In This Issue:
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Farm2050.
- Farm 2050 was co-founded by Innovation Endeavors and Finistere Ventures in California. Farm2050 is committed to advancing the future of food through supporting AgTech entrepreneurs and startups.
- Farm 2050's partners include:
- Pepsi
- AgriTech New Zealand
- Syngenta
- Nutrien
- Farm2050 brings together researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and distributors to accelerate the path for new disruptive AgTech.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Barry Callebaut Plans Major Investment in Belgian Plant
- CeBev LLC, New Tree Fruit Co. Form Partnership
- The Bland Company Raises $2.7 Million to Functionalize Plant Proteins
- Turkish Snack Company Acquires Trubar
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally NorCal
AI in CPG: Where AI Is Actually Saving Time for CPG Teams
Tuesday, February 24 | 12–1 p.m. PT
Location: Online Webinar
This session provides a behind-the-scenes look at how teams are applying AI in day-to-day work, what's delivering real efficiency gains, and what's proving less useful in practice.
Mario DiFalco, Founder of Illuminate Growth Partners will lead a discussion with three CPG leaders who actively champion and support their teams and clients in adopting and using AI inside their organizations.
This isn't theory. It's what's actually working. What you'll take away:
- Where AI is genuinely saving teams time today
- The biggest disconnect between AI hype and day-to-day reality
- Tools and techniques that changed how teams work
- Where AI becomes a distraction
- How leaders can level up AI adoption
Naturally Chicago
Wellness is Evolving and AI is Reshaping Discovery
Tuesday, February 24 | 3–4 p.m. CT
Location: Online Webinar
Brand and product discovery used to be about placement: shelf position, keyword rank, influencer reach.
But wellness shoppers increasingly want personalized answers: what works for my body, my goals, my constraints. AI is becoming an interface for those answers, sitting between brands and consumers. The following panel of experts will discuss how wellness is evolving, how AI is changing and aiding discovery and what brands can do right now to stay findable, credible, and chosen.
Speakers:
- Tracey Halama, CEO, Supergut
- Katie Kloke, Senior Manager, SPINS
- Shiv Gupta, Founder, U of Digital
- Katie Rosholt (Moderator), Managing Director, SOCIETY U.S.
Naturally Los Angeles
February Mixer 26
Tuesday, February 24 | 6–9 p.m. PT
Location: True Food Kitchen, 860 Pacific Coast Hwy, El Segundo, CA
Join Naturally Los Angeles for an evening of meaningful connection, great conversation, and industry insights with fellow CPG leaders in LA.
An informal, high-energy evening of networking with founders, operators, and thought leaders shaping the LA consumer goods space. Whether you're scaling, launching, or looking to collaborate you'll want to be in the room.
Naturally Minnesota
2026 Capital Access Workshop
Wednesday, February 25 | 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Sunrise Banks, 2525 Wabash Ave, St Paul, MN
Are you an entrepreneur looking to explore more options for funding your business? Dive into this capital access education workshop that will cover the wide array of funding options that are appropriate for each stage of a company, from pre-revenue to over $1 Million. You'll have the chance to learn from industry experts, connect with local financing leaders, and take the next step to growing your natural product, tech, or agriculture-based business.
Naturally NorCal
AI Forum: AI 101—Foundations for CPG Leaders
Wednesday, February 25 | 10–11 a.m. PT
Location: Online Webinar
The AI Forum is the newest addition to Naturally NorCal's Forums program: intimate, topic-focused groups designed to foster peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and practical takeaways.
Open to all roles and functions, this AI Forum brings together professionals across marketing, sales, operations, finance, and leadership to explore how artificial intelligence is being used in real-world CPG businesses today.
Sessions are discussion-driven and hands-on, focused on sharing use cases, testing ideas, and building confidence using AI as a practical business tool.
Speaker:
- Jason Seeber, Founder of The Wine Spies
Naturally Colorado
Naturally Colorado & Saltbox Networking Collision
Wednesday, February 25 | 5–8 p.m. MT
Location: Saltbox, 4800 Dahlia St, Denver, CO
Join Naturally Colorado a casual, high-energy evening built for real connection across Colorado's natural and organic products community. Hosted by Rick DeSimone and Joelle Trubowitz, this free, drop-in networking event is all about showing up as you are, meeting new faces, and strengthening the relationships that move our industry forward. Come for five minutes or stay the whole night.
Naturally NorCal
Naturally NorCal Coffee Meetups: Oakland, Mill Valley, SF, Burlingame
Friday, February 27 | 9:30–10:30 a.m. PT
Location: Equator Coffee
Naturally NorCal is officially launching their Coffee Meetups as a recurring event: coffee meetups on the last Friday of each month, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at four Equator Coffees locations across NorCal. Choose the location that works for you and enjoy relaxed, drop-in networking with fellow Naturally NorCal members.
Gather with fellow founders, operators, and industry leaders at local Equator Coffees locations for casual, welcoming, no-pressure networking.