Close Ad

The Spoon

Daily news and analysis about the food tech revolution

startup incubators

Russia Gets Its First Alt-Protein Food Tech Accelerator

A newly formed nonprofit called the Association of Alternative Food Producers (AAFP) has joined forces with food awareness organization ProVeg to launch Russia’s first-ever incubator program dedicated to animal-free protein. The program will support a range of startups in the alt-meat arena, from those working on cultured and plant-based products to those developing related technologies, such as scaffolds and 3D bioprinting.

AAFP was founded by Tim Ponomarev and Julia Marsel, two graduates of Berlin-based ProVeg’s incubator and the founders of plant-based meat company Greenwise (not to be confused with the Publix-owned organic brand of the same name). Their goal is to contribute to the growth of alternative proteins in Russia and Russian-speaking countries through supporting food companies and entrepreneurs. 

Those accepted to AAFP’s program, which is based in Moscow and the Kaluga region, will participate in four different modules. Modules will provide guidance in marketing, fundraising, legal and regulatory matters, technological areas, and business development, among others. Participants receive mentorship and other consultations, the chance to take part in special events and conferences, access to buyers, materials suppliers, and other professionals, and the chance to pitch to potential investors.

Applicants should either be based in the Russian and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) market or have plans to concentrate their activities to that region. Excepting companies developing cell-based meat, applicants should already have a product or products being sold in the market.

A food tech accelerator in Russia that’s devoted to animal-free meat is a major milestone for alt-protein’s growth in the country. Currently, only about 1 percent of all Russians say they are vegetarian, and that not eating meat is still considered by many to be dangerous. Attitudes, however, are changing, and while the market for alt-protein is still very young, it is growing.

The AAFP incubator will open in 2021 (an exact date has not yet been provided). Those interested in joining can apply here. 

Purple Carrot Is Launching an Incubator Program for Plant-based Food Brands

Got an early-stage startup developing plant-based consumer packaged goods? Purple Carrot may be able to help. The plant-based meal kit company just announced a new incubator program called The Garden Incubator that aims to invest in plant-based CPG companies and help them scale up.

Each selected participant gets $250,000 in seed round funding provided by VC firm Unovis Partners and its New Crop Capital fund. Unovis specifically invests in companies developing plant-, fungi-, and cell-based protein replacement foods, and counts AlephFarms, Beyond Meat, and Good Catch among its portfolio companies. Purple Carrot is also a member of the firm’s portfolio.

In addition to the seed funding, Purple Carrot will work with companies on improving and growing strategy, branding, financial modeling, data analytics, operations, and fulfillment areas of their businesses. 

“The plant-based space is in the midst of a powerful transformation with a range of early-stage brands that are struggling for investment dollars, product-market fit, and distribution. With The Garden our goal is to accelerate the positive trajectory of qualifying brands, improve their focus and enable rapid and improved distribution in the U.S. and beyond,” said Purple Carrot founder and CEO, Andy Levitt said in the press release tied to the announcement.

Needless to say, the major criteria for joining The Garden Incubator is a focus on plant-based food products. According to the program’s website, the program looks for “early stage plant-based CPG companies with unique and scalable products.”

Unlike startup accelerators, which usually run for a set period of time, incubator programs typically have no set start and stop date, and take applications on an ongoing basis. As of right now, no deadline is affixed to The Garden Incubator’s program. Those interested in applying can simply fill out the application.

Purple Carrot was acquired by Tokyo-based Oisix, Japan’s largest meal kit and food delivery service, in May of 2019. For now, its focus on plant-based products remains somewhat unique in the world of accelerators and incubators, though given the popularity of plant-based foods, that will change soon.