CHICAGO — SnackFutures, the Mondelez International, Inc. innovation and venture hub, has selected nine brands to participate in the third cohort of its CoLab start-up program.
The engagement program, which launched in 2021, helps build a portfolio of disruptive brands and venture pipeline for the global snacking leader. This year, CoLab looked for start-ups that are focused on making snacking delicious and that can strengthen Mondelez’ core business, as well as provide the potential to explore new categories.
The nine participants are:
- CocoTerra is an entrepreneurial personal chocolate maker. The CocoTerra machine enables chocolate lovers to create their own dark, milk and white chocolate at home.
- DreamPops aims to create plant-based, clean label frozen pops, bites and shelf-stable candy crunch.
- Freezcake manufacturers from-scratch cheesecake bites crafted by a pastry chef manufacturer. The bites are ultra-dried at the height of freshness.
- Incredible Eats produces edible spoons and straws as an alternative to single-use plastic utensils. They come in sweet and savory options, function for about an hour in cold foods, and replace the use of single use plastics and dirty silverware.
- Legally Addictive manufactures cracker-based cookies that features a sweet and salty experience in one bite. The cracker base is topped with chocolate and handmade salted toffee and comes in a variety of flavors.
- Mezcla produces crunchy snack bars from a combination of puff-crispy texture and plant protein in unique flavor profiles.
- New Gem offers plant-based wraps for fruits and vegetables using innovative technology that makes them alternatives to bread, tortillas and seaweed.
- Steiner’s Coffee Cake manufactures gluten-free coffee cake using its original family recipe.
- Whoa Dough is a shelf-stable cookie dough bar created for health-conscious consumers. This ‘on-the-go’ version is plant-based, gluten-free and vegan.
“SnackFutures’ focus is to curate a portfolio of disruptive brands that can give Mondelez International first-mover advantage on snack innovation, get us even closer to the consumer, and accelerate our financial, reputational, and cultural growth,” said Jackie Haney, head of CoLab. “CoLab is pivotal to that because it allows us to work with, learn from and nurture early-stage brands that have the potential to scale.”
Program participants receive a 12-week curriculum of virtual and hands-on sessions, networking opportunities and a $20,000 grant.
