Midwest Dairy Accelerator aims to turn fresh ideas into real sales

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Midwest Dairy, in partnership with VentureFuel, announced the four companies selected for the Midwest Dairy Accelerator — an eight-week virtual initiative designed to accelerate the next generation of dairy-forward food and beverage entrepreneurs in the Midwest.

This initiative builds on Midwest Dairy’s previous partnerships with The Hatchery and No More Empty Pots, expanding the program from pitch events to a full accelerator experience, while keeping the same goal: supporting innovative businesses that incorporate dairy ingredients into their products.

In early spring, Midwest Dairy called for accelerator applicants. Chosen from an applicant pool across the Midwest, the four selected startups for the cohort were:

• Lorenzo’s Frozen Pudding, Chicago: Gourmet, locally-sourced frozen pudding offering various flavors.

• Rosebud Ice Cream, Glen Ellyn, Ill.: Premium soft-serve ice cream pouches offering mess-free indulgence.

• Sugar Witch, St. Louis: Small-batch ice cream sandwiches featuring premium ingredients and innovative flavors.

• Zoguri, Omaha, Neb.: A yogurt-based probiotic supplement that restores critically important gut bacteria with two science-backed keystone strains of L. reuteri.

Participants will take part in workshops, one-on-one mentorship and collaborative sessions with experts across the dairy value chain.

The curriculum will span consumer insights, ingredients and innovation, co-packing and manufacturing, distribution and retail, marketing, and business pitching. Contributors include leaders from top brands, co-ops, and universities.

The program will culminate in a live “pitch” event on Sept. 3, at The Hatchery Chicago, a non-profit food and beverage business incubator.

Finalists will pitch to a panel of industry experts and judges, with a $20,000 prize awarded to the winner and $10,000 to the runner-up.

“At Midwest Dairy, we believe that true innovation comes from entrepreneurs who challenge the status quo — and who harness the nutritional power and delicious indulgence of real dairy,” said Beth Bruck-Upton, vice president of research and innovation at Midwest Dairy.

“By supporting food and beverage startups, we’re not only championing new products, we’re advancing an industry that has nourished communities for generations and has untapped potential to do more.”

The accelerator aims to help early-stage entrepreneurs meet rising consumer demand for dairy-based products that deliver on flavor, function and convenience.

“Innovation fuels growth, and startups bring the fresh thinking needed to meet evolving consumer demands,” said Fred Schonenberg, founder and CEO of VentureFuel. “We’re excited to partner with Midwest Dairy on this accelerator to help visionary founders rapidly turn their bold ideas into tangible, market-ready solutions that scale.”