California-based vegan seafood brand Sophie’s Kitchen was one of 10 companies to receive $20,000 in grant funding from PepsiCo as part of its first Nutrition Greenhouse program. During the six-month program, PepsiCo mentors will help participating startups grow their businesses in areas such as marketing, manufacturing, distribution, packaging, and fundraising. In addition to Sophie’s Kitchen, PepsiCo chose several other vegan companies as part of its inaugural class, including bean-based nutrition bar brand Rule Breaker Snacks and Canadian chickpea milk brand YoFiit. “Nutrition Greenhouse was created with the intent of supporting change-making startups of the future,” Daniel Grubbs, Managing Director of PepsiCo Ventures Group, said. “We are very excited to collaborate with, help grow, and learn from these incredible companies. Each finalist is unique in their own way, but one thing they all share is [that] they’re mission-driven and purposeful, which is very much aligned with our own ‘Performance with Purpose’ agenda.” All 10 participants will have the opportunity to work with food industry leaders during the program, at the end of which the company that best uses its initial grant will receive a further $100,000 in funding and opportunities to collaborate with PepsiCo.

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