Leading Greek yogurt manufacturer Chobani is opening its call for applications to the inaugural class of the Chobani Food Incubator. Searching to invest in and cultivate like-minded emerging entrepreneurs, the company designed the program to help individuals and small food companies with big ideas “follow the path to challenge the food industry, improve broken systems and make a difference.”
“Natural food start-ups with the right mindset can make a big difference,” says Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani. “I know that getting started can be the hardest part of the journey, so I designed the Chobani Food Incubator to share what we’ve learned when it comes to scaling up, challenging the big guys and fighting convention. This is a no-strings-attached, grant-based program to support entrepreneurs so we can further fuel the food revolution.”
The inaugural class of the Chobani Food Incubator will run from October 2016 to March 2017, based out of a dedicated space designed for the incubator at Chobani in New York City. The six-month Food Incubator program will provide the entrepreneurs with the resources—including a $25,000 grant—workspace and support to develop their ideas. The program will include classes and training programs led by the Chobani leadership team. Food industry areas of expertise covered by experts in the training programs include: building a sustainable business; team building and scaling; brand and marketing; packaging and pricing; sales and retail strategy; innovation and manufacturing; food quality and safety; and nutrition and food labeling. At the end of the program, each company will be provided the opportunity to present to food distributors and retailers.
Applicants are asked to electronically submit information about their products along with a short video and biographical information by Aug. 10, 2016. Finalists will be notified by Sept. 15, 2016. Applications and additional information are available at chobanifoodincubator.com.
