In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
-
Aloha, a plant-based protein food manufacturer, has announced that it received $68 million in financing for a significant minority stake in the company.
- SuperK, an Indian franchised retail chain startup that enhances retail shopping (including grocery shopping) for small towns, announced that it has raised $6 million in Series A funding.
- Poseidon Ocean Systems, a Canadian aquaculture technology company, announced that it has raised $20.75 million in Series B funding.
- Orchard Robotics, a company specializing in robots and AI for precision crop management, announced that it has raised $3.8 million in funding.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is PepsiCo Ventures Group.
- The PepsiCo Ventures Group, the venture capital arm of PepsiCo, aims to foster the development of forward-thinking and progressive businesses. This group collaborates with companies on strategy, growth, innovation, and the critical fundamentals of analytics, focusing specifically on the food and beverage category management.
- One of its initiatives, the Greenhouse Accelerator, is a collaborative program designed to support the growth of emerging and sustainable brands within the food and beverage industry.
- Since 2017, the program has expanded its reach across the United States, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA), and the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, as well as Hispanic owned and focused companies.
- The program offers grants, mentorship, and opportunities for participants to accelerate sustainable and breakthrough innovations.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- PoLoPo Unveils ‘SuperAA’ to Turn Potatoes Into Protein Factories Via Molecular Farming
- Orchard Robotics Raises $3.8 Million led by General Catalyst to Build Robots & AI that Power Precision Crop Management
- Orbillion Bio Secures Funds to Cultivate Beef at Scale With Innovative Algorithm
- AI Recipe Formulation Platform “Proxy Foods” Raises $2.3 Million to Make Tasty & Nutritious Alternatives More Quickly
- Veg Capital Triples Investment in Shicken
- Semcap Purchases $68 Million Minority Stake in Aloha
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally San Diego
TikTok Shop Webinar
Monday, April 8 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. PT
Hear from Cameron Gould-Saltman, TikTok Shop's Head of Food & Beverage (SMB). During this webinar, he will discuss the growth of TikTok Shop, provide some input on best practices within the social commerce industry, and answer some of your most pressing questions!
Be sure to submit your questions to Cameron prior to this event.
Speakers:
- Cameron Gould-Saltman, Head of Food & Beverage (SMB) at TikTok Shop
- Matt Clifford (Moderator), Board Member at Naturally San Diego
Naturally New York
Amazon 101: Listing, Selling, & Succeeding Presented by Broadleaf Digital
Tuesday, April 9 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Join Naturally New York for an essential webinar covering the fundamentals of Amazon success. From listing your brand to mastering sales, operations, marketing, and more, this session offers a broad yet insightful overview. Whether you're a novice or seeking to optimize your Amazon strategy, gain valuable tips and best practices to propel your brand forward in the competitive E-commerce landscape. Register now and set yourself up for Amazon excellence!
Speaker:
- Laura Homann, Head of Marketing and Founding Member, Broadleaf Digital
Naturally Los Angeles
How to Win with Tik Tok
Wednesday, April 10 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: Maple Block Meat Co., Sepulveda Boulevard 3973, Culver City, CA
Dive into the world of TikTok with an unmissable event by Naturally Los Angeles, now featuring a powerhouse lineup including the dynamic Cameron Gould-Saltman, head of food & beverage, Tik Tok Shop, and three newly announced digital marketing titans:
- Enlil Shalimoon, head of performance marketing at Gorgie
- Eddie Hsieh, CEO of OverCast Digital
- JT Barnett, the innovative founder of Barnett
Why You Can't Miss This:
- Expert Insights & Strategies: From the secrets of engaging millions to mastering TikTok's algorithm, our expanded panel brings you frontline strategies from the digital marketing world.
- Network with the Best: Connect with industry leaders, influencers, and fellow Naturally Los Angeles members in an environment ripe for opportunity.
- Interactive Q&A: Tailor advice to your brand's needs with direct access to our experts.
Naturally Bay Area
Morning Meet & Mingle
Friday, April 12 | 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT
Location: Fort Mason Equator, San Francisco
Join Naturally Bay Area and Mattson for a morning of connection and community building at the Naturally Bay Area Morning Meet & Mingle! Come meet fellow industry professionals, network, and learn more about our growing community. This is a free event for members only. This hang-out is a great opportunity to:
- Connect with like-minded individuals in the natural products industry
- Expand your network and build new relationships
- Learn more about Naturally Bay Area and our mission
Naturally Boulder
Grocery Box Fill with Conscious Alliance
Friday, April 12 | 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Conscious Alliance, 3801 Industrial Ln, Broomfield, CO
For the first time ever – Naturally Boulder partners with Conscious Alliance, this year's give-back partner, for a day of volunteering to correspond with Earth Month!