This Culinary Launchpad Is One of Only a Handful in Existence KitchenCru in Portland, Ore. is a palatable option for food businesses.

Check out other industries that are benefiting from launchpads here.

It seemed to former IT professional Michael Madigan that everywhere he looked in his home base of Portland, Ore., was brimming with food trucks, pop-up restaurants, DIY bakers, cheesemongers and condiment-makers selling at farmers markets.

"I asked myself, "Where do these folks cook?'" Madigan recalls. He also wondered if they could use some help growing their ventures.