Scaling Small Business Success in Protein Innovation

Bold Growth Program

MBOLD”s "Bold Growth” mentorship program helps small businesses that are innovating in the protein space scale up with coaching from senior leaders from MBOLD member companies and corporate partners. We help start-up and scale-up businesses achieve their potential through tailored, confidential mentoring by food and agriculture executives.

The 9-month Bold Growth program is open to companies anywhere in the world that:

are solving an important protein innovation problem that addresses a clear business need
have annual revenue up to $50 million and strong growth potential
want to enter or expand their presence in the U.S. market

MBOLD provides selected companies with:

a handpicked team of 2-3 industry mentors withthe expertise most needed to unlock their growth, through confidential ongoing mentorship calls
a customized trip to Minneapolis–Saint Paul withother cohort members
free participation with no equity taken

To date, Bold Growth mentors have included leaders from Bread and Butter Ventures, Cargill, CHS, Compeer Financial, Ecolab, General Mills, Hormel Foods, McKinsey & Co., NielsenIQ, PURIS, Schwan’s Co., SunOpta, Target, United Health Group and the University of Minnesota. We have provided confidential, tailored mentoring to small businesses on topics ranging from new product development to navigating the U.S. regulatory environment, national distribution through refrigerated and frozen food channels, brand development, manufacturing scale-up and marketing strategy, among others.

View our video for more information about Bold Growth. Our next application process will likely occur in fall 2026.

2026 Bold Growth cohort

Bold Growth – Past Participants

Bold Growth is managed by MBOLD in collaboration with Naturally Minnesota and AURI with support from Builders Vision Philanthropy and MBOLD members.

Plug and Play Minnesota Partnership

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:

Day 8 upcycles unused crop leaves to produce high-quality & cost-effective Rubisco protein – often referred to as the “holy grail” of plant-based proteins.
Genesea Advanced Technologies brings a breakthrough seaweed protein technology with proprietary, chemical-free extraction validated at pilot scale and proven in mainstream food formats such as pasta, bread, and snacks.
Lemna Pro has pioneered a groundbreaking plant-based functional protein derived from Water Lentil.
Oobli is the world's first and only commercial-scale sweet protein technology platform focused on sugar reduction without compromising taste or health.

See more of MBOLD in action

MBOLD is driving innovation in the sustainability of plant, alternative and traditional proteins.

Learn more