Urban Game Changers

Alecia Gabriel and Deirdre Roberson are scientists who left the academic and corporate worlds on a mission to make STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) excellence a fact of life for young people from all segments of society. Their mission was born of their experiences in Detroit, Michigan, where they found that their own excellence in science was all too rare. They set out to correct that situation with their business, The Lab Drawer, and in doing so, developed a B-B (business-to-business) model that amplifies the reach and effectiveness of their venture. Based on what they've learned, they aim to scale what they've built to create equitable access to STEAM knowledge and careers.

Audio Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample are the co-founders of Argus Farm Stop, a pioneering local food business designed to strengthen regional farms while expanding community access to fresh, locally sourced food. Since launching Argus in 2014, they have developed a farmer-first model that has returned millions of dollars to producers and helped demonstrate how mission-driven business can support both economic and social impact. Through their work in food systems innovation, entrepreneurship, and community development, they continue to advance a replicable model for building stronger local economies from the ground up. Episode Summary In this episode of Urban Game Changers, host David Tarver sits down with Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample, co-founders of Argus Farm Stop, to explore how a mission-driven grocery model can strengthen local economies, support small farms, and expand food access. From the origins of Argus to the mechanics of its farmer-first 70/30 revenue model, the conversation reveals how entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and community values come together in practice. Bill and Kathy share how Argus has grown into a replicable model for local food infrastructure, discuss scaling through impact rather than extraction, and reflect on what it means to build a business where success is measured not just by profits, but by the strength of the ecosystem it helps create. Urban Game Changers Episode 12 Where the Farm Meets the City Guests: Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample, co-founders of Argus Farm Stop Release date: May 21, 2026 Length: 1:06:22 Executive Producer & Host: W. David Tarver Producer & Editor: Ben Reynolds Associate Producers: Anshiqa Miskowski and Felipé Furtado, MD Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction to Argus Farm Stop and the farm stop model03:42 How the idea for Argus began10:18 Building a farmer-first business model18:34 Why local food systems matter for communities26:55 Can the farm stop model scale?30:02 Inside the 70/30 revenue model and how Argus makes money34:52 Tour of the market: sourcing, merchandising, and local producers42:00 Reducing food waste and managing operations51:35 Produce boxes, logistics, and growing the model55:05 Measuring impact and growing the local food ecosystem58:08 What Argus can teach us about business and community1:03:43 Venture capital, impact capital, and protecting the mission1:06:04 Closing reflections The post Where the Farm Meets the City appeared first on Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative.