About Us
About Steam Hospitality
Steam Hospitality is a business services provider and a virtual business incubator for underrepresented founders in the food and hospitality industries. We started Steam Hospitality because we, as underrepresented founders, didn’t feel like we had access to the same network and resources available to other founders. After all, women and minority-led startups make up only a small and disproportionate percentage of new businesses that receive funding, networking, and support.
We felt alone and frustrated by how difficult it was to get access to support and opportunities in the highly competitive food and hospitality industries.
Despite these challenges, we were able to create our own support network and successfully exit our first business. After the successful sale, we decided to create Steam Hospitality to connect underrepresented founders with the right resources, funding, and to build a support network of highly motivated entrepreneurs who can count on each other. Steam Hospitality’s support network is the key to helping food and hospitality founders launch highly successful businesses, and you can tap into this network by joining our incubator programs or hiring us for your business services needs.
Steam Hospitality Mission
Our mission is to mentor and educate underrepresented entrepreneurs, and we’re achieving this through our incubator programs.
In our first year, our incubator program helped 80+ diverse and minority founders scale their businesses beyond their wildest expectations.
We’ve helped 80+ food and hospitality brands grow their business
70% of our founders have been food insecure and/or homeless
82% of our founders identify as womxn, trans, or non-binary
20% of our incubator members have made their start-up into a full-time job
Our incubator businesses see an average 8% increase in sales
After the success of our first incubator program, we decided to make our business services with scalable pricing as a way to reach and educate thousands of entrepreneurs. Our expertise is in the food and hospitality industry, and we love working with people who value sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
About Tabetha Zimmerman
Steam Hospitality is founded by Tabetha Zimmerman, an underrepresented founder who’s spent 10+ years in the hospitality industry working with the world’s largest international luxury hotel brands, including the Four Seasons. In the hotel industry, Tabetha has managed multi-million dollar budgets and her area of expertise lies in online marketing, strategic partnerships, sales, and budget writing. Tabetha’s work in the hospitality industry has garnered multiple achievements and awards, including AAA Five Diamonds, Michelin Stars, and most recently the "Innovation To Watch" award from the Fancy Food Show. After her work in the luxury hotel industry, Tabetha left the corporate world and launched her first business venture. Within a year, that business was generating 6-figures in net-profit and was then sold to a competitor.
After the exit, Tabetha organized the knowledge and resources she gained in the industry and formed the Steam Hospitality team of consultants.
About Leigha Hollis
Creative, results-focused sales and business development professional with over a decade of expertise in sales, marketing, leadership, and communication skills. Practiced in sales techniques, product placement and merchandising. Expertise lies in entrepreneurial endeavors, developing new clients, as well as maintaining and upgrading existing clients, cultivating effective needs assessments to secure key business and increase product distribution. Proficient in selling and meeting consumer needs through effective marketing. As a well-liked individual, skilled in communicating in a way that is authentic, exemplifying abilities as a good teacher and leader. Tenacious in building new business, securing customer loyalty and forging strong acumen with identifying new opportunities. More than prepared to offer skills in market analysis, product management, and key performance metrics to produce strategic marketing success and sales growth. Fluent in English and Spanish.
About Cherish Simpson, CWP
Experienced entreprenur in the events and hospitality industry. As the Owner & Lead Planner at Dream Destination Weddings & Events and a current Catering Sales Manager at Levy Restaurants, Cherish brings over a decade of experience in curating unforgettable events—ranging from luxurious destination weddings to high-profile corporate gatherings.
Cherish’s journey began with a passion for creating seamless and memorable experiences. That passion evolved into a dual career path: one as an entrepreneur dedicated to dream celebrations, and the other as a strategic sales professional in the hospitality industry. Balancing both roles has taught me the art of precision, client-centered service, and the power of strong partnerships.
Our Network
Our team of consultants includes industry leading professionals including a Chief Executive Technology Officer, Director of Finance, Creative Director, Webmaster, Chief Technical Engineer, Director of Marketing and Events, Vice President of Engagement, and Vice President of Human Capital. Our network extends to founders and executives from industry-leading companies like The Four Seasons, with decades of experience managing complex operations and multi-million dollar budgets. Our team is leveraging our resources to help diverse food and hospitality founders launch, scale, and prepare their brands for a possible exit.
We pride ourselves on helping founders of diverse backgrounds who share our social and corporate responsibility mindset. We’re proud to support founders who have shared similar experiences as not only us but our network of founders, which include experiences such as intergenerational incarceration, poverty, and food insecurity.
No matter your life circumstance, we’re here to support you in building your dream. If you have a business idea, or you’ve already started a business, considering joining one of our programs so we can help you take your business to the next level.
Join one of our programs today!
Business Services
Our sliding scale pricing and payment plans is perfect for anyone who’s just starting out and want a team of marketing, event, and technology professionals launching, branding, and marketing their business.
Visit our Business Services page to learn more.
Business Incubator
If you own a business and already have some traction, our incubator program is a great way for you to take your business to the next level. In our incubator, you’ll gain access to the network and resources you need to grow your business even further. As part of our incubator program, you’ll not only have a direct and personal relationship with the Steam team, but also with other members of our incubator program.
Our incubator is currently accepting applications.
Visit our Small Business Incubator page to learn more.