DoorDash Accelerator for Local Restaurants

Through the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Restaurants, we are improving access to technical assistance and restaurant education that will help small businesses adapt, grow, and thrive.

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Meet Our Summer 2023 Participants!

We’ve partnered with the Accion Opportunity Fund, The Five Chamber Alliance, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and DeliverZero to bring the Accelerator for Local Restaurants to New Jersey and New York.

Meet the new cohort of 20 Accelerator participants, all based in the greater New York City and Northern New Jersey areas. The Accelerator participants represent a diverse cohort of restaurateurs and business owners, the majority of whom are women, immigrants, and people of color.

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Accelerator Benefits:

  • 8-week curriculum

  • Opportunity for one-on-one, customized business advising with expert business coaches from Accion Opportunity Fund, direct access to industry experts and leaders from local organizations

  • $10,000 grant

  • Free merchandising and marketing benefits from DoorDash

  • Opportunities to network in person with other business owners and experts in your locality

  • Sustainable business practice education and resources

  • Up to 6 months of returnable, reusable take-out food containers from Deliver Zero

Eligibility:

  • Owns a restaurant that has three or fewer locations in the current cohort eligible areas

  • Owns a restaurant that has been in operation for at least two years

  • Employs 50 or fewer people across all locations

  • Has a formalized business bank account

  • Is able to commit 3-5 hours per week to the Accelerator for the duration of the program

Program Impact

Since the Accelerator was announced in early 2021, more than 1,000 businesses have completed the online content, and more than 150 restaurateurs from 8 cities have completed the Accelerator through local cohorts guided by some of the industry’s most recognized entrepreneurs and chefs. These local cohorts participants represent a diverse cohort of restaurateurs and business owners.

The vast majority of participants from previous cohorts were people of color, women, immigrants, and refugees.

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Our Partners

Accion Opportunity Fund

Accion Opportunity Fund works to create an inclusive, healthy financial system that supports the nation’s small business owners by connecting entrepreneurs to affordable capital, educational resources, coaching, and networks.

Five Chambers Alliance

The Five Chamber Alliance, the economic development arm of each NYC borough, connects small business owners to resources to help them sustain their businesses and help their communities thrive. The Alliance assists businesses in developing comprehensive marketing and communication tools, and to develop and grow their business by use of technology.

Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

The SHCCNJ is the voice of the more than 120,000 Latino businesses contributing more than $20 billion to the New Jersey economy. The Chamber's mission remains to educate, train, and advocate for its members in the political landscape and provide procurement opportunities for all its members.

DeliverZero

DeliverZero is a network of returnable, reusable food containers, making it easy for restaurants, delivery platforms, and POS systems to offer customers the option to receive takeout and delivery without a side of trash.

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Free Online Curriculum

The DoorDash Accelerator for Local Restaurants online curriculum is open to all restaurant owners at no cost. Business owners and operators can complete the courses at their own pace. Content and topics are designed to address some of the core challenges faced by business owners when growing and their business.

“DoorDash Accelerator for Local Restaurants was a huge help because they gave us the grant that helped us start our delivery service. They also provided a seven-week course. Without it, the business wouldn’t have survived.”

Derick Lopez, The Freakin Rican

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Frequently Asked Questions

Accelerator participants will be led through the Accelerator curriculum over the course of 8 weeks by industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and local partners. They will have access to the below benefits, and the opportunity to network and learn with fellow business owners. Participants should expect to dedicate 3-5 hours per week to the program.

To date, we've hosted 8 local cohorts in the U.S.. We are looking forward to expanding even further over time as part of DoorDash's commitment to supporting local economies. To stay up to date on our local cohorts, please visit news.doordash.com.

No. Applications to the program are open to eligible restaurants regardless of whether they are current DoorDash or Caviar partners.

Participants will receive $10,000 at the end of the program.

Our online accelerator curriculum is available in Spanish. If you have additional access needs to participate in the Accelerator, please email accelerator@doordash.com. While the format of the Accelerator local cohorts are best suited for proficient English speakers, we’re committed to supporting language access and look forward to providing resources that address multilingual needs.