Empowering Hispanic-owned startups and entrepreneurs in the U.S.
About Juntos Crecemos Edition
Program
Overview
The Greenhouse Accelerator Program Juntos Crecemos Edition is a six-month, mentor-guided program to support the acceleration of emerging Hispanic innovations that are transforming the way consumers live their lives.
This edition of the Greenhouse Accelerator has partnered with PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos, which is part of PepsiCo’s Racial Equality Journey, a program designed to provide short and long-term support to Hispanic small businesses over five years.
Presenting our 2023 Winner
CHUZA was chosen as this year’s winner from ten high-potential finalists by a committee of PepsiCo leaders for successfully expanding distribution to over 500 retail locations and driving velocity growth for the company during the program, showcasing strong collaboration with PepsiCo. The San Diego-based business elevates the world of snacks through an assortment of spicy fruit and vegetable offerings, all infused with 100% Mexican spices and no artificial flavors or colors.
During the six-month accelerator program, ten finalists received a $20,000 grant and personalized mentorship from R&D, Supply Chain, Design and other experts at PepsiCo to learn how to solve their direct business challenges, including brand development, go-to-market strategy and more.
The winner was announced during a special ceremony at PepsiCo headquarters in New York to celebrate the journey of all ten finalists and their business improvements and thank the PepsiCo mentors who lent their business expertise to advance small, Hispanic-owned food and beverage companies. CHUZA will receive a $100,000 grant and other resources to scale their operations and grow their business.
“Selecting a winner was no easy task for the panel of judges because all ten finalists showcased strong advancements in their businesses over this six-month journey in the areas of brand development, product optimization, scaling technology, business model development, go-to-market strategy and more,” said Antonio Escalona, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Hispanic Business Unit, PepsiCo Foods North America. “CHUZA’s focus and commitment to elevating the snack segment, demonstrated throughout the entire process, inspires us to maintain that same entrepreneurial mindset at PepsiCo as we develop food and beverage solutions that deliver on flavor, function, health, convenience and sustainability.”
The Priorities
Program
Focus
Our mission is to identify 10 high-potential emerging Hispanic-owned food and beverage small businesses, including CPG companies and products, and other businesses that have the potential to bring forth transformative solutions to improve productivity, operations, customer experience, profitability, automation, personalization and eco-friendliness across the food and beverage industry.
Hispanic
Founders
PepsiCo values being at the forefront of innovation and collaboration with emerging consumer packaged companies and technology start-ups, while supporting and uplifting diverse suppliers. This Greenhouse Accelerator program marks the first-ever Hispanic-focused edition, which will focus on driving growth of Hispanic founders in the food and beverage industry with operating businesses in the U.S.
Introducing the 2023 Finalists
Chuza
CHUZA is spicing up the snacking game with its range of spicy fruits and vegetable snacks using 100% Mexican spices made with no added colors or artificial flavors. The company was founded to share the authentic Mexican culture, flavors, and flair with the world.
Pisqueya
Pisqueya [pees-keh-yah] is a first-generation, woman-owned, Latinx-American food company that offers a premium line of sauces and seasonings. The company was founded to celebrate Latin culture, traditions, and flavors while filling the gap in Hispanic Caribbean representation in the global food market.
Tia Lupita Foods
Tia Lupita® Foods is the first brand in the United States to introduce nopales (cactus) as an alternative functional and sustainable ingredient in its line of grain-free tortilla chips and tortillas. The Mexican-inspired foods are high in antioxidants, fiber, iron, calcium and potassium. The line of low glycemic products helps reduce water waste and food production carbon footprint.
Katrina Brewing Co
Katrina Brewing Co is the first craft non-alcoholic beer that brings an authentic artisanal Mexican option to the emerging non-alcoholic beer sector. The light and crisp beer brand adopted the Katrina-inspired logo and the Aztec sun pattern used on the cans to connect consumers with their culture.
Parch
Hispanic-founded PARCH™ is the world’s first line of non-alcoholic, vegan, gluten-free, all-natural agave cocktails infused with desert botanicals and adaptogens. The ready-to-drink line of beverages is a modern and credible alternative to traditional alcohol for the mindful adult drinker.
Nadeera
I Eat My Greens
I Eat My Greens provides chef-crafted, plant-based soups made with fresh, whole-food ingredients that make eating vegetables irresistible and accessible. The ready-to-eat soups help consumers meet their daily intake of nutrient-rich vegetables while practicing sustainable agricultural practices that reduce food waste.
Hyfe
Hyfé is a Latina-founded company that repurposes food supply chain wastewater. The company uses a unique fermentation process to turn the water into competitive and climate-positive essential goods like foods, materials and chemicals to improve the profitability and eco-friendliness of food and beverage manufacturers.
FoodWare
FoodWare is powering the circular economy via a tech-enabled reusables tracking system & impact accounting platform. Their mission is to eliminate all single-use food packaging - one of the biggest causes of climate change and environmental pollution.
Dathic
Dathic is an AI-powered platform that provides Hispanic market insights and analytics to CPG brands to help them grow their sales. The company provides actionable data to help companies understand market opportunities, optimize distribution, and create authentic cultural connections with multicultural consumers.
Date Better Snacks
Date Better Snacks was built as an alternative to the traditional candy bar. The Latina-owned company makes the product from scratch using Medjool dates and rainforest alliance certified 85% organic chocolate. The vegan and gluten-free snacks have less than one gram of added sugar per serving and no artificial ingredients.
Nadeera
Program process
How it
Works
SELECTION
For this 8th Greenhouse Accelerator program, PepsiCo is seeking 10 Hispanic-owned companies in the U.S. that are in food and beverage industry.
GRANTS
Selected companies are granted $20,000 in funding and will need to pitch their product/solution in person at the live event in Plano, TX. They will participate in a 6-month business optimization program designed to accelerate growth.
Mentorship
This year’s cohort of companies will receive personalized mentorship from experts at PepsiCo from functions including R&D, Supply Chain, Design and more. These mentors will collaborate with the innovators to solve a range of business challenges, including brand development, scaling technology, business model development, product optimization and go-to-market strategy.
Final Prize
At the end of the program, one winning company will be awarded an additional $100,000 in funding to continue its expansion, and an opportunity to continue working with PepsiCo to further their growth.
Important
Dates
April 10
2023
Applications
Open
MAY 15
2023
Applications
Close
27 June
2023
Program Launch Event - Plano, TX
August
2023
Program Mid-point virtual event
November 8
2023
Winner Announcement Event
Eligibility
Requirements
Minimum Requirements
- Net-revenue between $250,000 to $2,000,000 USD in the last financial year
- Be a Hispanic-owned business with licensing 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
- Proof of concept and working prototypes ready for review
- Uniqueness in the market
- Gender-balance and diversity
- Clear & active social responsibility mission aligned with PepsiCo's Juntos Crecemos Strategy
- Scalable business model
PepsiCo's
Racial Equality Journey
PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos is a multifaceted platform part of PepsiCo’s Racial Equality Journey commitment to invest $50 million to provide short- and long-term support to Hispanic-owned food and beverage small businesses over five years. 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.
English 
Spanish 