Mondelēz Places Bets On These 9 Startups

Mondelēz International’s innovation and venture hub picked the nine start-ups to participate in its third cohort of CoLab, all focused on getting the snack giant closer to consumers. 

Launched in 2021, the consumer goods company’s start-up engagement program, known as SnackFutures, was designed to help build a portfolio of disruptive brands and serve as a venture pipeline. 

The theme of each class and its participants are curated for a collaborative, growth-centric experience, according to Jackie Haney, head of CoLab. Participants receive a $20,000 grant, 12-week curriculum of virtual and hands-on sessions, and networking opportunities. 

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“SnackFutures’ focus is to curate a portfolio of disruptive brands that can give Mondelēz International first-mover advantage on snack innovation, get us even closer to the consumer, and accelerate our financial, reputational, and cultural growth,” said Haney in a statement. “CoLab is pivotal to that because it allows us to work with, learn from and nurture early-stage brands that have the potential to scale.”

The nine participants include:

• CocoTerra: Chocolate machine enables consumers to make chocolate in their homes
• DreamPops: Plant-based, clean label frozen pops, bites, and shelf stable candy crunch. 
• Freezcake: Small cheesecake bites prepared from scratch and ultra-dried 
• Incredible Eats: Edible spoons and straws as an alternative to single-use plastic utensils. 
• Legally Addictive: All-in-one bites with cracker-based cookies. 
• Mezcla: Plant protein snack bars
• New Gem: Plant-based wraps
• Steiner’s Coffee Cake of New York: Gluten-free coffee cake 
• Whoa Dough: Shelf-stable, plant-based, gluten-free cookie dough bar 

Mondelēz this month also shared that it’s opening a state-of-the-art R&D facility in New Jersey to help scale its snacking division. The new, $50 million innovation center is expected to elevate product, process, and packaging development for the company’s snack brands. It will also enable it to pilot new snacking innovation.