Dairy Farmers of America and Sprint have announced the companies selected to take part in their 2018 accelerator programme, including start-ups focused on agricultural technology and dairy food products.
The accelerator is a 90-day, immersive scheme which continues until June. Start-ups will work directly with leaders from Sprint and DFA as well as other industry experts and mentors. DFA will also be joined by CoBank as a supportive partner.
This year’s participants come from cities around the US and Canada and are working to develop both hardware and software-based solutions.
The accelerator finalists in full:
DFA will provide mentorship, connections and resources to help accelerate the growth of the start-ups selected.
Features of the programme include: targeted, strategic meetings with the corporate partner teams to discuss business development, pilots and potential sponsorships; business building sessions around product, brand, marketing and entrepreneurship; and workspace facilities provided at Sprint Accelerator in Kansas City’s crossroads arts district.
Kevin Strathman, senior vice president of finance at DFA, said: “We’ve found tremendous value in this programme and leveraging innovation that’s happening with start-up companies in the ag-tech space.
“For year two, we’re focused not only on building partnerships that can help solve problems and benefit our members on their farms, but it’s also exciting to add dairy food start-ups into the mix. We’re looking forward to working with these companies to help grow their businesses and ultimately drive consumer demand for dairy.”
New York-based ice cream sandwich maker Too Cool Chix is among the start-ups to have been selected
The launch follows the second edition of the Grupo Bimbo incubator programme which was announced last week.
Tyson has also revealed plans to work with two business development initiatives in the US, and UK start-up Erbology received a €100 million grant as part of PepsiCo’s Nutrition Greenhouse incubator.
Last year Chobani announced the second round of start-ups to take part in its incubator programme, which was created as a means of encouraging new brands to “challenge big food companies”.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024