, brought to you by DoorDash offering customers thousands of fresh groceries, household essentials, local treats, and more — delivered right to their doorsteps," the press release continues. "DashMart offers local businesses a new channel to reach customers, transforming how merchant partners can sell their products across the country. With DashMarts nationwide, DoorDash already supports over 400 local and regional producers from coast to coast."
After the entrepreneurs complete the course, their goods will be purchased by DoorDash to sell through at least one DashMart location.
"Local businesses generate a substantial amount of economic return for the communities they thrive within, while also creating notable job opportunities for residents," said Tasia Hawkins, Social Impact Program Lead at DoorDash. "By developing the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods, we are equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the educational and financial capital to become wholesale-ready and create an even stronger relationship between local businesses and consumers residing in the community."
Merchants who are not straight white men will be eligible to apply for the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Goods "if they are a registered and actively operating packaged food local business in New York City, Chicago, or the greater Washington DC area, if they have twenty or fewer employees, if they have generated less than $1M in revenue in fiscal year 2021, and they must have been in business for at least two years."
Timcast has reached out to DoorDash with additional questions about the program. This article will be updated if answers are provided.
