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What We Heard: Highlights from CFIN’s Member Satisfaction Survey

By Community Manager posted 05-21-2025 12:57

  

We want to give a huge thank you to the 487 CFIN members who took the time to complete our first-ever annual member satisfaction survey. Whether you’ve been part of the network for years or just joined, your feedback is helping shape what comes next for CFIN—and how we continue to support food innovators across Canada. 

Here’s what we learned: 

🔍 You’re Engaged—and Growing 

  • 71% of respondents have used YODL, showing it’s becoming a regular part of how members access tools, information, and support. 

  • Most survey participants identified as small food and beverage manufacturers, service providers, or foodtech startups—a reflection of who makes up the heart of our community. 

  • Nearly half of respondents joined within the past year, and most are already active across our events, programs, and platforms. The network continues to experience significant growth, from 4500 members in 2024 to 6800+ members. 

 

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🤝 What You Value Most 

Across the board, members pointed to community, connection, and collaboration as the most valuable parts of their CFIN experience. 

  • COMMUNITY: Members consistently highlighted the value of connection with peers, collaborators, and others navigating similar challenges. Community topped the list of what members valued most, followed closely by how YODL helps members find relevant resources, surface opportunities, and stay connected to what’s happening across the industry. 

  • CONNECTIONS: Many respondents said that CFIN is helping break down innovation barriers, especially through meaningful connections across the sector. 

  • COLLABORATION: Active YODL users were among the most satisfied members, reinforcing the platform’s role as a key tool for collaboration and visibility. 

🛠️ Where We’re Improving 

Members who are the most engaged reported the highest satisfaction, but we know there’s work to do. Your feedback is already shaping our 2025 priorities, including: 

  • FUNDING: Expanding the types of funding opportunities and making the process clearer and easier to navigate 

  • NETWORKING: Offering more opportunities to connect both in-person and virtually 

  • YODL: Continue to improve YODL’s usability, functionality, and recommendations 

📣 What’s Next 

Based on your feedback, we’re already making meaningful changes to how CFIN shows up for our members: 

  • Events are picking up pace. We’ve already hosted 13 virtual and in-person events this year—including our new monthly Unpuzzling webinar series—and nearly 30 are planned by year-end. Bookmark our event pages to see the latest CFIN-hosted and industry events in your region. 

  • We’ve made key improvements to YODL, beginning with a new monthly YODL 101 webinar to help members get the most out of the platform. We’ve also revamped our Programs page to enhance navigation and continue to add new resources, such as the U.S. Tariff Resource Guide, designed to assist food businesses in navigating the current era of economic uncertainty. 

  • We’re launching new programs with FedDev Ontario to support foodtech companies scaling up in Southern Ontario. The Innovation Booster and Foodtech Next programs are both back for 2025, with more funding on the way to help early-stage innovators build, test, and grow. 

  • Finally, we just announced Foodtech Frontier 25—a first-of-its-kind celebration recognizing Canada's most ambitious and impactful foodtech innovators. The initiative aligns with member priorities by providing selected companies with targeted media coverage, enhanced investment attraction, and strategic partnership opportunities. Red Stick Ventures has committed $200,000 investment to support two companies featured on FTF25 program. Applications close July 10th, 2025! 

Thank you again for shaping this work with us. CFIN exists to support your success, and your input makes us better equipped to deliver on that promise. We’re excited about what’s ahead for Canadian food innovation, and we’re glad you’re building it with us. 

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