PepsiCo’s eight start-ups has announced for its Greenhouse Accelerator Program: Juntos Crecemos (Together We Grow) Edition. This program, now in its second year, aims to support high-potential food and beverage brands inspired by Hispanic flavors and culture. Each selected start-up will receive $20,000 to develop their innovative business solutions and join a five-month mentorship program, with a chance to win an additional $100,000.
PepsiCo’s Eight Start-Ups for Innovation and Potentiality
The eight finalists were selected for their innovative products, scalability, and commitment to quality, sustainability, and community engagement. These emerging businesses come from various parts of the United States:
- JAS (Dallas, Texas): Crafts alcohol-free cocktails with adaptogens, botanicals, and real ingredients, offering vibrant flavors like Paloma Libre.
- JaziLupini (Rochester, New York): Provides plant-based, gluten-free pasta inspired by Latin American cuisine, made from organic ingredients.
- Mayawell (Austin, Texas): Offers Mexican-inspired prebiotic sodas sweetened with organic agave and Active Agave™ inulin, in flavors like strawberry ginger and pineapple mango.
- Nemi (Chicago, Illinois): Produces crunchy snacks made with nopales, seeds, and mercado-fresh spices, in five distinct flavors.
- PAKTLI (Cincinnati, Ohio): Crafts artisan super snacks with organic puffed amaranth, quinoa, millet, chocolates, dried fruits, and nuts.
- Pricklee (New York, New York): Offers a natural hydration beverage made from real prickly pear cactus, packed with electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamin C.
- TOAST-IT® (Miami, Florida): Provides gluten-free Latin American staples like arepas and pandebono bites, made with authentic ingredients.
- ¡Ya Oaxaca! (Austin, Texas): Crafts artisanal mole sauces, adobos, and salsas with premium, non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan ingredients.
PepsiCo’s Commitment to Supporting Start-Ups
Esperanza Teasdale, Vice President & General Manager of PepsiCo Beverages North America’s Hispanic Business Unit, expressed excitement about the new cohort. “Building on last year’s success, we are thrilled to nurture these eight ventures towards sustainable success,” she said.
The PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator Program, which launched with an event at Frito-Lay headquarters in Plano, Texas, pairs each start-up with mentors who are experts in research and development, supply chain, design, and more. The mentors will guide the finalists over the next five months.
A Path to Success and Industry Innovation
At the end of the mentorship program, each start-up will present their progress. And will show how to implement learnings to accelerate business growth. An expert selection committee will then choose one finalist to receive an additional $100,000 to further their progress.
Antonio Escalona, Senior Vice President of Emerging Business for PepsiCo Foods North America, emphasized the program’s impact. “This program supports the expansion of innovative ventures and brings forth products that meet evolving consumer tastes,” he said.
The PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator Program, now in its ninth cycle, initially launched in Europe in 2017. It continues to foster sustainable entrepreneurial growth and support the start-up ecosystem.
Daniel Grubbs, Global Chief Venturing & Investment Officer and Head of PepsiCo Ventures Group, highlighted the program’s mission. “By leveraging our deep expertise and the invaluable guidance from our mentors, we are helping to identify and foster the success of these great entrepreneurs and companies,” he said.
PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator Program:
Juntos Crecemos Edition not only aims to elevate Hispanic-inspired brands but also to drive forward innovation and sustainability in the food and beverage industry.
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