Real Good Kitchen launches crowdfunding campaign today ahead of January opening
The opening sentences of the email said it all.
“At last! Though it feels like we’ll never be over the fundraising hump, we are in the final stages of construction and feel confident enough to set an opening timeline,” wrote Bailey Foster, Founder of the Real Good Kitchen (RGK).
The target opening date and a crowdfunding campaign that launches at 12 noon EST today are the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” for the very focused Knoxvillian whose journey has been chronicled in several articles on teknovation.biz starting with our inaugural article about her vision from October 2018.
“We have been working on this much-needed resource for the Knoxville community for over three years,” Foster (pictured here) reminded us. “Knoxville is long overdue for a shared kitchen and food entrepreneurship hub, and we look forward to opening our doors with the help of our community of supporters.”
She says the 2,500 square-foot commercial kitchen facility, located on Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville, should open in January. To help with start-up expenses, she’s launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000. The campaign is taking place starting at 12 noon EST today on the Indiegogo platform (click here if you are interested in helping). Funds raised will be used to provide: (1) operating capital; (2) additional storage and production equipment; and (3) seed capital for a food entrepreneurship fund.
RGK is focused on making food business ownership more accessible and lowering the risks and barriers by investing in the equipment and infrastructure that food businesses need to operate legally and optimize production. As a Public Benefit Company, RGK also offers mentorship, support, and a network of resources focused on the unique challenges of food business ownership.
“Now more than ever, we need to invest in our community,” said Foster. “At Real Good Kitchen, we believe in the power of food to strengthen communities, break down barriers and make lasting change.”
Here’s a video describing the project along with a sketch of the exterior and a progress photo of the work underway.
