La Cocina is a ground-breaking incubator that cultivates low-income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses. We do this by providing affordable, shared, commercial kitchen space; industry-specific technical assistance and services; and access to market opportunities and capital.

La Cocina works to solve the problems of equity in business ownership; inclusivity in the mainstream American marketplace; barriers to entry for women, people of color and immigrant business owners; and the high cost of entry in the food industry.

In an increasingly expensive economy, La Cocina businesses succeed at a rate that far exceeds the national average, graduating 60+ entrepreneurs, creating hundreds of jobs, and generating $16MM+ in revenue last year. More than 30 of those entrepreneurs have brick-and-mortar restaurants, which includes James Beard winners and nominees, Michelin Guide-featured destinations, and San Francisco Chronicle’s “Top 100 Restaurants” of 2019. 

Our vision is that our program participants will become economically self-sufficient and contribute to a vibrant and diverse economy doing what they love to do.