Santander X Cultivate Small Business Program and Grants

AmountUp to $20,000 ($2,500 guaranteed on completion)

DeadlineAnnual round; applications typically open in spring · Next opens November 1, 2026

CompetitionMedium

IndustryFood industry

Eligible businessesBakery, Brewery, Event Planning, Food Retail, Restaurant, Specialty Food, Agriculture, Fishing

Owner criteriaBlack Owned, Hispanic Owned, Immigrant Owned, Minority Owned, Woman Owned

About this program

Santander's Cultivate Small Business is a free 12-week MBA-style program for early-stage food businesses (retail, processing, food services, manufacturing), taught virtually by Babson College professors, with a focus on founders in low-to-moderate income communities. Every graduate receives a $2,500 grant, and exemplary graduates receive awards up to $20,000. New for 2026, the program is open nationwide. Eligibility: at least one year in operation, revenue between $25,000 and $1 million in the last calendar year, and 1 to 10 full-time-equivalent employees including the owner. The Fall 2026 cohort runs September 10 to December 3, and applications are open now.

Official program page: icic.org ↗

Who is eligible?

Cultivate Small Business supports entrepreneurs and businesses that meet the following criteria:

In operation for at least one year

Are working full time in the business and have fewer than 10 total full-time equivalent employees

Revenues between $25,000 and $1,000,000 in the last calendar year

Located in the United States

Our Fall cohort runs from September through November with applications accepted from March through June.

Our Spring cohort runs from March through June with applications accepted from November through January.

Applicants must operate a food-related business (processing, manufacturing, or service) for at least one year, have 1–10 employees, and generate $25,000–$1,000,000 in annual revenue

The grant is the floor, not the prize: complete the program and the $2,500 is yours, with up to $20,000 for standout graduates. Twelve weeks of Babson instruction for free is arguably worth more than the check.

Not eligible if

Not a food-industry business
Under one year in operation
Revenue outside the $25,000 to $1,000,000 range
More than 10 full-time-equivalent employees

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