Industry Accelerator | Kroger Feeding Growth Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Applications are Open August 1-15

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicant must be an owner of the company.  

• Elevator pitch videos submitted in the application are limited to 60 seconds. Any videos longer than 60 seconds will not be accepted, and the application must be resubmitted.  

• The business solution featured in the application pitch video must be an existing business solution that is currently ready for market or already in market, not a future endeavor in need of investment.  

• If the company has more than one owner, only one representative may apply and pitch/participate in all program components.  

• Company is registered in Kroger’s vendor management system Supplier Hub prior to application submission. Register Here.

• Cohort participants will be notified of acceptance into the program no later than 9/1/25. 

For a Full List of Rules and Regulations, Refer Here.

Through this dynamic Industry Accelerator, brought to you by Kroger, applicants accepted into the cohort will participate in a dedicated accelerator program with 2 additional education sessions. Once accepted, cohort participants will:

• Attend a series of virtual sessions led by Kroger team members on a variety of topics such as business pitching, presenting to a category manager, marketing tips, and more.
• Be matched with a Kroger mentor for a 1:1 discussion to occur during the program.
• Have their capability statements reviewed by Kroger supplier diversity professionals and buyers for consideration to pilot a contract with Kroger. (This opportunity is based upon specific criteria, vendor capabilities, and Kroger sourcing needs, and does not guarantee a contract will be awarded)

The program will culminate with a LIVE virtual pitch competition featuring all cohort participants, and an opportunity for one business owner to receive $10,000 in funding.

Looking to hone your business pitch for the accelerator? Check out WBENCPitch Academy!

The WBENCPitch Academy is the education and pitch training activation under the WBENCPitch program umbrella. The primary purpose of the academy is to prepare WBEs to apply and participate in WBENCPitch competitions.

Business owners who participate in the WBENCPitch Academy can expect to hone their business pitch and prepare to maximize pitching opportunities. They will gain actionable resources for successful pitching across all mediums, access expertise and insights from coaches, and receive feedback from fellow business owners.

WBENCPitch Academy is essential for all business owners to be ready for that next opportunity in front of a potential business partner. You never know when it will appear, so make sure you are ready!

WBENCPitch Academy sessions are open to ALL certified and non-certified business owners that want to improve their business pitch.