The Greenhouse Accelerator Program Juntos Crecemos Edition is a five-month, mentor-guided program to support the acceleration of emerging Hispanic food and beverages innovations that are transforming the way consumers live their lives.
This edition is an extension of the initial Greenhouse Accelerator program launched in 2018, in collaboration with PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos, part of PepsiCo’s Pep+ transformation agenda, designed to provide short and long-term support to Hispanic small businesses.
Program Benefits
What the Greenhouse Accelerator can offer you:
Grants
Guaranteed $20,000 USD grant for each finalist. Winner awarded an additional $100,000 USD
Guidance
Expert guidance and learning modules across all aspects of business development
Network
Access and exposure to PepsiCo network and resources, industry experts, VCs and investors
Collaboration
Unlocking of potential collaboration opportunities with PepsiCo
Mentorship
Hands-on mentorship and support for refining business models, fortifying strategies, and enhancing impact
Growth
Accelerated pathways to launch, scale, and grow your breakthrough innovations
Program Focus
Our mission is to identify up to 8 high-potential emerging Hispanic-owned food and beverage consumer packaged goods small businesses. Driving growth for Hispanic founders in the food and beverage industry with operating businesses in the U.S.
Read more about PepsiCo’s commitment to Hispanic business owners.
How It Works
SELECTION
For this Greenhouse Accelerator program, PepsiCo is seeking up to 8 Hispanic-owned companies in the U.S. that are food and beverage products.
Mentorship
The program will feature a one-on-one mentorship program, giving entrepreneurs access to PepsiCo executives and business accelerator experts, whose expertise can help them overcome challenges in product development, supply chain, marketing, distribution, manufacturing, packaging, label claims, fundraising or other elements of their business.
COLLABORATION
Startups will participate in a pilot-oriented business optimization and capability development program designed to accelerate growth. The program will enable exploration with PepsiCo partners, with the potential to unlock collaborations.
Grants
Selected companies will receive $20,000 USD in grant funding and have the opportunity to pitch their product/solution to PepsiCo Executives, venture capitalists and investors.
Final Prize
At the end of the program, one winning company will be awarded an additional $100,000 USD in funding to continue its expansion, and an opportunity to continue partnering with PepsiCo to further their growth.
Our Yield
0
%
growth in 6 months
$
0
in sales growth
Hear from our
2023 Finalists
"We have learned how to develop a laser focused commercial strategy while building an even bigger culture-forward brand. This has only been possible with the guidance, teachings and support we received from the PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator Program"
"One of the most significant benefits was gaining access to experienced mentors from PepsiCo. Their guidance and insights were instrumental in refining my business strategies, particularly in marketing and distribution"
"The access to a great network was one of the most important benefits of the program. They guided us, shared their expertise and opened doors to potential partners and clients"
"The value of having access to expert insights and guidance on various aspects of my product, spanning from branding and packaging to taste, is immeasurable. And that's just the beginning"
"Being a part of the accelerator program opened doors to a wider network of industry professionals, potential collaborators, and investors. This expanded network has been instrumental in forging partnerships, gaining exposure, and exploring new distribution channels"
2023 Highlights
Program Timeline
The Collaborative Journey:
What to Expect
Mentor Pairings
Every startup will be paired with 1-2 PepsiCo mentors who will provide invaluable guidance, resources and support throughout the program
Launch Event, Frito-Lay HQ, Plano, Texas
At the Program Launch Event, startups will have the opportunity to…
• Meet and connect with their mentors in-person
• Hear from PepsiCo Executives and industry experts
• Engage in in-depth collaborative objective setting, and develop an Accelerator Action Plan outlining their goals, objectives, and steps towards achieving them
• Present about their company and innovative solution to PepsiCo mentors and Executives, VCs and Investors
… and launch their Greenhouse Accelerator journey!
• Meet and connect with their mentors in-person
• Hear from PepsiCo Executives and industry experts
• Engage in in-depth collaborative objective setting, and develop an Accelerator Action Plan outlining their goals, objectives, and steps towards achieving them
• Present about their company and innovative solution to PepsiCo mentors and Executives, VCs and Investors
… and launch their Greenhouse Accelerator journey!
Program Midpoint Virtual Event
Halfway through the program, startups will attend a Midpoint Virtual Event to reflect on…
• Experiences and momentum built during the first half of the program
• Progress to their goals and Accelerator Action Plans
• Collaboration with PepsiCo mentors and experts
…and discuss opportunities to continue sharing insights, driving growth, and learning together for the course of the program
• Experiences and momentum built during the first half of the program
• Progress to their goals and Accelerator Action Plans
• Collaboration with PepsiCo mentors and experts
…and discuss opportunities to continue sharing insights, driving growth, and learning together for the course of the program
Final Event and Winner Announcement, PepsiCo HQ, Purchase, New York
At the Program Final Event…
• Each finalist will deliver a 5-minute pitch to judges about your innovative solution and acceleration resulting from the Greenhouse Accelerator program
• A judging panel comprised of PepsiCo executives and external resources will determine and announce the winner of the $100,000 USD grand prize
• Each finalist will deliver a 5-minute pitch to judges about your innovative solution and acceleration resulting from the Greenhouse Accelerator program
• A judging panel comprised of PepsiCo executives and external resources will determine and announce the winner of the $100,000 USD grand prize
Learning Modules
Learning Modules bring in industry and PepsiCo experts who can offer unparalleled insights into working with Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) and valuable training in a variety of business development topics, such as Ventures, Sales & Marketing, Expert Pitch Advice, Commercialization and Channel Strategies, Sustainability Landscapes, Building a Team for the Future, and more
These modules will be tailored to the needs and objectives of the 8 finalists participating in the 2024 program
These modules will be tailored to the needs and objectives of the 8 finalists participating in the 2024 program
Opportunities
Business development experts can help identify market, collaboration, and pilot opportunities to accelerate growth.
Visibility
Through the Greenhouse Accelerator, startup brands are amplified through media coverage, external communications and millions of social media impressions.
Eligibility Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Net-revenue between $100,000 to $2,000,000 USD in the last financial year
- Be a Hispanic-owned business licensed and operating in the United States
- Be willing to work with PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator mentors and public relations team throughout six-month Accelerator program and attend Accelerator events
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions
An external third party will review all submissions. Our selection committee will choose finalists based on the following criteria:
- A clear go-to-market strategy and plan for sustained in-market execution
- Post-prototype, ready for review with a multinational corporation or company
- Uniqueness in the market
- Balanced gender and ethnic diversity
- Clear & active social responsibility mission aligned with PepsiCo's Juntos Crecemos Strategy
- Aligned with PepsiCo's PepsiCo Positive Strategy
- Scalable business model
PepsiCo Positive (Pep+)
- In 2021, PepsiCo announced a fundamental transformation of what we do and how we do it: from sourcing ingredients and making and selling our products in a more sustainable way, to leveraging our more than one billion connections with consumers each day to drive positive impact at scale, and engage people to make choices that are better for themselves and the planet. We call this pep+ (pep Positive). As one of the world’s most respected food and beverage companies, PepsiCo aims to use their reach and influence to help change the way society operates across the food value chain. Critical changemakers to this transition are entrepreneurs establishing and scaling up innovations that focus on new processes, products, and technologies that are disrupting the way we operate. In support of such innovations, we’ve launched the PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator Program: A global mentor-led initiative that aims to help entrepreneurs grow through collaboration and knowledge sharing. Learn More About the Pep+ Strategy Here
- A strategic part of our Pep+ positive value chain people pillar is to build a better workplace and world by advancing human rights and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) for our people, in our business partnerships and our communities. This includes continuing to help address inequalities for historically marginalized people and underserved businesses and communities.
- PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos is a multifaceted platform investing $50 million over five years to provide short- and long-term support to Hispanic-owned food and beverage small businesses. With this Juntos Crecemos edition of its Greenhouse Accelerator program, PepsiCo looks to get closer to and support the emerging Hispanic food and beverage industry. PepsiCo values being at the forefront of innovation and collaboration with emerging brands and companies, while supporting and uplifting diverse suppliers. Learn More About Juntos Crecemos Here
Juntos Crecemos Team
Meet The Team
The PepsiCo-led program is supported by Atomic Brand Lab and DevGlobal.
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