Scaling Small Business Success in Protein Innovation

Bold Growth Program

MBOLD’s “Bold Growth” mentorship program helps start-ups scale up through coaching by senior leaders from MBOLD member companies and our network of Minnesota-based corporate food and agriculture partners. Bold Growth provides a handpicked team of 3–4 industry mentors with the expertise most needed by chosen companies. Participation is free with no equity taken. 

Bold Growth mentors have provided tailored guidance 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, Schwan's Company, McKinsey & Co., SunOpta, Ecolab, Hormel, Bread & Butter Ventures, UnitedHealth Group and the University of Minnesota have served as Bold Growth advisors. 
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As part of MBOLD’s broader effort to  drive innovation with plant-based and traditional proteins, Bold Growth focuses on start-ups 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.  We will accept applications for the Bold Growth program’s next cohort in fall 2025, so please watch this space.

You can learn more about Bold Growth and the 2024 application process in our video below.

Bold Growth – Current and Past Participants