About the Program
This program, in partnership with Posner Foundation, will support ten startups in Latin America to decrease food waste, by focusing on empowering and informing consumers, improving food center processes, and reducing loss risk in production.
The Food Waste Challenge
Global food waste – valued at USD 940 billion annually – harms farmers and raises consumer prices. This waste doubles greenhouse gas emissions, impacting sustainability across land, energy, labor, and capital. Moreover, in 2022, 60.6% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean experienced food insecurity due to poor infrastructure and logistics, leading to an annual average of 223 kg of food waste per person. Our accelerator program aims to support startups addressing these issues in Latin America.
Who should apply?
We are looking for startups that:
Empower and inform consumers
We are seeking innovations for consumers to reduce food waste with tools like shopping assistance, kitchen tech, shelf-life extension, and smart home devices.
Enable proactivity while improving processes at food centers
We are looking for solutions that provide food centers with tools to prevent food waste, such as Waste Tracking, Demand Planning, and Inventory Traceability and Management.
Work to reduce loss risks in production and distribution
We are looking for startups working on solutions around detecting and preventing food loss in the production and distribution phases, such as ambient and freshness monitoring technologies and sustainable biotechnology to protect food and crops from climate and disease.
Efficientize food waste diversion processes
We want to support startups that efficiently utilize food scraps, leftovers, or still edible food and gear it away from traditional disposable methods.
Eligibility requirements include:
Have legal incorporation and operations as a for-profit entity in at least one Latin American country.
Have a market-based solution that tackles food loss and/or food waste challenges in Latin America.
Have at least one full-time founder based in Latin America.
Be in compliance under local fiscal and business law.
Have a minimum viable product (MVP), and raised less than USD 1M in equity.
Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue, it can also be successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships).
What you’ll get:
Mentorship
Ability to meet with and receive mentorship from potential strategic partners, investors, potential customers, and other founders from prominent Latin American and US investors.
Connections & Exposure
Access to a diverse and inclusive network of mentors and founders within the agtech and foodtech sectors. Exposure on Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral.
Advice
Access to an investment analyst who will coach them 1:1 on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics to drive both the business and investor diligence.
Events
Access to an in-person program summit in Mexico City focused on networking with relevant stakeholders in the impact ecosystem, including potential clients and investors.
Continued Learning
Access to live and asynchronous sessions tailored to a virtual learning environment to help their companies identify early milestones and prepare for their next round of capital (if relevant) or big expansion. Participate in mock board meetings with representatives from financial institutions, corporates, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors that can help their company scale.
Funding
Milestone-based funding (USD 4K per organization).
Learn more about mentoring with Village Capital.
Program Timeline
Applications open
Applications close
Cohort announced
Virtual Workshops & In-Person Program Summit
Virtual Workshop Week 1: July 15 to 19, 2024
Virtual Workshop Week 2: August 5 to 9, 2024
In-Person Program Summit Mexico City: October 28 to November 1, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the main goal of the program?
2. Do you take equity for participating in the program?
Latest News
Eight Sustainability Startups Selected for Reshaping Consumer Behaviour in Latin America Accelerator
Mexico City (April 17th, 2023) – Village Capital, with the support of Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, announced that eight startups from Latin America have been selected to participate in the accelerator program, Reshaping Consumer Behaviour in Latin America.
Ocho startups de sustentabilidad son seleccionadas para el programa de Village Capital “Reshaping Consumer Behaviour en Latinoamérica”
Ciudad de México, 17 de abril de 2023; Village Capital, con el apoyo de Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, anunció que ocho startups han sido seleccionadas para participar en el nuevo programa de aceleración, Reshaping Consumer Behaviour en Latinoamérica.
Applications Open for Village Capital’s Reshaping Consumer Behavior in Latin America Accelerator
Village Capital, with the support of Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, announced a new accelerator program focused on startups creating solutions to prevent food loss and waste, both on the consumers’ and the producers’ sides.