AEB, JPG Resources announces next Founder Cohort participants

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AEB, JPG Resources announces next Founder Cohort participants

10 Jul 2026

Annie Hollon

Annie Hollon is a journalist, copywriter and social media strategist from the Dallas, Texas area. She found a love for magazine writing during her time at the University of Alabama where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in public relations and English. Beyond writing, you can find her expanding her library, attempting to teach herself the guitar and trying new hobbies.

CHICAGO — At the start of 2026, a new program designed with early-stage food and beverage brands in mind stepped onto the CPG scene. The Founder Cohort, presented by the American Egg Board (AEB) in partnership with JPG Resources, is a six-month virtual program offering founders of egg-forward products the tools and resources needed to take their businesses to the next level.

Just as the inaugural group of participants completes its time in the program, the next collection of entrepreneurs will start their journey in the latest edition of the Founder Cohort.

“Following the success of our inaugural cohort, we’re excited to welcome another talented group of founders whose creativity and passion showcase the versatility of eggs across a wide range of food categories,” said Andrea Chan, associate director, business development at AEB. “These entrepreneurs are developing products that meet evolving consumer needs while demonstrating the unique functional and nutritional benefits eggs bring to food innovation.”

Of the eight participating brands in the latest cohort, three are members of the baking industry.

Chicago-based Cookies with Tiffany is a woman-owned company founded by Tiffany Lewis. The Founder Cohort has provided the opportunity for her to learn from and connect with other entrepreneurs. It has also offered inspiration for how to expand her business beyond its current structure, which includes nationwide shipping via a subscription service, corporate and event gifting, and weekly pop-ups.

“It has given me the space to step back from the day-to-day, think more strategically and explore how Cookies with Tiffany can evolve into a scalable, shelf-stable, experience-driven brand primed for CPG,” she said. “Through the Cohort, I hope to gain a clearer roadmap and the tools needed to take the brand into its next chapter while staying true to our mission of creating joy, comfort and connection through cookies.”

“The founders selected bring fresh ideas, unique perspectives and compelling products to the marketplace.” — Howie Sher | growth and innovation partnerships | JPG Resources

Emma’s Mixed-up Mondelbrot — also based in Chicago and led by Adam Klingher, Sam Klingher and Amy Corday — is a CPG brand distributing its twice-baked Jewish almond bread through specialty coffee shops and e-commerce. The trio leading the bakery brand shared they’ve benefited from the advice offered by food industry experts through the program and look forward to gaining additional information on areas they may not be as familiar with.

Rita Shabo, owner of Crescendo Cookies, which offers a low-glycemic, better-for-you take on a classic chocolate chip cookie, seeks to leverage the insights and resources from the AEB program to build her confidence as a founder and strengthen her business acumen.

“I’m interested in continuing to learn about the many details that go into running a business: the legal, financial and operational aspects that happen behind the scenes, some of which we’ve already covered,” Shabo said. “Usually, the focus is on developing the product and marketing it, but I’m looking forward to gaining a better understanding of the backend involved in building a strong business.”

The program features 12 bi-weekly sessions, offering essential information on topics ranging from branding and marketing to product development and supply chain management. Beyond the sessions, participating entrepreneurs receive one-on-one advisory support as well as access to a network of industry veterans.

“This cohort continues demonstrating the incredible innovation happening throughout the food and beverage landscape,” said Howie Sher, growth and innovation partnerships at JPG Resources. “The founders selected bring fresh ideas, unique perspectives and compelling products to the marketplace. We’re excited to help them build strong foundations for long-term growth.”

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