Two women work at their mobile food business serving handcrafted aguas frescas.

Prepped

About

Prepped empowers food entrepreneurs, particularly individuals who identify as women and underrepresented minorities, with the tools and skills to scale their businesses. If you run an early stage or emerging food business such as catering, food and beverage truck or cart, or farmers market products such as baked goods, Prepped is here to provide you free immersive training in the business skills you need to succeed.

Prepped will provide you training from ASU experts and successful food entrepreneurs on topics such as:

  • Food handling.
  • Certification preparation.
  • Business planning, including food costing.
  • Social media and marketing planning.
  • Food writing and more.

Eligibility

Applicants must be existing micro food businesses owned by women or underrepresented minorities. Businesses must have validated their business concept in the market prior to applying and should be able to demonstrate low to moderate household incomes. 

Prepped cohorts run for 12 weeks each fall and spring. Applications are released in mid-summer for the fall cohort and early winter for the spring cohort. All businesses interested must apply and be selected to participate.


Prepped success stories

ASU Prepped has changed the way we work and do business; now we are more prepared. Thank you for the opportunity given to us!

Ricardo Aguirre Tamales y Tacos Puebla

I am continually in awe at the wealth of industry knowledge and support that Prepped has made available to us. I am immensely grateful.

Devereaux Jackson Q-Tsie

100

small businesses served

66%

of owners identify as people of color

67%

of owners identify as women

94%

reported that Prepped helped them better understand and manage their business finances

80%

reported immediately applying food costing methods

47%

reported implementing their first financial system

Prepped has given us the confidence and knowledge to successfully grow our business and reach a market of customers that we did not think was possible.

Heather Davis Flyin’ K BBQ

Hire a Prepped business

Prepped alumni are ready to cater your next event, with cuisines ranging from Mexican to vegan and anything in between.

Team

Chef Kent Moody

Instructional Kitchen Coordinator, College of Health Solutions

Chef Kent Moody coordinates the Instructional Retail Kitchen, the Kitchen Café, at ASU’s College of Health Solutions. He brings a career in the food industry to his work with ASU students and his knowledge and experience in the management of food service systems, food safety and food purchasing to Prepped participants.

Adrienne Brown

Prepped Mentor

Adrienne Brown specializes in offer optimization and analytics as marketing manager at USAA. Adrienne holds an MBA in marketing from Western International University and is also director of marketing for Jamburritos and Jammin BBQ & Dawgs Food Truck, two successful concepts founded by her husband, chef Michael Brown. When not engaged in marketing, Adrienne enjoys traveling, going to the movies and restaurant hopping with her husband.

Michael Brown

Prepped Mentor

Chef Michael Brown is the chef and owner of Jamburritos Cajun Grille Express and Jammin BBQ & Dawgs, where he trains and develops future staff and entrepreneurs creating innovative dining experiences for guests. He graduated from Middlesex County College with an AAS in hotel and restaurant management. He has been married to his wife Adrienne Brown for over 30 years and plans on increasing that batting average.

Stephanie Vasquez

Prepped Mentor

Travel, life experiences and passion for being socially conscious have brought Stephanie Vasquez, owner of Fair Trade Café, to this exact moment in her life. An Arizona native who graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in education and began her professional career as a middle school science teacher, Stephanie was always inclined and passionate about helping her community.

Explore all programs

Our programs for entrepreneurs at ASU and in the community provide guidance and support to help you move your venture to the next level.