Who We Are

The Market Entry Fund (TMEF) is a nonprofit located in St. Paul. We support packaged food startups, and intersect with many industries – such as food/beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail/wholesale trades, media, design, and marketing, government/regulatory and research, to name a few. At its core, TMEF advances equity and inclusion in local food manufacturing and supply chains. Specifically, we work with MN food/beverage producers, founders, businesses from underrepresented communities to make their product and get the product(s) into the market. We provide the founders of these businesses with technical and business solutions, along with micro-grants, and public education and advocacy.

Micro manufacturing of food/beverage is complex business - that is heavily regulated across multi-government levels, requiring deep knowledge and hands on technical support services - well beyond the basic business coaching, planning, and networking services that exist today. Noticeably, this is also an industry where many women and people of color start up business to support their families.

TMEF partners with expert organizations and individuals to offer the above services and address challenges in the market place for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Our community of food producers are growers/farmers as well as manufacturers who take the farm goods and turn them into value-added consumer goods.