Eight companies have made it into this year’s program, which offers access to mentorship along with four $30,000 cash prizes and a $100,000 grand prize to help businesses bring their products to market.
This year’s theme aims to promote dairy’s role to promote health and well-being, with start-ups, students and processors with sales of under $1 million invited to submit products that include better-for-you formulations, cognitive and digestive health benefits, functional ingredients, and more.
The eight finalists are:
Smearcase, makers of cottage cheese-based ice cream infused with collagen. The product has 40g of protein per pint and no include artificial gums or sweeteners.
Stellify by Insymmetry LLC is a low-calorie energy shot made with lactose-free milk. It’s formulated with three stimulant substances: natural caffeine, theobromine and L-theanine.
Drink Todo is a high protein, high-fiber smoothie positioned as a meal replacement product. It has 25g of milk protein, 6g of dietary fiber and is enriched with essential vitamins and minerals to offer a ‘complete meal’ in every bottle.
Voyager Milk, a USDA organic-certified whole milk for toddlers.
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.’s Curd Cup, a premium 6oz single-serve cottage cheese with ‘global savory flavors’ formulated as a clean-eating option.
Pluff, a high-protein dessert made from Greek yogurt, cream, cottage cheese and whey protein whipped together.
Projo, an instant coffee blend of organic Arabica coffee, marine collagen, organic coffee fruit extract, digestive enzymes, and 100% whole milk.
TruJoy, a frozen Greek yogurt with probiotics.
In addition to the primary cohort, the competition has been expanded to include an incubator designed to foster the development of early-stage and student-led dairy innovations.
Seven companies will join this, including:
Mighty Smooth, makers of AI-enhanced yogurt for kids;
BuffMoo manufacturer of high-protein ice cream;
Moove Hydration, producer of a dairy-based electrolyte drink;
and Yo's Froyo Bites, makers of a patent-pending frozen yogurt that ‘never melts’ thanks to freeze-drying it into bite-sized pieces.
This year's program, organized The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) in partnership with VentureFuel, will culminate during the Future of Dairy Expo on November 14 where attendees will be able to meet the cohort, sample their products and hear from experts on key category trends and insights.
The event will also close with the RCM Excelerator Final Pitch Event and finalist selection where a panel of judges will award up to $500,000 worth of total value prizing.