RECAP: M/O Showcase
The first ever M/O showcase, presented by Amplify Snack Brands, was a huge success! While we would have loved to be together in-person, it was an amazing night filled with energy, community, and fun. We saw 10 incredible pitch presentations from Founders in the M/O track powered by SKU and celebrated all M/O Fellows and their six months of work. Congratulations to all the Founders, Fellows, Mentors and partners. If you missed the show and the pitches, you can watch it here.
If you’re new to us, M/O is a collaborative initiative that brings together Naturally Austin’s Fellowship program and the M/O Track accelerator powered by SKU to support diverse founders and level the playing field in the CPG industry. Minority entrepreneurs often launch their business at a different starting line and this collaborative program aims to move that line through a powerful blend of curriculum and community.
A big thanks to my co-hosts with the most; Michelle Breyer, COO of SKU and Tauri Laws-Philips, who led the Founders through this summer’s M/O Track accelerator program. We also heard encouraging words from Dan Mader, Chief Customer Officer of Amplify Snack Brands.
“The big benefit for our team participating is that they get to stretch the muscles of thinking differently, challenging convention, and take the skills that they’ve learned through very rigorous processes and apply them in something new. There’s a great energy that comes from that and I would encourage folks in the manufacturing side, or folks considering being sponsors or mentors, there’s incredible payback in energy and learning that goes both ways.”
There were 77 M/O Fellows in our first year; 10 of the 77 were accepted into this year’s first M/O Track accelerator cohort. We are grateful for our partnership with SKU and were blown away by the 10 stellar pitches from the Fellows in the M/O Track. We heard from:
Hangio: A flexible hanger company founded by Ayodele Aigbe
Jeany's Ginger Elixer: A Caribbean inspired food and beverage company, founded by Naijean Bernard, PhD
Luv Fats Ice Cream: A small-batch ice cream made with an avocado + coconut cream base, founded by Chi Ndika
Homescape Pets: A company that makes natural cat and dog supplements, founded by Nana Bediako
WAJU: A line of sparkling waters made from fruit, founded by Chris Oates
Algo Dulce Foods: A company that makes all-natural flan, founded by Jesse Mondragon
Ujamaa: A lightbulb company, founded by Rob Jackson
Funky Mello: a gourmet marshmallow company, founded by Delisa + Zach Harper
Naturally Noah's: A company that makes plant-based Vietnamese noodles founded by JimmyTay Trinh.
Babka ATX: a company that makes handmade babkas founded by Sariel Brummer
Fellows were paired with mentors as part of the Fellowship and Accelerator curriculums. We brought on Nana Pfeifer, CEO of Homescape Pets, and Johnny Heiselberg, CEO of FitJoy, to talk about their experience.
It’s always a joy to lend a hand (as a mentor), in this case, it’s even more of a joy to lend a hand and not only help a founder, but potentially enable a whole community…..and what that can do for our natural foods endeavors, what that can do for business going forward in terms of the creativity, the desire, that these founders bring to the table, is just hugely inspiring. For me, it was a no brainer to join in...” - Johnny Heiselberg, CEO of FitJoy
“Being an entrepreneur is a lonely life and it’s made even lonelier by not seeing businesses being built by people who look like me and can relate to my life experiences…. Being a part of this program with similar founders at similar stages of business created a sense of community that I had not found before….we will still be connected and we’ve built a friendship and a community, and I love that!” - Nana Pfeifer, CEO of Homescape Pets
The relationships built during this program have been incredible to witness. Again, a big thanks to this year’s mentors and program supporters. We are so grateful for all the gifts you’ve shared with us and this year’s Fellows! Congratulations to each of the Fellows on a job well done!
It wouldn’t have been a Naturally Austin event without the fun - we came together after the pitch presentations to toast the M/O Fellows at the Showcase Virtual Afterparty. It was a beautiful night celebrating wins, sharing a moment with those that supported the program and honoring the hard work of the entrepreneurs in our first year.
Natural CPG entrepreneurs are at the center of what we do, and we are thrilled to support their work and expand access to opportunity and equity through this Fellowship. A special thank you to our M/O Fellows for sharing your passion for your product.
Thank you to our sponsors for making the M/O Program a reality, and for your continued dedication to equity and inclusivity in CPG. A special thanks to Amplify Snack Brands, Agave Fund, Danone, 301 Inc, HumanCo, Propeller Industries, Venture Best, Bamboo, Nine Supply, Deep Eddy, Fitjoy, Interact Boulder, Epac, FUTURE/PROOF, Gathered Foods, The Stable, Ironclad, and PREP ATX.
Thank you to all those who attended and supported the showcase, your donations, along with the generous match from Tito’s Vodka, allowed us to contribute an additional $11,195 in seed grants for Founders in the M/O Track! Thank you so much Tito’s Handmade Vodka!
Year two of the M/O Fellowship is coming soon! Check back here on our website and social media for more information this Fall or subscribe to the Naturally Austin newsletter to stay up to date.