Food Foundry Sessions
The Sierra Commons Food Foundry Sessions is an exciting new program that connects food industry experts and business owners to our Food Entrepreneur Accelerator students and community. These interviews, hosted by Mani Niall, Sierra Commons Lead Food Instructor, will premiere on YouTube and include a live Q&A chat with the speakers as available. Join us on YouTube to get notified of new video premieres and updates.
Upcoming Presentations
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 2:00 PM PST
Charlie Ayers - Former Google and Grateful Dead Chef Joins the Food Foundry Sessions
Celebrity chef Charlie Ayers joins the Food Foundry Sessions in this lively discussion of his career and culinary entrepreneurship through the years. Ayers is best known as the founding executive chef at Google, where he won a cook-off judged by the company's original 40 employees and built a culinary operation that grew to serve 4,000 meals daily across 10 campus cafes. Before Silicon Valley, he served as the Grateful Dead's personal chef throughout the 1980s.
Past Presentations
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - 2:00 PM PST
Journey of Women Entrepreneurs - A Panel Discussion
Join us for a panel discussion with 3 dynamic women food entrepreneurs in our latest food foundry session interview. We are joined by Tara Sanders, Owner and Founder - Dále Vino, Michelle Pusateri, Founder - Nana Joes Granola, and Hannah Perry, Owner and Founder - Floof Cotton Candy.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - 2:00 PM PST
The Food Science R&D Process
Rachel Zemser - Ala Carte Connections
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 2:00 PM PST
Understanding Non-Traditional Lenders
Miguel Barreras, an SBDC Financial Advisor, joins us to discuss how to navigate small business loans of $5K - $100K. Specializing in micro-loans for start-up and early stage entrepreneurs.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - 2:00 PM PST
Food Trends 101 - How Food Trends Impact Product Innovation
Kara Nielsen - Trendologist & Sweets Professor
Kara is an expert in food and beverage trends and the consumer values that drive trend growth and adoption. For nearly twenty years, she has translated trends for strategic brand growth and product development for food manufacturers, foodservice operators and other firms.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 2 pm PST
Insights from Numi Tea's Branding Journey - Reem Hassani
Reem Hassani - CBO and Co-Founder of Numi Tea
Food Packaging that resonates. From nutrition to aesthetics, allergens and claims, UPC and design. The package is the path to your consumer's mind, heart, and taste buds.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Getting your Business Online and Sales Ready
Ed Troxell - Strategic Marketing Advisor
Find Ed at: https://edtroxell.com/
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Creative Cost Controls- Bookkeeping for a small food business
Tim Yamauchi - Business Development Expert