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MBOLD is committed to advancing innovation in the protein sector and we recognize the critical importance of promising start-ups in driving needed innovation. We are supporting start-up and scale-up protein companies’ success in multiple ways -- through our Bold Growth mentorship program, our new Bold Growth Exchange, our pitch slam at Bridge2Food North America, and partnership with Plug and Play Minnesota’s accelerator program.
MBOLD’s Bold Growth mentorship program helps high-growth protein innovation businesses scale up smarter and faster through in-depth coachingby executives from MBOLD member companies and corporate partners. Participationis free with no equity taken and includes a trip to Minneapolis with curatedmeetings and events.
To date, Bold Growth mentors have included leaders from Bread and Butter Ventures, Cargill, CHS, Compeer Financial, Ecolab, General Mills, Hormel Foods,McKinsey & Co., Nielsen IQ, Schwan’s Co., Scoular, SunOpta, Target, and the University of Minnesota, among others.
Each selected company is matched with 2-3 mentors from MBOLD’s corporatenetwork. Bold Growth mentors provide confidential, tailored monthly mentorshipcalls on topics ranging from new product development to navigating the U.S.regulatory environment, national distribution through refrigerated and frozenfood channels, brand development, manufacturing scale-up and marketingstrategy, among many others.
The 2027 Bold Growth program will run from approximately February - October 2027.
Learn more in our short video. Reach out to MBOLD with questions: info@mbold.org
Powered by MBOLD, Protein Industries Canada and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands along with the Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis and Protein Port, this new virtual session-based cohort experience benefits early-stage protein companies from the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands that seek pre-scale-up support and industry connections.
Bold Growth Exchange participants will make international connections and engage in expert presentations and peer discussion on topics including Go-to-Market Strategies, Unlocking Growth Capital, and Building Strategic Partnerships Across the Value Chain. Participationis free of charge for selected companies.
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MBOLD is partnering with Plug and Play Minnesota to work with a variety of protein innovation companies from around the world. Plug and Play Tech Center is a global innovation and investment platform headquartered in Silicon Valley with 60 locations around the world in 25 industries backed by more than 550 partners including top global companies, government agencies, and universities. Plug and Play helps drive growth by connecting startup and scaleup companies urgent problems with PNP anchor partners across the planet.
MBOLD is part of the GREATER MSP Partnership, which is an anchor partner in Plug and Play Minnesota alongside companies like Allianz Life, Carlson, and Old National Bank. Plug and Play worked with these anchors, the University of Minnesota, and other companies to search for companies around the world that are focusing on priority technologies and industries that matter to Minnesota with a lens on sustainability, with protein innovation as one of the top priorities.
Congratulations to these up-and-coming innovators:
We are excited to host our 2026 Protein Innovation Pitch Slam at the Bridge2Food North America Summit on October 14, 2026, in partnership with Protein Industries Canada and Bridge2Food in Minneapolis. This year’s pitch slam features a dynamic line-up of plant and alternative protein innovation companies from Canada, Finland, France, the Netherlands and the U.S.:
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Register now to attend the 2026 pitch slam and conference.
Bold Growth is managed by MBOLD in collaboration with Naturally Minnesota and AURI with support from Builders Vision Philanthropy and MBOLD members.
MBOLD is driving innovation in the sustainability of plant, alternative and traditional proteins.
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