The Next Big Food Disruptor Could Come Courtesy Of Mars

The biggest names disrupting the world of food today all began as startups. I’m talking companies like Impossible Foods, who helped revolutionize the world of burger alternatives, or Chipotle, who shook up fast food with their healthier, customizable restaurant model dozens of other chains have since replicated.

While we don’t have a crystal ball to see who that next big name could be, food giant Mars is hoping to be a part of their success with their new Seeds of Change accelerator. This four month program provides young startups with up to $50,000 in total funding while acting as a growth launchpad.

Photo courtesy of Mars

Announced recently at Expo West, the accelerator is now accepting applications for its first cycle of 10 companies. The program will take place in the USA (for 6 startups) and Australia (for another 4).

For those young companies that get in, Mars will give $25,000 in grant money, no questions asked. There’s up to an additional $25,000 up for grabs for each startup as well, with that money going towards research, marketing, or whatever other functions the business really needs to scale.

Seeds of Change Accelerator director Gary Arora is looking for mission-driven businesses that fit within multiple of five different “core pillars” that make up various values at Mars. These include flavors from around the world, plant-based products, easy meal solutions, responsible food made sustainably and transparently, and items that artisanally crafted.

Arora noted that companies of any size can make it into the accelerator, the major requirement being that a product has been developed and sold, even if that just translates to a few thousand in sales.

Mars is really looking to experiment with this, and there’s no guarantee of success in such a risky venture. Those that flourish within the accelerator and beyond, though, could find themselves at the forefront at the future of food with backing from one of the world’s largest food titans. Thus, we all should be paying close attention to the Seeds of Change program to see what results come out of it.

Applications for the accelerator are open through May 31st.

More content

Eating OutProducts
McDonald’s Debuts A Half-Gallon Jug Of McRib Sauce To Celebrate The Sandwich’s Return
McDonald’s is giving fans the ultimate McRib experience by bottling its legendary sauce—for the first time ever—in half-gallon jugs. Dubbed A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce,…
,
Products
Say Cheese: Baskin-Robbins Has A Decadent New Brie & Burrata Ice Cream
It’s hard not to drop all the dad jokes and puns with this news, but you better brie-lieve that Baskin-Robbins has an all-new flavor of…
,
CultureEating Out
McDonald’s Hong Kong Debuts A New Dragon Ball-Themed Meal
McDonald’s Hong Kong is taking anime fandom to the next level with its new Dragon Ball Daima-themed meal. For the US equivalent of $5, fans…
,
Burger
We Deliver!

Enter your email address below and we'll deliver our top stories straight to your inbox