New Huhtamaki Sponsored Program Aimed at Surfacing and Supporting the Most Innovative Circular Economy Startups Worldwide
Food System 6 is excited to announce a new program sponsored by Huhtamaki, aimed at surfacing and supporting the most innovative circular economy startups worldwide. The purpose of this program is to support the development of young and promising companies in the circular economy focused on ensuring a better, more sustainable future. As part of this program, FS6 will offer mentorship, advising, and networking opportunities to help amplify the impact and reach of these solutions.
Meet the Cohort
Over the 8 weeks of application outreach and selection for the Circular Economy Program, we heard from an expansive group of innovators from around the world and across many sectors of the circular economy. Applications came in from 51 countries and ranged from small-scale big-impact regional solutions to large-scale global innovations. These solutions represent the leaders of our present and future food system.
Read our blog post, What’s Next in the Circular Economy?, to learn more about the insights we gathered through this process about what is happening around the world to usher in a more sustainable and circular future for our planet and its inhabitants. The eight innovations that make up the Circular Economy Cohort were selected for their outstanding leadership across the five FS6 impact pillars of: Circularity, Healthy People, Vibrant Farms, and Justice & Fairness.
After weeks of deep diving into impact communications, coaching, and mentorship, we were thrilled to invite all eight companies to participate in a three-day immersive session hosted virtually by the FS6 and Huhtamaki teams.
In follow-up to the culminating event, and based on presentation and program participation, three companies have received additional equity-free grant funding as part of their program participation. SoluBlue and Andes Ag will receive $50k in funding to amplify their impact in the circular economy and Nafici Environmental Research will be receiving $100k and one year of on-call custom support from Food System 6 to support them in achieving their upcoming milestones.
We are honored to have had this opportunity to learn from and grow with all eight of these incredible leaders, experts, and change-makers over the past few weeks and look forward to further opportunities to collaborate with them as they enter into the broader FS6 community!
Learn more about each of these innovations on our Portfolio page.
About the Program
The Huhtamaki Circular Economy Startup Program by Food System 6 will support a cohort of up to 8 entrepreneurs, working in all business entity types, in their efforts to create a more circular economy. Participants will receive coaching and mentorship in lead-up to a three-day immersive virtual event, where founders will engage with and learn from subject matter experts from the Huhtamaki community of industry leaders.
Selected companies will receive a grant of up to $15k. In addition, FS6 will select up to 3 of these companies to receive additional grants of up to an aggregate of $200k and 1 company will receive a full year of mentorship and support from the FS6 ecosystem.
Companies chosen for the program must fulfill the following terms:
- Engage in all programmatic elements of the cohort program
- One representative from each company must attend the 3-day digital event in November
- All companies and their representatives must uphold the values of Food System 6
For additional details, read the complete Huhtamaki Circular Economy Program Terms & Conditions