Disco Cow wins Midwest Dairy Accelerator grand prize
Illinois startup Disco Cow was named the grand prize winner of the second annual Midwest Dairy Accelerator, following a live pitch competition.
“It has been a pleasure to equip emerging dairy brands with the expertise, connections and resources to strengthen the dairy category and create new opportunities for consumers.”
Founder Kate Colehour earned $20,000 in prize funding to help scale dairy-based innovation for her growing brand.
The competition marked the finale of the Midwest Dairy Accelerator, an intensive 10-week virtual program designed by Midwest Dairy in partnership with advisory firm VentureFuel, to help emerging food and beverage brands scale innovative products that use Midwest dairy as a key ingredient.
Throughout the program, founders gained access to workshops, one on one mentorship and direct collaboration with leaders across the dairy ecosystem, including ingredient experts, processors, manufacturers, retailers, academics and food industry executives. Programming covered consumer insights, ingredients and innovation, manufacturing, distribution, retail strategy, marketing and business pitching.
"The Midwest Dairy Accelerator has connected Disco Cow with an incredible network of experts, resources, and people who are genuinely excited about the future of dairy," said Disco Cow founder Kate Colehour. The $20,000 grand prize is going to help us move from founder-led production to scaled manufacturing, which supports our growing retail presence and gets whipped cottage cheese into the hands of more consumers!"
"Dairy farmers have a long-standing legacy of innovation, and that commitment continues to shape the future of our industry," said Corey Scott, CEO of Midwest Dairy. "It has been a pleasure to equip emerging dairy brands with the expertise, connections and resources to strengthen the dairy category and create new opportunities for consumers."
