Mentee applications for the 2026 cohort are now open!
Retail Launch Lab is Naturally Colorado’s premier founder development program built to support early-stage consumer packaged goods (CPG) businesses as they navigate growth, retail readiness, operations, sales strategy, branding, and industry connections.
This cohort-based experience blends practical education with mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities to help founders avoid common mistakes, gain industry confidence, and accelerate their growth journey.
Participants graduate with retail readiness tools, actionable business strategies, industry relationships, founder confidence, peer community support, and a Naturally Colorado program certification.
Duration: 4-Month Cohort Experience
Time Commitment: This program is designed for founders who are committed to growing their business and preparing for success in retail channels.
Program Schedule:
Retail Launch Lab is designed for:
Retail Launch Lab is not designed for:
Kate Labrosse brings extensive experience supporting emerging consumer brands through growth strategy, retail readiness, operations, and founder development. As Program Lead, Kate guides participants through a collaborative and practical learning experience designed to help founders strengthen their businesses while building meaningful industry relationships. Her approach combines strategic insight with founder empathy — helping entrepreneurs navigate the realities of scaling a CPG brand with confidence and clarity.
The Retail Launch Lab Mentorship Program delivers more than $3,000 in value and is available to participants for just $450.
The program includes full access to the Retail Launch Lab CPG Academy curriculum, participation in a founder cohort, personalized coaching sessions with experienced CPG experts, peer learning, industry tours, and direct access to mentors and industry leaders. This heavily subsidized investment is designed to help emerging brands accelerate their path to retail readiness and growth.
This investment helps ensure founder commitment and engagement while providing access to expert-led curriculum, mentor guidance, industry tours, founder community support, practical tools and templates, and graduation recognition and certification
We’re building a bench of experienced operators who are willing to share their expertise with early-stage founders across our community.
As a mentor/coach, you’ll offer targeted, 30-minute or one-hour sessions to founders navigating real-time challenges—whether in marketing, sales, finance, operations, or beyond. We ask that you clearly define your areas of focus so founders can connect with the right guidance at the right moment.
This is a flexible, high-impact way to give back, strengthen our ecosystem, and help the next generation of Colorado CPG brands grow with clarity and confidence.
Participation as a mentor/coach/advisor is only open to Naturally Colorado members.
Retail Launch Lab exists because of partners committed to strengthening Colorado’s natural products ecosystem. Sponsors help provide founders with education, mentorship, industry access, and meaningful opportunities to grow sustainable businesses. Thank you to our current sponsors, KeHE and Bechamel CPG!
Approximately four months.
The program includes both virtual sessions and select in-person experiences.
Yes. Participants receive a Retail Launch Lab graduation certificate upon completion.
Colorado-based early-stage CPG businesses in food, beverage, wellness, and natural products.
No. This program is designed specifically for founders and businesses.
To join this cohort we request that you are in-market selling: farmers market, retail brick and mortar or e-commerce.