In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Oishii, a US-based vertical farming company, announced that it has raised $134 million in Series B funding.
- PawCo, a plant-based dog food brand, announced that it has raised $2 million in seed funding.
- Mondra, a food supply chain decarbonisation startup, announced that it has raised £3.6 million in pre-Series A funding.
- The Could, a UAE-based cloud kitchen platform, announced that it has raised $12 million in Series B funding.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured food business incubator and accelerator is Good Food Accelerator.
- GFA, located in Chicago, provides educational programs that incorporate coaching and community networking opportunities. The organization is dedicated to engaging with underserved and underrepresented communities, ensuring that it delivers programs to groups that have not always had access.
- Since 2015, 85 companies have participated in GFA cohort programs, and currently more than 100 are registered as Members.
- GFA’s cohort programs are:
- Go To Market (G2M)
- Accelerate for Growth (A4G)
- Market Access Program (MAP)
- GFA encourages industry and business professionals to engage with their community and support entrepreneurs by becoming volunteer advisors, instructors, and mentors.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Florida Senate Bans Sale of Cell-Based Meat Within the State
- Interstate Trade at Risk as More States Introduce Ingredient Bans
- BFG Partners Activates $125 Million Third Fund to Back Healthy Consumer Products
- Food Execs Signal a Strong Appetite for M&A in 2024
- PawCo Foods Raises $2 Million for Plant-Based Dog Food Made With AI Technology
- ‘Prioritizing taste over timelines’: Amidst Ongoing Market Correction, Vertical Farming Company Oishii Raises $134 Million Series B
UPCOMING EVENTS
Emerging Food Brands Lab
May 7 – June 20, 2024
Project W and DWT Food + Beverage are excited to announce the return of The Emerging Food Brands Lab for women founders in the food and beverage sector. Developed in collaboration with DWT’s Food + Beverage practice, this multi-week program has been crafted to help founders take their brand to the next level through workshops dedicated to scaling production, optimizing distribution networks, and raising capital.
*Apply by March 22
Naturally Minnesota
MN Mingle @ Expo West
Wednesday, March 13 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Anaheim Convention Center North Hall, West Katella Avenue 800, Level 200 Balcony / Katella Terrace, Anaheim, CA
Are you heading to Expo West?! Then join Naturally Minnesota for their 5th annual Minnesota Mingle! This is an opportunity to meet and connect with Minnesota's growing food startup and innovation community including founders, industry leaders, investors, retailers, and more. Minnesota "ex-pats" are encouraged to attend.
The gathering will be on the 2nd-floor balcony outside the MN Alley in the North Hall.
Naturally Network
Expo West Kick-Off Party
Wednesday, March 13 | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. PT
Location: Hilton Anaheim, West Convention Way 777, Anaheim, CA
Join Naturally Network for the Expo West Kick-Off Party, presented by SPINS, in partnership with New Hope Network, Moss Adams, Avery, BeyondBrands, Greenberg Glusker, and Wellvest Capital. Enjoy drinks and light appetizers while connecting and discovering innovative early-stage brands at our exclusive showcase, featuring some of the industry's newest products not yet seen on the Expo show floor.
Naturally New England
Expo West Happy Hour
Thursday, March 14 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Anaheim Convention Center, West Katella Avenue 800, Level 200 Balcony / Katella Terrace, Anaheim, CA
This is an opportunity to meet and connect with New England's growing food startup and innovation community including founders, industry leaders, investors, retailers, and more.
Naturally Network
The CPG Industry is Tackling the Plastic Crisis!
Thursday, March 14 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. PT
Location: Hilton Anaheim, West Convention Way 777, California Ballroom D, Anaheim, CA
By 2040, plastic waste is projected to triple, posing significant environmental and social justice threats. Join Naturally Network and rePurpose Global for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the various dimensions of the plastics crisis, and the critical role that brands and retailers can play in creating solutions.
This event includes a short, expert-led conversation with Founders and retailers, as well as networking with the better-for-you CPG community who care about creating products that lessen the global plastic waste crisis.
Speakers:
- Kristin De Simone, Assoc Director, Mission of Thrive Market
- Salma Fotovat, Co-Founder of Riverside Natural Foods
- Danielle Jezienick, Impact + Sustainability Consultant
- Sadrah Schadel, Chief Creative Officer at No Evil Foods
- Aditya Siroya, Co-Founder & Chief Impact Officer of rePurpose Global