Santander Cultivate Small Business Program
This grant is provided by Santander Bank
Grant Amount
$2.5K – $20KOpen date
Grant Frequency
Biannually
About This Grant
Santander’s Cultivate Small Business is a free, 12-week virtual program designed for early-stage food entrepreneurs, with a focus on historically underserved founders in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Often described as a “mini-MBA,” the program provides a food-focused curriculum, mentorship, and capital grants. All entrepreneurs who successfully complete the program receive a $2,500 grant, and top participants are eligible for up to $20,000 in unrestricted capital grants.
The program runs in recurring cohorts — Fall (September–December) and Spring (March–June) — with separate application windows for each. The Fall 2026 application deadline is July 21, 2026. Program partners include the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and Babson College. Contact CultivateSmallBusiness@Santander.us with questions about eligibility or deadlines.
How You Can Use the Funds
- Unrestricted capital grants to support and sustain food businesses
Documents Required
- Business information and application (submitted through program application process)
Eligibility Requirements
- Must operate a food-related business (e.g., restaurant, food truck, catering, manufacturing, processing, technology, or food services)
- Business located in the United States, ideally in a low- to moderate-income area (parts of CA may be ineligible — Inland Empire/SoCal OK)
- In operation for at least one year at time of application
- Between 1 and 10 full-time equivalent employees (including the owner)
- Annual revenues between $25,000 and $1,000,000 in the most recent calendar year