Midwest Dairy is setting the stage for dairy innovation with the 2025 Midwest Dairy Accelerator program. In partnership with innovation consultancy VentureFuel, this eight-week virtual program is designed to fast-track the growth of promising dairy-focused food and beverage startups throughout the region.
This initiative builds on Midwest Dairy’s previous partnerships with The Hatchery and No More Empty Pots, evolving from single-day pitch events into a comprehensive accelerator all while maintaining the same core goal: supporting innovative businesses that use dairy ingredients in their products. Through this expanded approach, Midwest Dairy has seen firsthand how empowering these entrepreneurs drives dairy sales by reaching current and emerging customer bases. By partnering with VentureFuel, Midwest Dairy extended the accelerator’s reach across the entire 10-state region, attracting a strong pool of food and beverage entrepreneurs.
In early Spring, Midwest Dairy invited startups to apply. The four startups selected for the inaugural cohort stood out from a highly competitive pool of applicants.. Each brings a unique and creative approach to incorporating real dairy into their products:
Lorenzo’s Frozen Pudding (Chicago, IL): Creators of gourmet, locally-sourced frozen puddings, including the only frozen banana pudding product in the CPG market.
Rosebud Ice Cream (Glen Ellyn, IL): Premium soft-serve pouches designed for mess-free indulgence anytime, anywhere.
Sugar Witch (St. Louis, MO): Small batch ice cream sandwiches crafted with premium ingredients and bold, innovative flavors, all precision-cut and individually wrapped for easy enjoyment.
ZOGURI (Omaha, NE): The first yogurt-based probiotic supplement featuring two keystone strains of L. reuteri to restore essential gut bacteria.
The accelerator program launched in July, offering chosen participants a robust curriculum that includes expert-led workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and in-depth explorations of key business areas such as consumer insights, ingredient sourcing, co-packing, distribution, retail strategy, marketing, and pitching. Leaders from top brands, cooperatives, universities, and across the dairy supply chain will contribute to the learning experience.
The program will culminate in a live pitch event on September 3, 2025, at The Hatchery, a former Midwest Dairy partner and a nonprofit food and beverage incubator in Chicago. There, finalists will pitch their businesses to a panel of industry judges for the chance to win $20,000 for first place and $10,000 for second, allowing them to grow their business and, in return, increase dairy sales and loyalty among their customers.
“At Midwest Dairy, we believe true innovation happens when bold entrepreneurs challenge the norm and harness the full potential of real dairy’s, nutrition and its taste,” said Beth Bruck-Upton, Vice President of Research and Innovation at Midwest Dairy. “By investing in food and beverage startups, we’re not just fueling new ideas, we’re shaping the future of an industry that has supported communities for generations. This is exactly where checkoff needs to be—at the forefront of innovation, ensuring dairy remains relevant in an ever-evolving marketplace.”
Fred Schonenberg, Founder and CEO of VentureFuel, echoed the value of partnership in innovation: “Collaboration between startups and enterprise is the cornerstone of modern food innovation. Programs like this Accelerator create a direct pipeline for bold ideas to meet the scale and reach needed to transform the dairy consumer landscape.”
With a continued focus on economic, environmental, and social sustainability, Midwest Dairy’s Accelerator is reshaping how consumers experience dairy, one innovative product at a time. Follow the journey and learn more at midwestdairyaccelerator.com and check out the Winter Dairy Promotion Update to find out who wins the title!