In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- xFarm Technologies, an Italian-based farm management platform, announced that it raised 36 million Euros in its Series C financing.
- The Jackfruit Company, a startup that develops jackfruit products, announced that it raised $5 million in its Series B extension.
- California Cultured, a startup that utilizes plant cell culture to develop cacao, announced that it raised funding from Sparkalis, the corporate venture arm of Puratos.
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
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Chicago
Day of the Dead Party IV
Wednesday, October 30 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark St., Chicago, Il
Naturally Chicago's Day of the Dead IV (Dia de los Muertos) celebration will be held again with Uncommon Ground in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. on the 30th. Come early and bring a healthy appetite, a thirst for organic beer from Uncommon Ground's on-site Greenstar brewery and delicious cocktails, and if you like, a token for our Day of the Dead altar.
Naturally Colorado
Networking Collision
Wednesday, October 30 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: Blind Tiger Lounge, 3040 Blake Street #131 Denver, CO
Naturally Colorado and Better Buzz Brands (Hooch Booch, Corpse Reviver and The Blind Tiger Lounge) are joining up for a fun networking event at their taproom. And this one should be just as scary as it is fun as everyone gathers on Halloween Eve.
This is the latest installment of Naturally Colorado's Collision Series of Networking Events—a low-key, relaxed series of no-registration-required connection opportunities where you'll run into old friends and connect with new contacts. Want a chance to meet more folks in the natural and organic products industry? This is a free event; pre-registration is available but not required. Keep an eye out for Naturally Colorado's board hosts, Erin and Joelle.
Naturally Bay Area
Maximize Your Reach with Local & Regional Distributors in NorCal (Members Only)
Wednesday, October 30 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PT
Location: Block Community Hub, 1955 Broadway, Oakland, CA
This is a two-part event: panel discussion + table-top sampling showcase.
This event will kick off with a panel discussion about how to effectively navigate distribution channels, collaborate with distributor teams, and expand your brand's reach across the Bay Area and beyond. You'll hear from:
- Ahmed Chehade, Good Stuff Distributors
- Hugh Rosen, Gus's Community Market
- Quin Graddy, Canyon Market
Naturally Colorado
Streamlining Success: Navigating Tax Essentials for Early-Stage CPG Brands
Thursday, November 7 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. MT
Join your Naturally Boulder community for a deep-dive webinar on essential tax considerations for early-stage CPG brands. This session will cover critical aspects of tax compliance and planning, offering practical knowledge and resources to simplify the complexity. Speaker, Kara Janowsky, Founder and CEO of Sonder Accounting, has supported the finance needs of over 100 CPG brands since 2016, from pre-revenue proforma through complex consolidated tax returns. She'll bring a wealth of expertise and tangible resources on tax matters specifically for consumer brands founders.
The follow topics will be covered:
- Choosing the right business entity: Sole proprietorships, LLCs, and S Corporations
- Tax implications and strategies for each entity type
- Income tax strategies: Deductions, credits, and quarterly payments
- Sales tax essentials: License registration, reporting, and tools like TaxJar
- Payroll taxes: Employer responsibilities and managing 1099 contractors vs. W-2 employees
Don't miss this opportunity to learn alongside other CPG founders and equip yourself with the tax knowledge needed for your brand's success.
Naturally New York
Unpacking the Co-Manufacturing Relationship
Thursday, November 7 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Join representatives from Kerry, JPG Resources, Nutter, and PartnerSlate as they share their expertise and real-world experiences on navigating the complexities of co-manufacturing relationships. This informative event will delve into key topics such as:
- Manufacturer Service Agreement (MSA): Learn how to draft comprehensive MSAs that protect your interests and ensure a smooth partnership.
- Quality Assurance Expectations: Understand best practices for setting and maintaining high-quality standards throughout the co-manufacturing process.
- Procurement Fulfillment: Discover strategies for efficient and reliable procurement and fulfillment to meet your production needs.
- Backup Suppliers and Contingency Planning: Learn how to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity with backup suppliers and effective contingency plans.
Speakers:
- Veronica Lehman, Partner at JPG Resources
- Jeremy Halpern, Partner at Nutter
- Mary Drew, FSQ Director Third Party Manufacturing of Kerry
- Vince Tseng, Co-Founder & CEO of PartnerSlate
Naturally Colorado
Women in CPG Event Sponsorship Opportunities
Monday, November 11 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT
Jane Miller, CEO of Rudi's Rocky Mountain Bakery will talk about her career path as a female CEO in CPG—how she got her start in this industry, who were her mentors, what were the challenges she faced, and most importantly what advice she has for women in CPG.