In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Duckhorn Portfolio, a luxury wine company, announced that it was being acquired by Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, for $1.95 billion in a cash transaction.
- Moët Hennessy, the luxury wine and spirits producer, announced a minority investment in French Bloom, a nonalcoholic sparkling wine brand.
- SnackFutures Ventures, Mondelēz International’s corporate venture capital arm, acquired a minority stake in Urban Legend, a UK-based fresh doughnut and pastry brand.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund 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
- Global Demand for Seafood is Soaring But How Well Funded Are Aquatic Food Tech Startups?
- Agrospheres Lands Additional Series B Funding to ‘Take a Giant Leap Forward’ in Bringing Biopesticides to Market
- Lucky Energy Raises $11.75 Million in Oversubscribed Series A Funding Round
- Kubota North America Corporation Acquires Bloomfield Robotics, Inc.
- Foreverland Secures €3.4 Million to “Redefine the Future of Chocolate and the Food Industry” with Carob-Based Alt Chocolate
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally New York
Investor Bootcamp: Mastering Capital Raising & Smart Investment Strategies
Tuesday, October 15 | 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Pavilion, 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
Join Naturally New York for the second session of the Investor Bootcamp, including fireside chats among debt and equity providers from our NNY community followed by an informative discussion on what business owners should not lose sight of during the earlier stages of their business.
Speakers:
- Evan Waggoner, Director of SG Credit Partners
- Julie Baghajian, VP Underwriting at Bank of America
- Paul Schuldiner, EVP & Chief Lending Officer at Rosenthal & Rosenthal
- Andrew Reynolds, Managing partner at RCV Frontline
- Hallie Bonnar, Co-Founder & Partner of New Fare Partners
- Roy Chin, Principal at North Castle Partners
- Sean Conner, Co-Founder of ForceBrands
- Blake Horn, Partner at Giannuzzi Lewendon
Naturally North Bay
Human Resources Roundtable + Legal Updates
*NNB + NBA MEMBERS ONLY*
Tuesday, October 15 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
Join Naturally North Bay's Human Resources Forum for a roundtable discussion focusing on the sharing of best practices, experiences and thoughtful pieces of advice to other professionals within the world of HR.
Naturally Network
New Chapter Info Session
Tuesday, October 15 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT
Whether you're passionate about fostering community in the natural products industry or looking to bring Naturally Network's mission to your local area, this meeting will provide insights into the chapter development process, new chapter timeline, key resources, and the support available to help you succeed.
You'll also have the chance to connect with other like-minded leaders and get your questions answered by our team. Don't miss this opportunity to help grow the Naturally community!
Naturally Bay Area
Quick Bites: Raising Capital Part 1: Finding Early-Stage Equity Investors
Wednesday, October 16 | 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. PT
Join Naturally Bay Area for Part 1 of our Raising Capital Series, "Finding Early-Stage Equity Investors." Our expert panel will dive into current trends and actionable insights to help natural CPG products companies secure funding in today's market. Topics that will be discussed:
- How food venture funding has fared so far in 2024, and which sectors are attracting the most investment
- How and where to start looking for early-stage capital
- Key metrics investors are focusing on in the current environment
- What corporate venture capital arms are seeking compared to angel or PE investors
- And more!
Whether you're seeking your first round of funding or positioning for growth, this session will equip you with crucial strategies for attracting early-stage investors.
Naturally New York
CPG Startup Finance Stack: Streamlining Your Financial Toolkit
Thursday, October 17 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Are you a CPG startup founder overwhelmed by the multitude of financial apps and tools available? Many of these solutions are enterprise-level and come with hefty price tags. How do you navigate this sea of options to select the tools that best fit your needs without breaking the bank?
Join Naturally New York for an insightful webinar that tackles the challenge of app overload and unveils the essential financial tools and strategies to fuel your growth efficiently!
Speaker:
- Alice Zhang, Founder & CEO of myPocketCFO