Village Capital
Donate
Kroger-ZHZW-Logo (1)

The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger I Zero Waste Foundation Innovation Fund

The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation Innovation Fund is excited to announce an investment-readiness program for U.S.-based startups working to prevent, recover and recycle food waste. We are proud to collaborate with Village Capital.

The Innovation Fund will award grant funding to emerging technologies and solutions. Innovators will benefit from Village Capital’s award-winning curriculum, intensive feedback from their peers and one-on-one mentorship with potential customers, investors and industry experts.

Meet the Cohort

About the Program

Ten startups will participate in a virtual workshop focused on investment readiness, technical skill development and networking with a community of investors and mentors who work in and around the food system. The virtual one week workshop will take place in May 2021.

The innovators will benefit from an additional 6 months of Milestone Planning and Support, with an opportunity to present their startups and highlight major achievements to an audience of investors and key stakeholders at a Venture Forum Event in November 2021.

To learn more about how we developed the challenge and food systems innovation, read the market assessment here.

Advisory Committee

Philip Behn
Philip BehnCEO, Imperfect Foods
Adam Behrens
Adam Behrens Co-Founder & CEO, Mori
Sharon Bort
Sharon BortSenior Officer, Sustainability Community, MIT Solve
Tony Bova
Tony BovaCo-Founder & CEO, mobius
Emily Broad Leib
Emily Broad LeibClinical Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Dan	Butt
Dan ButtSenior Manager of Innovation, Feeding America
Alexandria Coari
Alexandria CoariVice President, Capital & Innovation, ReFED
Ertharin Cousin
Ertharin CousinPresident and Co-Founder, Food Systems for the Future

Are you an investor?

If you are an investor interested in supporting innovators who are elevating food to its highest use and disrupting the linear supply chain, join The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger I Zero Waste Foundation Investor Coalition.

Investors in the Coalition can source, assess, share and fund investment-ready opportunities quickly and efficiently with Abaca & support from the Village Capital team.