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Daily news and analysis about the food tech revolution

accelerators

Dairy Farmers of America Unveils the 9 Companies Selected for Its Latest Accelerator Cohort

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) announced this week the companies chosen to participate in the 2020 cohort of its food-focused startup accelerator. Nine companies were chosen for this cohort, according to a press release sent to The Spoon. Among them are a company that makes premium spirits from whey and one that uses excess milk to make t-shirts.

The DFA itself is a cooperative of family farmers that was formed in 1998 and now counts about 13,000 members from dairy farms around the U.S. The accelerator program works with companies using technology to improve aspects of the farming system. Past participants include ripe.io, which uses blockchain to improve supply chain transparency, and Labby, whose AI-powered smartphone app can test milk onsite and save farmers the time and money it takes to send samples to a lab.

Besides giving companies a foothold in the agtech industry, the program also connects DFA with startups, which are typically more agile and innovative than traditional agricultural companies. “[We] needed a way to partner with someone who could [get us] on the right path and get in front of some new technologies,” DFA’s director of innovation Doug Dressler told me last year.

Program participants receive mentorship and guidance around product development, marketing, and business development, connect with potential investors, and participate in a demo day at the end of the cohort.

The program runs for 90 days and is typically a combination of offsite, virtual programming and onsite work at the DFA headquarters in Kansas City, KS. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual programming is particularly important to this cohort. The DFA said in its email to The Spoon that the first program will kick off remotely and rely heavily on “digital training tools and resources” for at least the start of the cohort.

It’s a tactic currently being used by other startup accelerators, including Food-X and the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator. How much of the DFA’s program will be virtual versus onsite remains to be seen. Program coordinators hope to have onsite work available by July. 

Today’s press announcement describes the nine chosen companies as follows:

  • Armenta (Ra’anana, Israel): a non-invasive technology for antibiotic-free treatment of bovine mastitis.
  • Capro-X (Ithaca, N.Y.): a sustainable solution for whey waste from Greek yogurt production.
  • Livestock Water Recycling (Calgary, Alberta, Canada): a manure treatment technology, which recycles 75% of manure into clean water while segregating manure nutrients for precision fertilizer application.
  • Mi Terro (Los Angeles, Calif.): a sustainable fashion brand that uses excess milk to make men’s and women’s t-shirts.
  • Chank’s Grab-N-Go (Millville, N.J.): a handheld snack company featuring pizza cones, philly cheesesteak cones and more.
  • GoodSport (Chicago, Ill.): a sports drink made from milk which uses only natural ingredients and has naturally occurring electrolytes and vitamins.
  • SuperFrau (Cambridge, Mass.): electrolyte drinks made from upcycling surplus whey, with real ingredients and no added sugars.
  • Wheyward Spirit (Eugene, Ore.): premium spirit made from whey.
  • Yaar Nordic Quark Bar (London, U.K.): Nordic chilled dairy snacks made with fresh quark, a mixture of cow’s milk and natural lactic acid.

The 2020 cohort is currently in session and runs until the July 30 demo day.

Dear Startups: Kick Off 2020 by Applying to One of These 3 Food Tech Accelerators

If joining a startup accelerator program is in your plans for 2020, it’s never too early to get a jumpstart on the competition. First, if you haven’t already, read up on who should ideally apply for these companies, and why (hint: you shouldn’t be doing it for the money). Then, check out the programs below to see if they fit your company’s goals for growth. Note that some of these application deadlines close soon (like, tomorrow).

We update this list monthly, so if you don’t see what you’re looking for, check back February for a fresh list of programs. 

FoodFutureCo
New York City

NYC-based FoodFutureCo looks for companies it can help move from early product-market phase to the mainstream, with specific focus on plant-based food, agtech, sustainable seafood, and fighting food waste. Plant-based frozen meal maker Zoni Food, ethical food brand Eat Nice, and analytics platform Farm Fare are all past participants of the program, which was founded in 2015.

The five-month-long program looks for companies on track to gross more than $1 million in annual sales. Four to eight startups are chosen for each cohort. Participants receive up to $10,000 (for 4 to 8 percent equity) along with mentorship opportunities and potential follow-on investment.

Applications close December 31, 2019.

Brinc Food Technology Accelerator
Hong Kong

Brinc’s Food Technology Accelerator covers a wide range of what it calls “investment verticals”: agtech, alt protein, cellular agriculture, packaging, food safety, supply chain, and food waste. Startups looking to join the program should have a product-market fit in one of these verticals, along with a defined business model. According to the program website, companies must be willing to incorporate in Hong Kong and, ideally, want to deploy their product or solution in the Southeast Asian market. 

Unlike many programs, Brinc charges a $30,000 participation fee for the program, though this can be deducted from the $80,000 investment Brinc gives each participating company (for 10 to 15 percent equity). Startups also receive mentorship, customized curriculum, access to potential investors, and post-program support. Companies must be present in Hong Kong for six weeks of the program for onsite training.

Applications close February 17, 2020.

Coming Soon . . .

Techstars Farm to Fork
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

A partnership with Cargill and Ecolab, Techstars Farm to Fork program looks for startups and entrepreneurs working up and down the food chain, from agtech and manufacturing to food safety, traceability, and waste reduction. Techstars looks specifically for companies using tech to solve problems in these areas, as program alumni like Spoonshot and  Renewal Mill have done.

Chosen participants get a $100,000 convertible note along with mentorship and networking opportunities and access to potential investors. They also get workspace, as relocation to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is required for the duration of the three-month-long program. 

Applications open on January 6, 2020.

Pepsi’s Greenhouse Accelerator Now Taking Applications for Its Second North American Cohort

Big food continues to seek big innovation by inviting younger, leaner startups to participate in food- and beverage-focused accelerator and incubator programs. This week, PepsiCo announced it will be holding a second North American cohort for its Greenhouse accelerator program, which works with small CPGs operating out of the U.S. and Canada.

According to the press announcement, Pepsi will choose 10 startups to participate in the six-month program. Selected companies will receive $20,000 in funding and work with PepsiCo personnel on product development, supply chain management, media relations, and sales and distribution, among other areas early-stage startups must address. At the end of the program, one company will be awarded an additional $100,000 in funding.

To be eligible for the program, companies must be based out of the U.S. or Canada, have a product or service currently available in the market, and have more than $1 million in annual revenue, according to the Greenhouse Accelerator website.

Pepsi says is also looking for what it calls “purpose-driven” brands — i.e., companies whose products or services address issues in the food system, such as plant-based protein, sustainable packaging, and finding more natural ingredients for food and beverage products. 

Greenhouse is one of a growing number of food-focused accelerator and incubator programs run by major CPGs, including those by Chobani, Barilla, Mars, and many others. Part of the motivation behind this trend is that programs such as these are simple ways for large food companies to access new products, service, and technologies without spending huge amounts of money on R&D — an area they typically only allocate about 1 to 2 percent of their budget to.

Pepsi launched Greenhouse in 2017 in Europe before expanding the program to North America in 2018. Past participants of the program include Hapi Drinks, who makes sugar-free kids’ beverages to fight childhood obesity; YoFit, a plant-based beverage company that makes high-protein “milk” out of chickpeas; and alt-seafood company Sophie’s Kitchen.

Applications for the Greenhouse Accelerator are open until January 6, 2020.

Mark Your Calendars to Apply to These Food-focused Startup Accelerators

Business may be winding down for the year, but it’s never too early to start planning for 2020. If that includes applying to a startup accelerator, there are a few programs to note this month either taking applications right now or in the very near future.

January normally brings a slew of new announcements and application deadlines, so be sure to check back next month for more details, dates, and programs geared towards food-focused startup growth.

FoodFutureCo
Remote/New York, NY

FutureFoodCo works with companies moving from early-product-market phase to early-majority stage (that is, having some mainstream appeal). Focus areas include CPGs, plant-based food (including seafood), agtech, and reducing food waste.

Four to six companies are chosen for each four-month-long cohort. Participants get mentorship opportunities as well as $10,000 and lifelong access to the FutureFoodCo network. Chosen startups don’t have to relocate to NYC but should expect to travel there at points during the program.

Applications are open until December 15, 2019.

TechStars Farm to Fork
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

TechStars Farm to Fork accelerator works specifically with companies using technical and digital means to change parts of the food system, from agriculture to supply change to curbing food waste. It counts Renewal Mill, Spoonshot, and EIO Diagnostics among its alumni. 

Relocation is a requirement for this one. The program, which TechStars does in partnership with Cargill and Ecolab, is based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and participants are expected to be there for the three-month-long period. TechStars provides workspace, along with mentorship and networking opportunities, access to potential investors, and a $100,000 convertible note. 

Applications open on January 6, 2020.

Terra
Remote/San Francisco, CA

Terra is a joint effort by startup network RocketSpace and food- and agriculture financing company Rabobank. The program accepts companies up and down the food chain, whether you’re a CPG, agtech startup, or creating sustainable packaging.

At minimum, applicants should be in the seed to Series B stage, have a product, service, or technology already in the market, and have the ability to travel to San Francisco for the program kickoff and Demo Day. Participants spend roughly one month ideating on a pilot and four months executing that pilot, though actual time commitment is determined on a case by case basis with each startup.

Applications typically open in January. Stay tuned for specific dates.

3 Food Tech Accelerators Taking Applications Right Now

Thinking of joining a food accelerator? While they’re not for everyone, these programs offer a growing number of startups access to things like mentors and potential investors, as well as assistance in taking a business to its next phase of growth. Yes, there’s some money involved in many cases, though experts will tell you that shouldn’t be the prime motivator for joining an accelerator or incubator.

Applications for many of these programs will open in early 2020. In the meantime, here are a few early opportunities for startups both in the U.S. and overseas.

Chobani Incubator
New York City & Remote

Taking applications for Spring 2020 is the Chobani Incubator, one of the most well-known programs to be run by a major CPG company. According to the program FAQs, Chobani looks for early-stage food and beverage companies who are already producing and selling their products “with some early traction” to join the four-month-long program, which will kick off in March of 2020.

Chosen companies — usually six or seven — spend roughly one week per month onsite at the Incubator HQ in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood and visiting Chobani manufacturing sites. Other program work can be done remotely, though participants should expect to travel during their time in the program. Chosen startups also each receive a $25,000 equity-free grant, a stipend for travel expenses, mentorship opportunities, and access to potential investors.

Applications close December 1, 2019.

Food-X Food Innovation Accelerator
New York City

It feels like Food-X just started working with Cohort 10, but already the NYC-based accelerator is looking for startups to join Cohort 11, which will kick off in March of 2020 and run until June.

Food-X works with companies up and down the food innovation stack, with sustainability, health, supply chain efficiency, and food traceability being just a few areas of focus. Chosen participants relocate to NYC to work out of the Food-X offices in Manhattan. In exchange for 8 percent equity, companies also receive $70,000 in cash, mentorship, access to the larger Food-X community, and potential investment opportunity. Food-X normally takes about eight companies per cohort — from an applicant pool that’s in the hundreds at this point.

The final application deadline is January 12, 2020.

FoodStars
Den Haag, Netherlands

Netherlands-based program FoodStars looks for agtech startups to join its community on an ongoing basis. Companies can be developing new technologies, production methods, and business models that improve food production and prioritize things like health and sustainability. Some areas of focus include food waste, horticulture, and control farming.

Those chosen to join the community/program get a minimum 12 months of mentorship, training programs, access to FoodStars events, a startup visa (for international companies), and office space in The Hague. In exchange, FoodStars takes 2 percent equity.

Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

Food-X Unveils the 8 Startups Chosen for Latest Accelerator Class

This morning foodtech accelerator Food-X announced the eight startups chosen to participate in its Cohort 9 class, which is currently underway at the Food-X space in NYC.

There was an applicant pool of 500 companies this time around, and we asked Food-X Program Director, Peter Bodenheimer, how they waded through that list to select just eight. “We take a bit of a portfolio approach to how we do things,” Bodenheimer told me by phone earlier this week, “We try and balance it between the technology in the industry and the more consumer-product side.”

In keeping with that balance, the startups who will participate in Cohort 9 range from an AI-enabled voice assistant for restaurants to a company that makes functional foods for soon-to-be mothers. As Bodenheimer explained it, Food-X has a couple of main areas it focuses on when it comes to whittling down the application pool and choosing participants.

The first is what he calls “the application of advanced technology across the food system,” which can be anything from voice tech to AI to sentiment analysis. The other area Food-X looks to is ingredient tech — or finding new functions for ingredients, whether that’s pea protein for plant-based proteins or infusing coffee with wildcraft mushrooms as a natural energy boost.

Into this latter category also goes the concept of food as medicine, which was, according to Bodenheimer, the original inspiration behind that mushroom-infused coffee. “We believe the next generation of ideas will go beyond just “healthy” and deliver products and systems that become integral parts of how we avoid and treat disease,” Bodenheimer wrote in a recent blog post on Medium.

More generally, Food-X also carefully considers the actual people behind the products during the selection process. “You can have the best idea in the world, but if the team can’t execute, it won’t happen,” says Bodenheimer.

He also notes that part of the reason for this emphasis on people is the importance Food-X places on the community aspect of its program. Alumni from past cohorts are encouraged to work at the Food-X space alongside current members, and in doing so they create a lot of potential for collaboration between different companies: “Having that stability and having that sense of community between the different founders, it sounds a little bit hokey to say but that’s where the magic happens,” he says. “A connection gets made, an epiphany happens, a problem gets solved. That’s the stuff I love about having our current cohort companies and our alumni cross-pollinating.”

All participants to the current Food-X cohort get $120,000 (for which Food-X takes a small equity stake), mentorship opportunities, space in the NYC Food-X office, and, as mentioned, continued access to the latter once the cohort wraps.

Cohort 9 is happening as we speak. Here are the participating startups:
Kafina: an organic energy elixir
Mushroom Cups: maker of the aforementioned mushroom coffee
Paragon Flavors: a flavor encapsulation company
Mindwell: maker of plant-based “meaty” snacks
Simply Good Jars: sustainably packaged ready-made meals
Sweetie Pie Organics: food for expectant mothers
Vaartani: AI-powered insights for companies based on customer data
Voix: an AI-powered automated voice assistant

Previous participants to Food-X include Ingest.AI, an AI-powered management system for restaurants, RFID-enabled waste-reduction solution Wasteless, and Kindly, whose meal-delivery company services patience with chronic illness.

Cohort 9 is taking place right now in New York City. Stay tuned to learn more about these companies in the coming weeks.

Chicago

Startup Roundup: Foodtech Incubators to Watch in 2018

While developing food technology has been a priority for many since the beginning of last century, it’s only been in recent years the concept of startup accelerators/incubators has taken hold.

It seems, though, that foodtech is making up for lost time. Startups are everywhere now, from new takes on the meal kit concept to vertical farming platforms to managing pesticide levels. And everyone from Tyson to IKEA to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is getting involved. Last year saw some noteworthy programs from NYC’s Food-X, the student-focused Fund the Food, and Chobani’s incubator, for which applications just closed.

If you missed the application deadline for that last one, fear not—2018 will see many more programs geared towards nurturing the next wave of foodtech business, from the farm to the data center. Here are a few of our favorites to keep an eye on in the coming months:

Yield Lab Accelerator

Since growth of plants and/or animals is a huge part of AgTech, Yield Lab’s program runs for nearly a year, either in St. Lous or Europe. Participants can apply to both. Once selected, each company visits its designated location for two-day sessions that take place six times course of nine months. The Yield Lab provides mentoring and networking opportunities, as well as $100,000 in funds. The program begins on March 6, 2018. The application process for St. Louis is open now. Europe will be announced in the near future, according to Yield Lab’s site.

Techstars’ Farm to Fork

Entrepreneurship network Techstars recently announced its Farm to Fork Accelerator, to be held in Minneapolis-St. Paul this summer. The program invites early- and late-stage startups in AgTech, food safety and waste management, and manufacturing to apply. Ecolab and Cargill have partnered with Techstars for the three-month program, which helps companies with finding mentors, product development, and learning how to communicate with investors. Applications close on April 8 2018.

IFTNEXT

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is still taking applications for its six-week-long IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge, which is aimed at helping emerging and investment-ready foodtech startups and entrepreneurs. At the end of the program, IFT will select six finalists (from the 25 participants) to pitch their companies to a panel of judges at the upcoming IFT18 conference. Applications are open until February 8.

TERRA

Tech/startup network RocketSpace teamed up with food- and agriculture-financing company Rabobank to start TERRA, a program is open to a wide range of CPG, AgTech, and foodtech startups alike. Participants head to San Francisco for eight weeks in workshops and mentoring sessions, followed by eight more weeks piloting their businesses. Seed-funded startups are preferred, and applicants’ products should be either in market or ready to launch. Cohort II of TERRA is happening as we speak, but applications are already open for Cohort III.

Food Nest

The Food Nest looks to scale early-stage companies focused on health, wellness, and nutrition to the next phases of their growth. For that, applicants should have at least one proof of concept in market and a run rate between $500,000 and $2 million. The Alameda, CA-based program will select eight to 10 participants from the pool of applicants who will head to program headquarters for four months of curriculum, mentoring, and networking. Companies receive an upfront investment of $40,000 for 5 percent equity in the company. Applications are due by February 28.

IKEA Gets In The Startup Game With Bootcamp Accelerator

In the last several years, we’ve seen major home, tech and food brands reach out to the startup community in the form of VC funds and accelerators to try and harness the massive innovation taking place in their markets. From General Mills, Kellogg and Google, companies are looking at hot areas like food, agriculture and housewares to find the disrupters to bring into their ecosystems.

IKEA, the maker of popular furniture and home goods – and most recently, smart lighting products – is getting into the mix, announcing the IKEA Bootcamp for startups looking to solve the world’s “Big Problems.” It’s clear IKEA is looking to cultivate and support entrepreneurs in hot innovative areas right now – including IoT, virtual reality, chatbots, food tech, drones and Big Data.

The Swedish home design conglomerate is no stranger to pursuing partnerships in search of the next big thing; last year they worked with IDEO and design students School of Industrial Design at the Ingvar Kamprad Design Centre at Lund University to come up with the Concept Kitchen 2025, a prototype of what kitchens of the future might look like.

“We are looking for startups to help us solve the IKEA ‘Big Problems’ around being truly affordable for the many people, reaching and interacting with the many, and enabling a positive impact on the planet, people and society.” -IKEA

The perks IKEA is offering startups are pretty enticing – fifteen companies will be selected to work and live in Almhult, Sweden with a stipend of 20,000 EU and free housing from September through December. Selected innovators will work in IKEA’s prototype shop and test labs and be able to tap into expertise within the IKEA Range & Supply group.

They’ll also have access to workshops, courses and mentorships from senior IKEA global business leaders. And maybe most appealing? IKEA is not looking to take any equity in accelerator startups but rather see it as an opportunity to collaborate, saying “We may end up being a customer, licensing your technology or even investing in your company, but first and foremost we want you to be working on the Big Problems and to share our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people.”

Applications are due August 6 to be part of the fall cohort, which runs from September 8 to December 18.

Are you a startup in food tech or the smart kitchen? Apply to demo at the Smart Kitchen Summit in the Startup Showcase on October 10 and 11 in Seattle, WA. Selected finalists will receive an opportunity to showcase their innovation to decision makers across tech, food, housewares and appliances, retail and commerce.

Apply by August 15 for a chance at a spot at the only event in North America dedicated to the future of food, cooking + the kitchen. 

 

 

Entrepreneur Hopes To Transform Shanghai Into Food Startup Hub

China’s middle class is changing and with that change comes emerging differences in the way their population consumes food. This week Fast Company introduced the new food tech accelerator, Bits x Bites – the first of its kind in China – and how it’s looking to help shape the nation’s food and agricultural systems. According to Matilda Ho, founder of Bits x Bites, the accelerator’s mission is to “shape the future of good food by investing in early stage startups that use technology to solve food system challenges in China.”

Ho founded the successful Chinese food startup Yimishiji, an online farmer’s market that delivers chemical-free produce by electric bike to Shanghai consumers. Her work with Yimishiji made Ho realize she wanted to expand on the vision and help build a community of other food tech startups that were working to shape food and agricultural sustainability across the country. The Bits x Bites accelerator was born and the 120-day program, based in Shanghai, gives startups capital, coaching and a like-minded community to network and help them take their idea to the next level.

While all of the startups under Bits x Bites are offering innovative solutions that are also common in other parts of the world, they also appeal to the nuances of Chinese culture. In Chinese culture, salad is not a common meal as it is in the West. Startup Frugee markets their cold-pressed, high-pressure pasteurized juice from fruits and vegetables as a nutrient-rich alternative to eating salads. Another participant startup, Alesca Life, addresses the issue of limited arable land in China by producing hydroponic farms that come in shipping containers, coupled with software to run them. Their first focus is on hotels that want to grow their own produce for in-house restaurants.

A third, currently unnamed startup addresses the issue of creating a sustainable animal agriculture system by developing noodles and other foods that are made from silkworm flour similar to the way other global startups are producing cricket flour. Since the worms are often discarded after using their cocoons for developing silk, using the by-product is a cost-effective alternative to wheat or other grain flours.

In an interview with That’s Magazine, Ho commented on her vision and drive to pursue an accelerator in Shanghai and how it might transform. the Chinese food system,

There are more than 4,000 startups opening shop in China every day. If we can harness some of this entrepreneurial energy to solve food system challenges, the impact can be astonishing. With our experience building the online farmers’ market Yimishiji, we hope to help more startups accelerate their growth and build a sustainable business.

Ho sees food tech startups growing rapidly in China, but recognizes that a lot of work needs to be done both in China and across the global food industry – starting with participation in accelerators like Bits x Bites. She is already seeing an influx of major Chinese food companies visiting the startup each week, looking for ways to get involved with food incubators or their own or to help make strides in the space. As a global leader, increased investments in tech for China’s food and agricultural system is important for sustainability inside and outside of the country.