Earlier in the year, PepsiCo announced a new and exciting initiative: a collaborative accelerator program designed to help grow and mentor emerging brands.
The 10 chosen companies each receive $20,000 in grant funding and are eligible to participate in a six-month business optimization program. Additionally, the brands receive personalized mentorship from executives at some of PepsiCo’s most prolific brands (including Quaker, Naked, Red Rock Deli, KeVita, Stacy’s, and Off the Eaten Path).
Last week, PepsiCo named its first 10 companies to participate in the inaugural Nutrition Greenhouse class. Read on to learn about the chosen companies:
1. Bohana (Boston, Massachusetts)
Reinvented an ancient high-protein snack with popped water lily seed.
2. Hapi Drinks (Austin, Texas)
Sugar-free kids drink founded with the mission to fight childhood obesity and type II diabetes.
3. IQ BAR (Boston, Massachusetts)
A nutrition bar formulated for cognitive energy, function, and health.
4. Remedy Organics (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey)
Delicious plant-based functional beverages made with potent superfoods, ayurvedic herbs and botanicals as well as protein and probiotics.
5. Rule Breaker Snacks (Brooklyn, New York)
Innovative bean-based treats that are packed with protein and fiber, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, free from the top eight allergens and defiantly delicious.
6. Sophie’s Kitchen (Sebastopol, California)
The first company to make plant-based seafood alternatives which are 100 percent gluten-free, 100 percent soy-free, Non-GMO Project verified, and Kosher.
7. Too FIT (Fort Worth, Texas)
A lifestyle brand dedicated to crafting and delivering the highest quality nutritional supplements to inspire, educate, and fuel the passions and journeys of adventurers, athletes, and weekend warriors.
8. Torii Labs (Calabasas, California)
A health product company creating powerful plant-based functional beverages that balance, build and brighten your body and mind.
9. Wildway (San Antonio, Texas)
A better-for-you breakfast and snack food company that inspires others with products that provide real nutrition from real food to fuel life’s wild adventures.
10. YoFiit (Toronto, Canada)
A plant-based company focusing on functional, clean and innovative meal solutions, one of which is a patent-pending high protein, high omega-3 and gum-free chickpea milk alternative with flax offering 40 grams of protein per container.
The selection process was led by an external and internal committee of PepsiCo leaders. Factors the committee considered included exciting product and brand qualities; the amount each company focused on consumer nutrition; the scalability of the business; and the uniqueness of the product and its place in the market.
Over the next six months, each brand will have a chance to collaborate with their mentors, developing vital parts of their business like marketing, distribution, manufacturing, fundraising and other challenges that new companies face. At the end of the six-month period, one lucky company will receive an additional $100,000. The decision will be based on the brand’s progress, the level of collaboration demonstrated with PepsiCo, and the most effective use of the initial $20,000. The winning brand will also have the opportunity to continue to partner with PepsiCo.
“We are very excited to collaborate with, help grow, and learn from these incredible companies,” Daniel Grubbs, the Managing Director of PepsiCo, said. “Each finalist is unique in their own way, but one thing they all share is they’re mission-driven and purposeful, which is very much aligned with our own Performance with Purpose agenda.”
For more information about the initiative and updates on the program, check out the Nutrition Greenhouse here.
Interested in working at an emerging brand? Search our job board or speak to one of our Executive Recruiters.
