Still not sure if the Target Forward Founders program is the right one for you? Visit our program page to learn about other programs we host or our contact page to get connected.
The Target Accelerators team is thrilled to announce the third Target Forward Founders cohort. This program is built to equip historically under resourced founders to become the next wave of generational wealth building companies, by utilizing Target’s privilege and scale to democratize access, education, and resources.
On May 24th , the Target Forward Founders program will take place for the third time with a cohort of brands representing multiple product categories: baby, beauty, food & beverage, entertainment, and lifestyle. The Target Accelerators team is thrilled to welcome and introduce this group of unique brands. Meet the cohort!
Itadi is an Earth informed skincare essentials brand created by ancestral roots and rituals. We have compiled a unique formula using the purest ingredients on Earth from our family-owned farms in Togo, West Africa. ITADI provides an all-natural, safe and effective daily skin care regime.
MATTIAS is a men’s makeup company committed to providing you with the best possible products, without cutting corners. Bringing you performance ingredient-loaded formulas, free of fillers. Demand better.
MELANIN-ISH is an ethnic-focused skincare brand that addresses common skin concerns present in the community of color. We provide toxin-free and organic products that scientifically improve dark marks, discoloration, skin dehydration, and more. MELANIN-ISH products empowers people of color to become confident in their beautiful, healthy, and glowing melanin skin.
Riven makes oral care products using probiotics to help you achieve a healthier mouth.
Smitten makes beautiful nail art. We create hand-painted & Semi-cured nail polish strips for instantly fun nails!
TheBraidReleaser is a tool that acts as an aid to maintain healthy hair. The benefit would be providing a pain-free, time efficient experience.
babaLID is committed to manufacturing baby products that are simple, practical, and durable. Its premier product is a bottle that support parents and caregivers to confidently feed their babies at home or on-the-go.
Dandylion is a community-powered brand on a mission to clean up the dog grooming category by creating products that put skin-health first and empower the next-generation of millennial dog parents.
Dope Pieces presents the best in Contemporary, Fine, Urban, and Street Art. Each piece highlights the vibrancy, flavor, and pulse of today’s artists, ranging from the classically trained to the self-taught, to the urban street artist. Our puzzles bring art to life piece by piece.
EZ Doez It potty trainsers offers a safer way to train toddlers to use the potty. EZ Trainers(underwear) +EZ Pants (toddler pants) saves money, the environment and your baby’s bottom from harmful chemicals. Going back-to-basics with my product will save our planet 7.6 billion pounds of garbage each year!
Milksta offers guilt-free, vegan, and decaf lattes designed to help postpartum & breastfeeding mothers naturally boost their breastmilk supply and boost energy through plant-based lactogenic food ingredients.
The Adventurous Bartender is a functional novelty gift created to take the guesswork out of mixing cocktails at home is here!
KnoNap works to inclusively empower, educate, and advocate against drink spiking. Knope is a discreet, portable, gender-inclusive empowerment tool against drug facilitated sexual assault and crime; Say Knope to Drink Spiking.
Rove Biodegradable Paper Soapsheets are papers that disappear into hand soap with water. Our reusable, pocket-sized container of 50 aromatically sudsy sheets are perfect for travel, road-trips, cookouts and when life gets a little messy!
Seal Shoe Cover’s water-resistant outer shell repels water, mud and snow to keep your shoes clean and dry.
Seeds of Paper creates Biodegradable greeting cards that can be planted to grow into wildflowers!
50Hertz Sichuan Pepper makes Sichuan pepper accessible and relatable to American palates. Not spicy, its citrusy aroma and delightful tingling numbing sensation will strike a chord with world foodies. Our name 50Hertz comes from a peer-reviewed scientific paper that concludes the sensation is at a 50 Hz frequency.
A Little More Zest is an “all food everything” brand that encourages foodies to craft vibrant meals by offering an indulgent suite of culinary items that amplify the flavors of food with every bite.
alternative OATS is founded on the principle of offering a delicious, all-natural breakfast that is not only convenient but keeps you full until lunch. We don’t chase fad diet trends or advertise anything other than what we offer: pure, simple ingredients combined to make the most delicious breakfast available.
Carolyn’s Krisps are 100% plant-based and 100% ridiculously addictive cookie-crackers. Deliciously dippable and perfectly pairable, they blend the texture of a cookie with the Krisp of a cracker. All our snacks are vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free, inviting you to “snack as you are.”
Heart Soul Heat passionately makes small batch 100% American spicy hot honeys inspired by our candy making Mexican heritage. Drizzle it on raw veggies, grilled meats, pizza, chicken wings, fresh fruit, cornbread and even on ice cream.
Joe’y is the delicious coffee alternative with a fraction of the caffeine in coffee, a more sustained boost of energy, and more health benefits than you can count.
MABÏ is a modern & healthier take on this Caribbean classic. A combination of that nostalgic and refreshing flavor with other delightful and healthy spices and herbs that give a complex, special character and elevation to this drink. A bottle of MABÏ is filled with natural ingredients only that will make your body and spirit feel good.
Navina makes wine out of functional herbs and botanicals to create Herbal Wine, an age old tradition the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese and Romans practiced.
Phreshly produces Better-for-you handcrafted cocktails in a can.
POKS Spices is the American home cook to the West African holy trinity of spices; chili pepper, ginger and onion, via award-winning West African Seasonings.
Sankofa Snacks is a Mission-Driven brand, producing and sharing creative-authentic snacking experiences that celebrate global black food culture, while supporting and building sustainable local food systems.
SIPPIN SNAX Gourmet Bar Snacks is a woman-owned company specializing in gourmet beer, wine and party snacks based on flavor popping, authentic flavors. Made to accentuate, innovate and energize established styles of craft beer, wine and cocktails offering the consumer Authentic pairings for at-home or on-the-go enjoyment.
SYDPLAYEAT makes black truffle hot sauces and seasoning salts made with clean ingredients. SYDSAUCE is available in three heat levels and made with real black truffles and organic olive oil for a complex flavor. SYDSALT is a truffle explosion, packed with intense umami flavor and a hint of heat.
The Got Damn Sauce is a Boutique Sauce company started by Howard Alums who wanted to take the sauce world by storm. With so many flavor profiles we have been called the Bauce of All Sauces and we mean it! The Got Damn Sauce, the name says it all!
The Target Accelerators team is excited to help all of these brands accelerate their business over the next 8 weeks!
Have questions about our programs? Check out our FAQs for more information .
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In its sixth year, Target Takeoff is a product-focused accelerator program designed to help emerging brands deepen their mass-retail knowledge through Target mentorship and personalized curriculum for consumer-packaged brands.
On May 16th, the Target Takeoff Pets program kicks off for the second year in a row with brands carrying products in different aspects of the pets category from stylish accessories to the best tasting treats that can fit in your pocket. By the end of the page you’ll have all the tools and tech you need to keep your best fur-end happy and healthy!
The Target Takeoff program is a 100% virtual program will conclude after 5 weeks of mass retail curriculum as well as in-depth mentorship from Target leaders, industry experts and alumni.
The Target Accelerators team is excited to welcome and introduce the ten participating pet companies and the products they offer!
Awoo is a female-owned pet accessories brand that is modernizing everyday essentials to better serve pets, their people and the planet. Participants: Mallory MacDonald and Francine Evans, Co-Founders
House Dogge is a sustainability conscious lifestyle brand creating products that support the modern lifestyle necessities of dogs and their people in the home, outdoors, and travel.
Participant: Angela Medlin, CEO/Founder
KindTail reinvents pet living one design at a time. KindTail carries that approach into to every aspect of the company, as we continue to create pet products that merge functionality with innovating design, resulting in one-of-a-kind products designed with your pet in mind.
Participant: Amy Kim, CEO/Founder
Kittio is a cat-first brand that focuses on research and design to create toys that meaningfully reduce the amount of boredom experienced by cats.
Participant: Blake Burnau, Co-Founder
Mosaic is the number one pet industry leading brand for exotic proteins. Mosaic dog treats are hypoallergenic and are free of any common proteins. It’s an exotic brand that focuses on the overall wellness for pets that suffer from food sensitivities.
Participant: Jared Shlager, CEO
MySimplePetLab is a tech-enabled pet care company that offers simple, flexible & reliable pet testing.
Participants: Jen Hagness, CEO and Dennis Chmiel, Co-Founder/Chief Vet Officer.
PAWKET TREATS is a portable, coin-sized dog treats sold in a roll (think lifesavers, only for dogs). Our form-factor is an industry-first, our Treats are full of functional ingredients to support an active lifestyle, and our innovative Dispenser was the most-funded and most-backed “Dog Treat” project in the history of Kickstarter.
Participant: Mark Shenfield, CEO/Founder
PitPat are the experts taking the guesswork out of dog care. Their multidisciplinary team of vets, technologists and dog-lovers are dedicated to improving the lives of all dogs. The activity monitor, weighing bowl and dog food they offer help pet parents balance their dog’s exercise, weight and feeding.
Participants: Andrew Nowell, CEO and Fletch Cooper, Product Manager
At Treat Collective, they are passionate about helping pets live better, longer and happier lives and it all starts with the best ingredients and utilizing Superfoods to power your dog’s health!
Participants: Paul LaRose, CEO/Founder and Jordan Connell, CGO/Founder
Wilder Harrier provides healthy nourishment for pets while aiming to have a positive impact on our planet through the use of novel proteins—such as insects and seaweed—which have the potential to significantly reduce our industry’s carbon footprint and offer a beneficial alternative to traditional ingredients used in pet food.
Participants: Philippe Poirier, CEO and Dwayne Bradley-Tessier, Financial Planning & Analysis Manager
Check out our FAQs for more information on our program offerings.
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This is a one-time interview conducted by the Target Accelerators team. Participating companies have been asked to share details about themselves and their brand after completing the Target Forward Founders program.
An exclusive benefit of being a part of the Target Forward Founders programs is having access to the Retail Action Plan (RAP). This article will provide a deep dive on how the RAP guides founders towards retail readiness.
With the help of Target Forward Founders cohort 2 alumnus: Eric Adams, Isa Rosario, Lenora Ebule, and Lizz Rene, learn more about how these founders utilized their Retail Action Plan to help move them and their businesses forward.
Eric Adams, CEO/Founder of Dog & Whistle
Isa Rosario, CEO/Founder of Nurture from Nature
Lenora Ebule, CEO/Founder of Bailan Spice
Lizz Rene, CEO/Founder of PO’UP! Card game
TA: What is the quick description of your company?
Eric: Dog & Whistle makes quality food accessible to dog lovers in the community by helping food industry businesses redistribute high-quality excess food and covert it into human-grade dog meals and treats.
Isa: Nurture from Nature is a sugaring and skincare brand offering natural solutions to hair removal and after care.
Lenora: Bailan is a food experience company helping you explore a new world from your kitchen with delicious grandma-approved African seasonings made the traditional way – no salt, sugar, or additives. We provide the full flavor for a meal, so you save time, eat healthier, and enjoy the flavor journey.
Lizz: PO’ UP! Card Game is a nostalgic party game for unapologetically Black alumni & friends.
TA: How has the Retail Action Plan impacted your brand? How would you describe the influence it has made on your business plan?
Eric: The retail action plan has given me the ability to identify opportunities for the business and create a timeline to execute on actionable items. After the second week, I actually revised the business plan for the company with updated company initiatives, goals and objectives. Brand identification was also a big focus when I recreated this business plan.
Isa: The Retail Action Plan helped us get clear on actionable steps needed to move the business forward, prioritizing the most important pillars of retail success. The Retail Action Plan influenced our entire brand and business plan, helping us pivot and lean into the whitespace in our category.
Lenora: The Retail Action Plan (RAP) helped me think critically about my brand, identify our current state of operations and readiness for any retail, then think through what I needed to do next to bridge the gap in getting to my future state.
Lizz: The retail action plan was one of the primary reasons I applied to the Target Forward Founders program. As a solopreneur of an early-stage business, I knew I needed to map out what it would take to not only make it into a major retailer like Target one day but to 1) stand out on the shelves and 2) have longevity on the shelves.
The Target Forward Founders program made space for me to update my retail action plan every week. As a result – I was able to process weekly learnings from the cohort rather than waiting until the very end to review all my notes and make a plan.
Learn more about each of our alumnus by clicking on their logo below:
Learn more about the Target Forward Founders program HERE or sign up HERE to be notified about upcoming programs.
Interested in partnering with us? Sign up HERE.
This is a one-time interview conducted by the Target Accelerators team. Participating companies have been asked to share details about themselves and their brand after completing the Target Forward Founders program.
In this interview, we sat down with our Target Takeoff Food and Beverage alumnus to catch up, see how business has changed since being a part of the program and what their biggest takeaways from program were.
Click the below logos to learn a little bit more about each participating brand.
This is a one-time interview conducted by the Target Accelerators team. Participating companies have been asked to share details about themselves and their brand after completing the Target Forward Founders program.
The Target Accelerators programs are focused on helping entrepreneurs on their journey to retail with a mission to engage startups through dedicated programs to provide meaningful values and capabilities to Target. Six months after the inaugural class of Target Forward Founders, Caleb Wang from The Xiao Chi Jie and Samantha Allonce from Hot N Saucy share how the Target Forward Founders program has helped their businesses move forward.
The XCJ Co-Founders, Caleb Wang and Jennifer Liao
TA: Target Forward Founders is focused on helping entrepreneurs better understand mass retail and what it takes to get there. From the 8 weeks of the program, what have you applied to your company that you learned from the program? How has that helped you?
Caleb: [The] Target accelerator [program] greatly accelerated our thinking around wholesale, how to approach, differentiate, and make sure our business is retail ready.
Hot N Saucy Founder, Samantha Allonce
Samantha: My Forward Founders cohort [experience] left me with so takeaways that have truly helped to propel my business forward. I feel as though I have mastered my pitch, I created a retail action plan which now serves as a roadmap to how I run my business currently and learning the true reality of fundraising and where I need to be before getting to that step.
What is a Retail Action Plan? The Retail Action Plan (RAP) is a playbook built week by week throughout the program to help participants plan their approach to mass retail. The RAP is only available through the Target Forward Founders program.
TA: Throughout the program you were able to meet over 40+ speakers and mentors from both inside of Target but also subject matter experts across the country. How have you leveraged the program network, whether other cohort member, speakers, mentors, since you’ve finished the program?
The XCJ dumplings in steamer baskets
Caleb: Our Founder in Residence, Denise Woodward, [Target Forward Founder – Founder in Residence, Founder of Partake Foods] was super helpful as we were going through the fundraising process and building out our FP&A team.
Samantha: The program introduced me to a company that I am now using, who has cleaned up my books and really given me a clear picture of my business. My pitch went from tragic and unfocused to sharp and concise and I have currently applied to several pitch competitions and lastly, my retail action plans served as a roadmap for my business currently and shows me where I need to be focusing.
TA: Since the program has finished. What has your company been up to? Especially after placing 2nd and 3rd in the Lightship Capital Twitch Pitch event last year?
Caleb: [We’ve] launched our limited-edition Pork & Blue Crab xiao long bao flavor for Lunar New Year, which resulted in our most successful day of sales to date! [We also] received great feedback for our products from press, including bon appetit and Food Network. And being able to tell our story on Good Morning America!
Hot N Saucy sauce line up
Samantha: Right now, we just got our hot sauces into Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Home Goods. We are still aiming to hit large-scale retailers in the next year or so. We have had current press on at Kitchen and Women’s Health have had increased sales in the past 3 months.
Learn more about the Target Forward Founders program HERE or sign up HERE to be notified about upcoming programs.
Interested in partnering with us? Sign up HERE.
About the Companies:
Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ) is on a mission to build this generations modern Chinese food brand, with a deep focus on honest representation, accessibility, and education. The Seattle-based D2C company was launched during COVID – delivering batches of their frozen xiao long bao (soup dumplings), so local customers could stock up and enjoy them at home. Demand for the dumplings quickly skyrocketed and inquiries about shipping out of state started flowing in, at which point co-founders Jen Liao & Caleb Wang realized this could translate into a nationwide business. Now, XCJ offers direct-to-consumer delivery of a full restaurant-quality experience – soup dumplings, sauces, and bamboo steamers – to all 50 states, and has shipped over four million dumplings to homes across the country, to date. As the company continues to grow, they plan to introduce new products (such as dan dan noodles) and be the go-to brand for regional Chinese specialties.
Hot N Saucy officially launched in August 2020 but the groundwork was laid for it, years prior in NYC restaurants when I would make iterations of my hot sauces to add to menus. In March of 2020 when NYC shut down, and everything came to a screeching halt, I had to stop work, and subsequently found out my husband and I were expecting our first child. As time went on and my belly grew, I tried almost every hot sauce on the market to satisfy my cravings and none of them had both the heat and flavor that I was searching for. It was then that a lightbulb went off and I decided to put my hot sauces out there. I would bring not only the heat, but bold and unique flavors to the hot sauce market. I spent the rest of the year perfecting the recipes and packaging and by August 2020 we were ready to go. Not only was the brand born but also was my son.
Hungry to grow your brand into retail and Target? Read more into how the Target Takeoff Food & Beverage program can show you the ropes.
In order to be eligible to participate in the Target, it’s important to understand these important requirements:
- Your company sells products that are one of the following categories: bakery, bar or drink mixers, beverages, candy, dairy, dry foods/pantry, fresh/produce, frozen, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, snacks, and other.
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- Please note: alcoholic beverages or CBD based products will not be considered for program participation.
- If you don’t see your category listed, please email us at accelerators@target.com
- Must have an LLC, C-Corp, B-Corp, S-Corp or other registered entity.
(note: Target Accelerators does not accept sole-proprietorships.) - Must be 18 years or older.
- Must currently have a physical product that is currently available to sell.
- Products demonstrate solving for a unique problem or addressing an underrepresented consumer by having existing traction in the market proven by social media engagement, revenue growth, growing customer base
- Must be available for all five weeks of program
- Cannot be a current or prior vendor with Target
For more details about the Takeoff program, please visit the program page.
Want to learn the best ways to submit your application and if Takeoff is the right program for you? Register for our upcoming events hosted by our team.
Takeoff Food & Beverage Informational Webinar & Application Tips & Tricks
Learn more as the Accelerators team takes a deep dive into the Takeoff Food & Beverage program.. In addition, the team will share tips and tricks for how to have your application standout.
Target Takeoff Food & Beverage – Ask Me Anything Webinar
Listen into the Target Takeoff Food & Beverage program team answer questions about the program or application.
Not sure if you’re a fit? Read about some of our Takeoff Food & Beverage ’21 Alumni stories on why and how they started!
In its sixth year, Target Takeoff is a product-focused accelerator program designed to help emerging brands deepen their mass-retail knowledge through Target mentorship and personalized curriculum for consumer-packaged brands.
On March 7, the Target Takeoff Beauty program kicks off for the third year in a row with brands carrying products in different aspects of the beauty category from toothpaste tabs to hair care and even hair removal; you’ll end this article with your new beauty besties.
The Target Takeoff program is a 100% virtual program will conclude after 5 weeks of mass retail curriculum as well as in-depth mentorship from Target leaders, industry experts and alumni.
The Target Accelerators team is excited to welcome these beauty brands to its first cohort of the year. Meet and learn more about the ten participating companies and the products they offer!
4MAS Grooming Inc. is an online retail store that sells our branded beauty and barber supplies, tools, and equipment. They are well known for their patented product named CutBrush, a motorized clipper and brush combined all into one.
Participants: Marrico Simpson and Shash Ann Simpson
Benny Hancock For Men is a Premium men’s grooming brand designed and developed by a Pro Makeup artist who has developed a range of multi-purpose, high tech yet lightweight products, with a purpose to take men’s grooming to the next level to give men a choice.
Participants: Kelly Hunter and Benny Hancock
Gemini Naturals is a hair care brand that offers a safe temporary hair color solution so that women can avoid the long- lasting, negative effects of traditional hair dye and still feel like their best selves.
Participant: Lianne Dobson
Huppy is on a mission to prove that smiles are better off without plastic and toxic ingredients. It starts with a personal care revolution and it only gets better from there.
Participant : David Phan
Jupiter is a full-spectrum of elevated scalp care essentials – with purpose.
Participants: Alexa Adler and Robert Salter
Nopalera are Mexican botanicals for bath & body. They take their inspiration from the Nopal for its versatility, resilience, and cultural symbolism.
Participants: Sandra Velasquez
Sugardoh is a relaxed body hair care company on a mission to make compostable sugaring paste your favorite at-home hair removal method.
Participants: Aliyah Steiner
Founded by four professional female athletes who were sick of compromising, they wanted great cosmetics that were kind to your skin, protected you from the sun, and could last through intense workouts and demanding lifestyles. Sweat Cosmetics is the only athleisure beauty brand creating high performance, foundational products at an accessible price point, keeping beauty routines simple so women can focus on their daily hustle.
Participants: Courtney Jones and Taryn Hemmings
meet TINGE: the body beauty brand reimagining beauty inclusive of the body.
Participant: Kourtney Brooks
Vamigas is an ethically sourced, clean, fragrance-free, and affordable beauty brand, created from Latin American botanicals that have been used for centuries by people from Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Perú, Argentina & more. Their mission is to create a space for Latinas in clean beauty and wellness and educate everyone about the cultural context and power of Latin American botanicals.
Participants: Ann Dunning and Christina Kelmon
Ready to take your business to the next level with this virtual, eight-week program for early-stage product companies looking to better understand retail? The Target Accelerators team is now ACCEPTING applications for the Target Forward Founders until 11:59PM CT on March 21. Through this program you’ll get connected to industry-disrupting founders, Target team members, and other cohort members while gaining access to industry-leading retail resources and partnerships.
Before applying, here are some important requirements and categories for Target Forward Founders participants to consider:
- Must have an LLC, C-Corp, B-Corp or other registered entity
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must currently be selling a physical product
- Must be considered as one of the following categories:
- Baby and Toddler: Bath and Potty, Car Seats, Clothing, Gear and Activities, Health and Safety, Nursery, Nursing and Feeding, Shoes, Strollers, Toys
- Beauty and Personal Care: Bath and Body, Cotton Balls, Deodorant and Antiperspirant, Eye Care, Feminine Products, Foot Care, Fragrances, Hair Accessories, Hair Care, Hair Color, Hair Removal and Shave, Hand Soap and Sanitizer, Hair Tools, Incontinence, Makeup, Men’s Grooming, Nails, Oral Care, Personal Care, Skin Care, Spa and Massage, Sun Care and Tanning, Other, Tools
- Entertainment: Board Games, Books, Electronics, Movies, Music, Sports and Outdoors, Toys, Travel, Video Games
- Food and Beverage: Adult Beverages, Bakery, Beverages, Candy, Dairy, Dry/Pantry, Fresh/Produce, Frozen, Meat Alternatives, Seafood, Snacks
- Home: Arts, Crafts, and Sewing, Bath, Bedding, Candles, Furniture, Heating, Cooling, and Air Quality, Home Appliances, Home Decor, Kids’ Home, Kitchen and Dining, Mattresses, Other, Rugs, Smart Home, Storage and Organization, Throw Pillows, Vacuums and Floor Cleaning, Window Treatments
- Household Essentials: Air Fresheners, Cleaning Supplies, Dish Detergents, Food Storage Bags and Containers, Hand Soap and Sanitizers, Insect and Pest Control, Laundry Care, Paper and Plastic Products, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Trash Bags
- Pets: Beds and Furniture, Food, Supplies, Technology, Toys, Healthcare
- Other: don’t see your category listed. Email us at accelerators@target.com to see if your company is eligible
- Note our team will not be accepting applications for the following categories: Apparel and Accessories, CDs, DVDs, and books.
For more information on the Target Forward Founders program, visit the program page.
Not sure if you want to apply? Register for one of our webinars below to learn directly from our team.
Forward Founders Informational Webinar & Application Tips & Tricks
March 3, 2022 at 12:00pm CST | Watch the recording here
Target Forward Founders – Ask Me Anything Webinar
March 14, 2022 at 4:00PM CST | Watch the recording here
Click each image to read about the alumni in the cohorts we have hosted:
Visit our application guide for the best tips to stand out when you apply.
Applying for any accelerator program can be nerve-wracking, especially if it is your first time. We want you to put your best foot forward! Mastering the art of submitting an accurate, thorough, and compelling application is often overlooked by applicants; it’s your first impression for the program team!
That’s why our team has rounded up tips and key definitions to help you submit a successful application.
Tip #1: Make sure your company meets the program qualifications.
Not sure about which program fits your brand best? Be sure to review the qualifications of each program carefully before deciding which to apply for. Take a step back and think: Does your company fit the industry or product category the program requires? Can you participate fully in the program? Can you clearly communicate what value you are hoping to get out of the program? Does your product fit into any of the categories below?
- Apparel and Accessories: Jewelry, Kids Clothing, Men Clothing, Shoes, Teens Clothing, Women Clothing, Other Accessories
- Baby and Toddler: Bath and Potty, Car Seats, Clothing, Diapers, Gear and Activities, Health and Safety, Nursery, Nursing and Feeding, Shoes, Strollers, Toys, Other
- Beauty and Personal Care: Bath and Body, Cotton Balls, Pads and Swabs, Deodorant and Antiperspirant, Eye Care, Feminine Products, Foot Care, Fragrances, Hair Accessories, Hair Care, Hair Color, Hair Removal and Shave, Hand Soap and Sanitizer, Hair Tools, Incontinence, Makeup, Men’s Grooming, Nails, Oral Care, Personal Care, Skin Care, Spa and Massage, Sun Care and Tanning, Tools, Other
- Entertainment: Board Games, Books, Electronics, Movies, Music, Sports and Outdoors, Toys, Travel, Video Games, Other
- Food and Beverage: Adult Beverages, Bakery, Beverages, Candy, Dairy, Dry/Pantry, Fresh/Produce, Frozen, Meat, Meat Alternatives, Seafood, Bar or Drink Mixers, Snacks, Other
- Home: Arts, Crafts, and Sewing, Bath, Bedding, Candles, Furniture, Heating, Cooling, and Air Quality, Home Appliances, Home Decor, Kids’ Home, Kitchen and Dining, Mattresses, Office Stationary, Rugs, Smart Home, Storage and Organization, Throw Pillows, Vacuums and Floor Cleaning, Window Treatments, Other
- Household Essentials: Air Fresheners, Cleaning Supplies, Dish Detergents, Food Storage Bags and Containers, Hand Soap and Sanitizers, Insect and Pest Control, Laundry Care, Paper and Plastic Products, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Trash Bags, Other
- Pets: Beds and Furniture, Food/Treats, Supplies, Technology, Toys, Healthcare/Supplements, Other
- Other: don’t see your category listed. Email us at accelerators@target.com to see if your company is eligible
If the answer to any of these is no, then you might not be ready. Visit our Programs page to learn more about each of the Target Accelerators programs, other criteria, and important upcoming dates.
Tip #2: Be clear about your company and product.
Our team uses the responses in your application to determine if your company aligns with our program offerings and objectives. Be clear in your company’s purpose, the problem you address, and the solution your products provide. Also, it is tempting to select many or all options on questions asking about your business, but that can be a disadvantage based on the program criteria. We are not looking for “perfect” answers but honest answers to ensure a great experience. If you’re not sure what a question is asking, check out commonly used retail language below.
Tip #3: Proofread your application!
The review panel can only judge your application by what you include in it so it is important to make sure that what you are trying to communicate clearly comes through in your application before you hit the submit button:
- Ensure all links you provide actually work! This includes everything from your website, Instagram handle, etc.
- For the essay questions, ensure that you are completely answering the question that is asked and that your answer is thorough and you have double-checked your spelling. If you are providing one-word responses, you may want to go back and add more context.
- Have a friend, partner, or family member read through your application to see if someone that is not as close to the work understands what you are trying to communicate.
Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Take advantage of any opportunity to raise a question to the program you are applying for if you are ever unsure about what they are looking for – whether that be attending an informational webinar, office hours or even reaching out directly to a program contact. You don’t want to count yourself out of an opportunity just because you didn’t ask for help or clarity!
Check out our Happenings for the latest webinars or contact us.
Tip #5: Learn the jargon!
In your application, you may run into jargon or questions you are unfamiliar with. Searching, learning, and asking about these terms or phrases will be your best bet before turning in your application. Check out some common retail-specific terms below:
A
Accelerators: Accelerator programs are programs of limited duration that help cohorts of startups on their entrepreneurial journey. They provide a schedule of workshops, mentorship and connections with investors and business partners. They aim to advance businesses to the next stage. Typically, there is an investment of time for attending sessions, networking and completing pre-work.
Annual Revenue: Your annual revenue is the amount of money your company earns from sales over a year; it does not include costs and expenses. To calculate your annual revenue, multiply the quantity of each product you sold by its sale price, and then add each product’s annual sales to determine your gross annual revenue. Source
B
B Corp: A benefit corporation, sometimes called a B Corp, is a for-profit corporation recognized by a majority of U.S. states. B corps are different from C corps in purpose, accountability, and transparency, but aren’t different in how they’re taxed. B corps are driven by both mission and profit. Shareholders hold the company accountable to produce some sort of public benefit in addition to a financial profit. Some states require B corps to submit annual benefit reports that demonstrate their contribution to the public good. Source
Knowing how your business is registered is important, as the Target Accelerators programs can only work with individually owned businesses.
Boutique: A small shop or small specialty department within a larger store.
Brick & Mortar: The term “brick-and-mortar” refers to a traditional street-side business that offers products and services to its customers face-to-face in an office or store that the business owns or rents. Examples include Target stores, boutique stores, and local grocers. Source
Broker: A sales agency or company that sells a manufacturer’s products and/or acts as an intermediary to wholesale/mass retail customers.
C
C Corp: A C corporation, sometimes called a C Corp, is a legal entity that’s separate from its owners. Corporations can make a profit, be taxed, and can be held legally liable. Source
Knowing how your business is registered is important, as the Target Accelerators programs can only work with individually owned businesses.
Certifications: A business certification is an official document that eligible enterprises can apply for. Types of small business certifications include, but are not limited to: 8(a) Small Business Certifications, HUBZone Business Certification, Women-Owned Businesses Certifications, Minority-Owned Businesses Certification. You can read more about these certifications and how to apply for them here.
Channel: A channel is described as any location where your product is available for a consumer to purchase. i.e. eCommerce sites; brick & mortar stores; specialty boutiques
Competitors: Your competitor is another company selling similar products with similar goals of achieving revenue, profit, and market share growth. There are different kinds of competitors in your market and it is important to know who they are.
Direct Competitors are businesses offering similar products and services
Indirect Competitors are businesses that offer slightly different products and services, but target the same group of customers with the goal of satisfying the same need.
Pro Tip: Even if you think you don’t have direct competition, think about indirect competitors. Even the biggest brands have competitors.
Co-Ops: A cooperative (co-op) is a business or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of its members. Profits or earnings are distributed among its members. The co-op can be a for-profit business or a non-profit organization. Source
D
Direct to Consumer (D2C/DTC): Direct to consumer (DTC) means that you send products directly to your consumer.
Drop Ship: Drop shipping is a fulfillment method where a store doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, the store purchases the item from a third-party supplier and has it shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller doesn’t have to handle the product directly. Source
Our team would like to know about your fulfillment capabilities to better understand your brand’s scope and ability to fulfill mass retail needs.
Drugstores: Drugstores specialize in beauty and personal goods, household essentials, medical supplies, and over-the-counter products. Some examples of drugstores include CVS Pharmacy, Longs Drugs, Meijer, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.
E
eCommerce: The term electronic commerce (ecommerce) refers to a business model that allows companies and individuals to buy and sell goods and services over the Internet.
EDI: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of business in a standard electronic format between business partners. EDI documents can flow straight through to the appropriate application on the receiver’s computer (e.g. the order management system) and processing can begin immediately. Sometimes your fulfillment center/3PL has the capability. Source
Our team would like to know about your fulfillment capabilities to better understand your brand’s scope and ability to fulfill mass retail needs.
Employee: anyone who performs services for you is your employee if you can control what will be done and how it will be done. This is so even when you give the employee freedom of action. What matters is that you have the right to control the details of how the services are performed.
Our team does not consider independent contractors or vendors as employees of your business; i.e. your accountant, mentors, or rep groups would not be considered employees.
G
Grocers: Grocers or grocery stores are the bridge between specialized natural enhanced retailers where natural brands often begin and larger, conventional retailers. Some examples of grocers are Albertsons, Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Lucky Supermarkets, Raleys, and Wegmens.
I
Independents: A business that is not inextricably associated with another business through common ownership, affiliation, sharing of employees, facilities, equipment, profits and losses.
L
Lifetime Revenue: Lifetime Revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services related to the company’s primary operations recognized over the historic business lifespan.
Limited Liability Company (LLC): An LLC lets you take advantage of the benefits of both the corporation and partnership business structures. LLCs protect you from personal liability in most instances, your personal assets — like your vehicle, house, and savings accounts — won’t be at risk in case your LLC faces bankruptcy or lawsuits. Not an LLC? Visit this link on how you can set your business up as an LLC.
Knowing how your business is registered is important, as the Target Accelerators programs can only work with individually owned businesses.
Line Review: A product line review (PLR) works as a validation process for retailers to confirm that their merchandising plan is in line with the overall goals of the organization. Source
This does not include any casual or small conversations you’ve had with buyers.
M
Manufacturing Capabilities: Each of our programs have different manufacturing criteria. Below are the three options that are on our program applications.
- You or an employee make the products yourself
- You own and utilize your own manufacturing equipment
- You work with a co-manufacturer
It is important for our team to understand how you manufacture your products
P
Price Point: The price point describes the price for which something is sold on the retail market.
R
Revenue: Revenue is the money generated from normal business operations, calculated as the average sales price times the number of units sold. It is the top line (or gross income) figure from which costs are subtracted to determine net income. Revenue is also known as sales on the income statement. Source
Pro Tip: Revenue includes all money that has been made from selling your product and helps our review team ensure that you are making money.
S
SKU: A stock keeping unit (SKU) is a distinct type of item for sale.
Social Media: Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities. By design, social media is Internet-based and gives users quick electronic communication of content. Content includes personal information, documents, videos, and photos. Users engage with social media via a computer, tablet, or smartphone via web-based software or applications. Some examples of social media are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Source
Sustainability Claims: A delineation used to set apart and promote a product with reference to one or more of the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental). Source
V
Vendor Rep Group: A sales agency or company that sells a manufacturer’s products and/or acts as an intermediary to wholesale/mass retail customers.
Knowing this helps our review team understand the stage your business is at and if the program you’ve applied to is beneficial for you.
W
Website: also referred to as “site,” is your own personal domain on the internet where you sell your products. Websites have endings that include but are not limited to “.com”, “.co”, “.in”,”.net”, and etc. Please note, your instagram or facebook page are NOT considered websites but forms of social media
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3PL: 3PL, or third-party logistics company, provides services to help with supply chain capabilities. 3s. Source
Our team would like to know about your fulfillment capabilities to better understand your brand’s scope and ability to fulfill mass retail needs.
Have lingering questions about our programs? Reach out to us by e-mailing us at accelerators@target.com.
The Target Accelerators team is excited to announce the second Target Forward Founders cohort. This program is built to equip historically under resourced founders to become the next wave of generational wealth building companies, by utilizing Target’s privilege and scale to democratize access, education and resources.
On Jan 25, the program will launch for the second with a cohort of brands representing multiple product categories: personal care & beauty, food & beverage, entertainment, home and baby. The Target Accelerators team is excited to welcome this group of unique brands. Meet the pack!
Look Good, Live Well: Look Good Live Well is a body positive space for individuals to celebrate our innate healing capabilities, and yes … the occasional breakout. The result – healthy, happy, skin!
Luxurious Peace: Luxurious Peace is an inclusively designed ecofriendly wellness brand created to elevate and celebrate people with skin issues and disorders through the use of clean beauty and plant based products.
Mirage Waterless: Mirage is a waterless beauty company on a mission to create innovative, water-activated beauty products designed to add a little brightness to your routine while being kind to the planet.
Nurture from Nature: Nurture from Nature is an all natural sugaring, skin + body care brand catering to every part of personal care with gentle and effective ingredients!
People of Substance: We are a clean and tattoo-friendly skincare brand on a mission to highlight people’s unique substance.
Ralphie and Alice: Gender-free, affordable, personal care aimed at re-envisioning consumer consciousness and confidence.
Brief Transitions: Brief Transitions provides seamless, stretchy, breathable mesh underwear for women after childbirth because every mom deserves to have the products and support they need for postpartum recovery.
Create and Crescent: Creating American traditions for the Muslim household during the holidays.
Desert Moonlight: Beautiful handmade cement candles unique to the senses and purposefully made with your daily rituals in mind.
Dog & Whistle: Dog & Whistle produces upcycled dog treats and meals.
kisskiss goodnight: Kiss Kiss Goodnight is on a mission to help little ones with sensitive skin develop healthy, resilient skin with our microbiome-friendly skincare.
North 24th Home: Safe, non-toxic, cleaning products that capture the nostalgia and joy of Saturday morning cleaning.
Splattmat Just for Kids: We are an Arts & crafts company a Childhood Development resource and honestly a Parent Resource and an additional tool that just about every parent with a child of almost any age can utilize.
Tend: Tend is the world’s first and only prenatal bar, packing every pregnancy-essential nutrient into one convenient, tasty treat made 100% from real foods.
Bailan Spice: Bailan is a food experience company that helps home chefs create beautiful memories with delicious food by offering very tasty all-natural African seasonings with no salt, no sugar, or additives, paired with stories from the African continent.
Bollygood: Bollygood creates Indian-inspiried sparkling beverages that trasnport your tastebuds to India.
Emmpeccably Seasoned: Founded in 2019 Emmpeccably Seasoned is here to change the cooking game with delicious flavor and attitude. I created Emmpeccably Seasoned to empower home cooks to channel their inner Gordon Ramsey, with reliable flavor, quality, and a touch of fun. Which is what cooking should be!
Famous Falafel Dough: Ready to bake or fry falafel that’s vegan, gluten-free and delicious!
Jakera & Co: An artisanal collection of wholesome oat & nut spreads inspired by fresh baked cookies.
Josefa: Josefa is the new dulce de leche! A Mexican goat’s milk caramel commonly known as cajeta that is perfectly balanced and sweet. Josefa is crafted in Mexico with all-natural ingredients and in small batches inspired by our family’s 90-year old recipe. Latina-woman founded, Josefa is a celebration of Mexico’s heritage, sweet flavors, and joy of life.
JPs Que: JPs Que was founded from our passion for food and flavor. We’ve taken our time to create products we would use and we are proud of. Every formula has ingredients that are hand picked and have meaning. Our goal as a brand is to provide consumers with products that have bold and delicious flavors to enhance every cooking occasion.
Le MONADE: Le MONADE, a Baltimore based beverage boutique; crafting up ambrosial artisanal drink mixers, the quintessential collection to mix up amazing herbaceous, perfectly blended DIY beverages, cocktails and more.
Let’s Plate!: Let’s Plate! provides plant-based, ready-to-eat DIY combination lunch meals to young school age children, fulfilling busy millennial parents’ increasing need for healthy, convenient lunch options for their children.
Mahtzee: Mahtzee creates chocolate matzah toffee, a traditional Jewish dessert and snack comprised of layers of matzah, non-sticky toffee, chocolate, and various toppings.
New Breed: We’re a New Breed of company who believe in the power of healthy food and education to change outcomes and opportunities.
True Scoops: True Scoops makes shelf stable ice cream and topping mixes. The best part is no ice cream maker is required. Just add half & half, whisk, churn or blend and freeze. Its that simple!!!
ELO: Promoting mental well-being for the next generation through providing parents and caregivers the resources to raise resilient and kind minds.
The Lab Drawer: The Lab Drawer™ infuses art and creativity into every experiment, allowing students to develop creative problem solving skills while becoming educated in STEM fields.
Mash Up: Mash Up is your next favorite party card brand! Mash Up takes classic playing card games and “mashes them up” with more card games and new party elements to create a whole new party card game experience.
PO’UP!: PO’ UP! Card Game is the first Black collegiate drinking card game that will give you nostalgia and make you PO’ UP (i.e. drink)!
Want to learn more about the program? Visit the program page for all the Target Forward Founders details or contact us for more information.