Nestlé USA partners with Rabobank and RocketSpace to support startups for the Terra Food + Agtech Accelerator program.
Nestlé will collaborate with Terra and other corporate collaborators to select and coach the most innovative and disruptive startups in the food and agricultural industry.
“When we combine the resources of Nestlé with the creativity and new thinking born from the startup culture, we can create real change in our industry and best deliver on consumer needs,” said Rui Barbas, chief strategy officer, Nestlé USA.
In 2013, Nestlé launched the Silicon Valley Innovation Outpost (SVIO) in one of the most innovative hubs in the world – the San Francisco Bay Area.
There, an experienced and cross-functional marketing and technical team works with promising early-stage entrepreneurs to rapidly build, test and deploy new value-added services and solutions for their consumers around the world.
“Our goals at the SVIO include providing entrepreneurs with access to the expertise and nutritional know-how that Nestlé has developed over its 150-year history,” said Mark Brodeur, VP of digital innovation.
“In exchange, Nestlé will have the ability to learn from and co-create with creative entrepreneurs.”
“That’s why partnerships like ours with Terra make so much sense for both Nestlé and those with whom we collaborate.”
Terra enables innovation by connecting large global brands like Nestlé with startups to work on real-life product testing and go-to-market solutions.
Nestlé was attracted to Terra because of the success and experience of Terra co-creators, RocketSpace and Rabobank.
Terra immerses participants in the innovation process, helps guide their products’ evolution and provides real-time feedback throughout pilot testing.
Nestlé expects to support 20 startups over the duration of the two six-month accelerator programs to explore new and improved ways to produce, sell and distribute food.
It will work with a diverse cross-section of startups, selected from more than 1,000 applicants, with the goal of finding healthier and more sustainable products and services that enhance the quality of people’s lives.
