The Chipotle Aluminaries Project is an accelerator program that supports ventures from across the country that are advancing innovative solutions that empower the next generation of farmers.
The program will connect ventures to the people and organizations they need to scale their solutions, including mentors, funders, and partners. Together, we will work tirelessly to break down the barriers that stand in the way of young farmers' success.
Accelerator Impact
In an effort to make real food accessible for all, The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation held a seven-month accelerator program that gave growth-stage ventures a spotlight and mentoring from established leaders.
2020 Accelerator
Applications Open
January 29 - March 11, 2020
We are seeking applicants (both for and non-profit) in the areas of access to land, financial assistance, labor challenges as well as agtech, education and wellness. See the application for more details. See the application for details.
What is the Chipotle Aluminaries Project?
The Chipotle Aluminaries Project is a seven-month annual accelerator program that supports ventures from across the country that are advancing innovative solutions that empower the next generation of farmers. The program will connect ventures to the people and organizations that they need in order to scale their solutions, including mentors, funders, and partners. Together, we will work tirelessly to break down the barriers that stand in the way of young farmers' success.
This is the second program of the Chipotle Aluminaries Project. Our first cohort graduated in 2019.
Why future of farming?
What kind of support is included for fellows?
We believe we can most effectively support projects in building their capacity through a combination of skills and network development. To that end, each winning organization is eligible to receive:
How many ventures will be selected?
Who is hosting the program?
Will ventures have access to Chipotle as potential customers?
Where will the program take place?
How are mentors chosen for this program?
We believe that the best business advice comes from those with industry expertise and experience operating at scale. Therefore, we look for mentors who are willing to offer time, expertise, and strategic advice for the duration of the program, and that have:
While we spend time choosing mentors prior to the selection process, we also recruit additional mentors after selecting the cohort and gaining an understanding of their specific learning needs.
What are the program requirements and time expectations for selected projects?
Our goal is to design the program to meet the needs and challenges of ventures and to learn from them and refine the program over time.
Specific expectations and time commitments include:
What is the application process?
What costs are covered through the program?
What are the qualifications to apply?
How are selection decisions made?
Our ideal candidates also have these five qualities:
Scalability. You might have a great product or service that meaningfully impacts a group of people. We want to know how you plan to successfully scale that impact. We’ll be looking to see if you have identified and entered a substantial addressable market, you have a logical path to serve that market, and the way you earn revenue/funding fuels smart growth.
Team. We’re looking for a team with committed leadership. Ideally, your founder(s) is cohesive, brings needed expertise, and persists through challenges. Moreover, it is required that one committed teammate (the CEO or one of the co-founders) attend the 5-day in-person boot camp in Newport Beach, California.
Impact. Your product or service addresses an issue that is both serious and concise, and you have a formula for how your organization is making specific strides to create deep, lasting change within that issue.
Fit with Program/Values Aligned. Your team must be both coachable and values-aligned so the Chipotle Aluminaries Project can provide an immense amount of value to you. Take a look at Uncharted’s values to get a deeper sense of what principles guide us.
Stage. Here are the stages we typically see when recruiting companies to join an accelerator program. Stages 4-6 are poised to receive the most value out of the program and thus will take precedence when choosing our final cohort:
Program Overview
Our foundation runs the accelerator program centered on our yearly focus topic. For 2020, that's the next generation of farming. The program is 7 months long and focused on getting growth stage ventures resources and mentorship.
We are seeking applicants (both for and non-profit) in the areas of access to land, financial assistance, labor challenges as well as agtech, education and wellness. See the application for more details.
Applications close. Uncharted reviews them on a rolling basis.
Uncharted selects and announces eight of the very best ventures that are a fit for the Chipotle Aluminaries Project.
Uncharted dives deep into identifying the challenges specific to each venture and identifies the people they need to help scale their business and create a deeper impact.
We come together in Newport Beach, California, for a five-day in-person summit focused on making invaluable connections, clarifying business strategies, and accessing capital.
Ventures connect with Uncharted staff through regular check-ins that focus on working towards hitting key goals and metrics.
Uncharted leads an impact assessment, feedback sessions, and learning sessions.