Three chefs, James Wong, Katherine Campecino-Wong, and Clement Hsu, met in their early career working in fine-dining restaurants across San Francisco. After reconnecting and deciding to pool their culinary skills, the trio opened up a bakery in San Francisco’s Richmond district called Breadbelly — bringing the Bay Area innovative and tasty foods inspired by their travels across Asia and their heritage as Chinese and Filipino Americans. 

Clement participated in ICA’s 2024 Accelerator program to help him and his team prioritize strategic growth. If you’re considering the ICA Fund Accelerator, read Clement’s full testimonial about his experience below.

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Why I joined ICA

“My team and I were in the early stages of planning our new production facility and second retail store, so I knew the biggest tasks at hand were strategizing our long-term goals and drawing the financial roadmap that would guide us to reach them. But tackling the daily operations of the store while prioritizing the strategic growth of the company was a pain point — growing Breadbelly felt like an overwhelming undertaking in unfamiliar territory. I was motivated to join the ICA Fund Accelerator to jump start this process and to learn from other founders and business operators how they scale and expand.”

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My biggest takeaway from the Accelerator

“The phrase "work on the business, not in the business" feels like an old, cliched expression now ... but it's a good one. At orientation and throughout the program, this phrase was a gentle reminder to do the work that needs to be done on the business. I've learned that it takes a lot of practice and intention to put these words into action. The reality is, a fundamental part of joining the ICA Fund is the commitment to doing just that: taking the time to attend a seminar on cash flow, participating in a capital strategy roundtable, talking with an advisor about unit economics... doing the work on the business. Saying it out loud still helps to dial in my to-do list.”

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Why ICA is worth it

“Through ICA Fund, I've gained access to business management tools, financial coaching, and a network of peers and program alumni to learn from and to share my experience. The program changed how the Breadbelly leadership team and I define long-term growth. I am better equipped to align Breadbelly's vision with its financial goals in order to create wealth for our employees and ourselves.”

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You can continue following Clement’s entrepreneurial journey by visiting the Breadbelly cafe, website, and giving them a follow on Instagram. Breadbelly’s manufacturing/production kitchen and second retail store are slated to open Spring 2025!

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‍About the ICA Accelerator

ICA Fund’s 12-week accelerator program will make you a more confident entrepreneur with a clear plan for growth and the tools — and community — to reach your goals. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, we want to help. Applications for the 2025 Accelerator are open until February 16th.

Graduates of the Accelerator will be eligible to apply for ICA’s founder-friendly impact capital ($25K–$1M) when your business is ready. Capital is not immediate or guaranteed.