AB InBev names 17 companies for latest accelerator programme

AB InBev has announced that 17 companies working towards sustainability solutions across the food, water, packaging and waste industries, have been selected to join the second cohort of its 100+ Accelerator programme.

Each of the start-ups will receive up to $100,000 as well as the opportunity for follow-on investment at a demo day later in the year.

The programme is intended to provide the start-ups with the tools, resources and contacts they need to implement and scale their solutions.

In New York this week, the 17 start-ups participated in a three-day workshop that offered training, network advice and technical expertise.

Through its 100+ Accelerator programme, which was initially launched in August 2018, InBev said it was looking for partners who can deliver breakthrough advancements in renewable energy, recycling, hydro technologies, farm quality and yield, reducing harmful used of alcohol and re-using brewing by-product.

The programme contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and AB InBev’s 2025 Sustainability Goals.

One of the companies that has been selected is Comet Bio, which has developed a process to extract nutrition from food system waste. Its portfolio includes Arrabina, a prebiotic dietary fibre from upcycled crop leftovers.

“We are excited to partner with AB InBev to pilot their saved grains in our process. AB InBev’s Waste to Wellbeing Challenge aligns perfectly with Comet’s core capability of extracting nutrition from food system waste,” said Richard Troyer, CEO of Comet Bio.

The selected start-ups

• Asarasi – Extracts pure, naturally filtered water from living Maple trees to create sustainable and renewable, bottled sparkling water
• CH Bioforce – Ethical sustainable and cost-competitive method to replace fossil-based materials and cotton
• Club Soda – Mindful drinking movement and community
• Comet Bio – Healthy and sustainable ingredients from upcycled crop leftovers
• Conscious Container – Developing a refillable glass bottle system
• Ecopackers – Harnesses the power of plants to help existing plastic manufacturers create single use plastics in a 100% eco-friendly and non-toxic way
• Globelet – Produces trackable, reusable products that can be linked back to their factories to be washed and reused
• Greenline Africa – Reduces carbon dioxide emissions with green technology
• Project X – Addresses large waste dumps from tourism industry in the Dominican Republic
• Gybe – Offers water quality information to businesses and governments
• MIBA – Turns waste into powder to be used for creating new products
• Nomo Waste – Creates more efficient recycling solutions
• OKO – Offers a turnkey crop insurance solution
• Plataforma Verde – Offers a solid waste management software platform
• Shianco – Turns rice husks into building materials
• Upcycled Nutrients – Transforms recovered nutrients to produce enhanced efficiency fertilisers
• Zoom Agri – Determines quality of agricultural commodities via image processing

Maisie Devine, 100+ Accelerator global director, said: “Every year, I am so impressed and inspired by the entrepreneurs solving key sustainability challenges for global supply chains. Combined with the scale and reach of AB InBev, they have the ability to truly change our world.”