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MBOLD is committed to advancing the sustainability of plant, alternative and traditional proteins and we recognize the critical importance of promising start-ups in driving needed innovation. Our "Bold Growth" mentorship program is here to help.
MBOLD’s “Bold Growth” mentorship program helps start-ups scale up with coaching by senior leaders from MBOLD member companies and our Minnesota-based network of corporate food and agriculture partners.
Bold Growth mentors have provided tailored guidance to young businesses on topics including new product development, navigating the U.S. regulatory environment, national distribution through refrigerated and frozen food channels, brand development, manufacturing scale-up, marketing strategy, and more. To date, leaders from Target, Cargill, General Mills, Compeer Financial, SunOpta, Schwan's Company, Ecolab, Hormel, McKinsey & Co., Bread & Butter Ventures and the University of Minnesota have served as Bold Growth advisors.
As part of MBOLD’s broader effort to drive innovation with plant-based and traditional proteins, Bold Growth now focuses on start-ups based in Minnesota and around the world that have innovative solutions for plant-based proteins or animal feed and that want to launch or expand their presence in the U.S. market.
Bold Growth provides a handpicked team of 3–4 industry mentors with the expertise most needed by chosen companies given the unique growth challenges that they want to address. We design additional educational opportunities to suit participating companies. We sponsor Bold Growth companies from outside the U.S. to join us for a week in Minneapolis-Saint Paul to meet in person with priority stakeholders. Best of all, the Bold Growth program is free to chosen participants and no equity is taken.
We use an on-line application process to select participants. We anticipate that the next application period will open in Fall 2025. You can learn more about the program and our 2024 application process in our video below.
Announced January 2025:
Canadian protein companies chosen for inaugural Bold Growth International cohort
We are excited to announce that two terrific Canadian start-ups have been selected for the inaugural cohort of MBOLD’s Bold Growth International program:
“Canada and the United States share a $1 trillion trade and investment relationship, with deeply integrated supply chains, especially in the agriculture and agri-foods sectors,” said Beth Richardson, Consul General of Canada in Minneapolis. “We’re proud to see two Canadian start-ups selected for MBOLD’s program. The plant protein industry is important to Canada’s economy and we look forward to these companies expanding their presence in the U.S. market with mentorship from MBOLD’s vibrant coalition of industry leaders.”
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Bold Growth is managed by MBOLD in collaboration with Naturally Minnesota and AURI with support from MN DEED, Builders Initiative and MBOLD members.
MBOLD is driving innovation in the sustainability of plant, alternative and traditional proteins.
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