Food Venture Financing News - Weekly Issue No. 212

In This Issue:

• Food Venture Financing Trends
• CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
• Links to Relevant Content and Events

Food Venture Financing Trends

• Keurig Dr Pepper announced that it plans to acquire GHOST, an energy drink brand, for $1 billion.
• J.M. Smucker will plan to sell its Voortman cookie business to Second Nature Brands for $305 million.
• Stellapps Technologies, a dairytech startup, announced that it raised $26 million in Series C equity and debt round.
• Agtonomy, an AI software agtech startup, announced that it raised $10 million in its Series A round.

CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund

This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Fonterra Ventures Co-Lab.

• In 2016, Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, launched the Fonterra Ventures Co-Lab. This open platform is designed to establish potential partnerships with entrepreneurial individuals and businesses.
• Through its platform, Fonterra Ventures encourages the submission of innovative ideas and concepts from both startups and large corporations in various domains, including new technologies, services, and business models, to promote mutual benefits.

Links to Relevant Content and Events

ARTICLES

• Blue Stripes raises $20 million in Series B funding

• Hydrosome Labs Secures $3.7 Million in Seed Funding to Expand Sales and R&D

• Carbon Robotics eyes new regions, products with $70m raise: 'We're focused very intently on the field'

• Agtonomy hails 'common-sense' approach after raising $32.8 million

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Register

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 Agreements (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

Register

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.

Register

Naturally Colorado
Women in CPG: Networking & Community Building

Monday, November 11 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT

Join Naturally Colorado for a special evening dedicated to empowering and connecting women in the CPG industry! Whether you're a founder, brand leader, service provider, or curious about the CPG industry this event is designed to foster meaningful relationships and inspire growth within our industry.

Presenting Partners:

• Aurora Organic Dairy
• Sonder Accounting
• Vivid Leader

Register

Naturally Colorado
Women in CPG Summit

November 12 & 13 (CST)

This 2-day event is crafted for current and future entrepreneurs through virtual sessions, with a strong emphasis on networking and community building. Attendees will have the opportunity to foster meaningful connections, share diverse and inclusive stories, and leave with actionable takeaways. With a purposeful focus on uplifting diverse-owned businesses, this summit aims to strengthen and enrich the CPG ecosystem for all.

Register