Scaling Small Business Success in Protein Innovation

Bold Growth Program

Our “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 invite applications by October 30, 2025, from high-growth protein innovation companies. Unlock your innovation potential and scale your business with tailored, confidential mentoring by food and agriculture executives from MBOLD’s network of members and partners.

MBOLD will coordinate with successful applicants to understand your aspirations and needs, and then will provide you with:

• a handpicked team of 2-3 industry mentors with the expertise you most need to unlock your growth
• confidential ongoing mentorship calls
• a customized trip to Minneapolis–Saint Paul in Spring/Summer 2026 TBD
• additional educational opportunities that can be designed to suit your specific needs
• free participation with no equity taken

The program will run from approximately February through October 2026.

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 of $5 million - $50 million with strong potential for growth
• want to enter or expand their presence in the U.S. market

We are especially interested in companies focused on technology and product innovations related to:

• plant and alternative proteins. We have a particular interest in oat, dry bean and chickpea as protein ingredients and welcome other innovations in the plant and alternative sector.
• novel ingredients and formulations for animal feed that support greater environmental sustainability, particularly including alternative crops like winter camelina and industrial hemp

To date, Bold Growth mentors have included leaders from Bread and Butter Ventures, Cargill, CHS, Compeer Financial, Ecolab, General Mills, Hormel Foods, McKinsey & Co., 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.

Learn More and Apply for the Program

We are offering two virtual information sessions where you can learn about the program and ask questions. Register for one of the two sessions:

• Session #1: Wednesday, October 1 from 8:30-9:00 a.m. US Central Time / 1:30-2:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time
• Session #2: Thursday, October 2 from 4:00-4:30 p.m. US Central Time / 9:00-9:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time

Submit your application by midnight Central Time, October 30, 2025. MBOLD expects to select participants in December 2025. If you have questions, please contact MBOLD Project Manager Tamara Downs Schwei at tamara.downs.schwei@greatermsp.org.

View our video for more information about Bold Growth opportunity and the application process.  

Bold Growth – Current and Past Participants