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Food Future
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light many realities that surround our existence and survival, including the importance of food. During the onslaught of the disease, restrictions on the movement of people and goods have resulted in the shortage of many basic commodities, and we realized that we can give up other supplies but not food. It was proven that whatever the circumstances, the demand for food across geographic locations and economic conditions will always remain relatively constant. The pandemic has also exposed the fragility of our food system and emphasized the need to accelerate innovation in order to
What is a Food Accelerator? Some enterprises use business accelerators and incubators interchangeably. But are they one and the same? Consider a business accelerator as hitting the gas or brakes, turning the steering wheel, and achieving velocity. Meanwhile, a business incubator is as simple as revving the engine. Both intend to reach a destination. In the business sense, accelerators speed up the growth—the “velocity”—of an existing or even already well-established company. Incubators, on the other hand, make business ideas “safe and warm” in order for these to grow. Although both provide
Entrepreneurs often have great business ideas but they are unsure how to execute these. Some have actual plans, but lack the resources, such as physical facilities and financing, to get the business up and running. Other entrepreneurs may lack the confidence to face perceived challenges, particularly if they are new to the industry in which they wish to carve a niche. This is where business incubator programs come in. An incubator program refers to a wide range of resources and services provided to help newly established businesses become viable and self-sustaining enterprises. Incubators generally groom a
It is no secret that food tech plays an important role in the future of our food system. From agricultural technology to patents, utilizing advancements in technology can be vital in the continuous evolution of our food system. Among these advancements, the increased use of AI or artificial intelligence in the food system is proving to be a powerful and useful tool. Sarah Lynch is the founder and CEO of Mama Gaia, a company building AI-powered, self-service Smart Fridges that are stocked daily with the freshest locally sourced grab-and-go food. Sarah and Mama Gaia were part of Cohort 6 of our accelerator, where Sarah
Marketing is crucial for anyone looking to attract new customers and fend off competition in the highly competitive, multi-billion industry of food production and services. With countless food businesses out there, how can you create the best food business marketing plan? As with most industries, marketing campaigns for food businesses are not a simple or one step process. The key marketing strategy for food businesses is to first identify a target niche or customer segment. Based upon that target audience, the business must determine what message or unique selling proposition they are trying to communicate. Finally,
Seasoned accelerator Director to debut companies at Summer Fancy Food Show NEW YORK, NY - June 22, 2023 - FoodFutureCo (FFC), the pioneering food accelerator dedicated to supporting impact and mission-driven startups in the food and ag-tech space, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Andy Simon as its first Managing Director. With a proven track record of driving transformative change in the startup accelerator space, Andy will play a pivotal role in propelling our mission to the next level. As a food accelerator committed to fostering innovation, FFC recognizes the need for disruptive ideas
Starting a food business is an exciting and lucrative endeavor, but it is widely acknowledged that the first year presents its own challenges. According to statistical evidence from industry insiders, up to 60% of new food businesses fail within the first year. Still, these problems can be solved with smart strategies and a reliable support system, allowing entrepreneurs to start businesses that do well. Finding Your Niche Finding a niche in a competitive market may be one of the first challenges for new food businesses. To differentiate yourself from the competition, you must identify a unique selling point that
We are so excited to highlight Carlos Posada of Quo Agro Justo! “Right now, the intermediaries make most of the profit, so being against the traditional food chain and showing that there is a better and more fair way to deliver sustainable products, requires a strong working capital.” Carlos Posada is the founding director of Quo Agro Justo, a Colombia-based social enterprise using technology to bridge the gap between producers and consumers. They seek to create a social impact on small and medium farmers by working to distribute their products to restaurants and institutions through fair
The future of food is a complex topic filled with various avenues of solution. However, sometimes the biggest matters, like changing the food system, can be impacted by personal mission and passion. Michel Nischan is a four-time James Beard Award winning chef who for over 30 years has been a leader in advocating for a better food system. Inspired by his upbringing on a farm and a passion for good food, he became a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement and founded Wholesome Wave, a national non-profit created to help tackle nutrition insecurity in vulnerable populations, and Wholesome Crave, a for-profit plant-based
On Janurary 11th, we celebrated our Cohort 7 and 8 companies at our 7th UnDemo Day! As our amazing FFC community and guests started arriving at our awesome venue, Project Farmhouse, there was already an amazing energy filling the space. We were all so thankful to be gathering in person (for the first time in awhile) to celebrate the achievements of our founders and share great conversation, great company and great food and drink. Following opening remarks from FFC Founder Shen Tong, health and food pioneer and advocate, Michel Nischan took the stage with an inspirational and impactful talk as our keynote speaker.