CHICAGO — Mondelez International has selected 10 companies for its second CoLab Tech program.
The accelerator program, led by the baking giant’s R&D team, features an eight-week curriculum that offers companies hands-on experiences, virtual sessions, mentorship and a connection to Mondelez’ global network.
“As one of the world’s largest snack companies, we are thinking creatively – including seeking access to the newest technologies – to be ready and able to meet the opportunities we see coming in snacking,” said Ian Noble, VP for global ingredient R&D at Mondelez International. “This year’s CoLab Tech cohort brings exciting, disruptive technologies across the entire value chain. We are very eager to work with and learn from them, while also providing the resources and expertise that can help enable them to grow and scale.”
There were nearly 100 applications for this year’s program from around the world. The companies selected cover an assortment of areas critical for the future of the snacking industry, such as cocoa processing solutions, sustainable packaging and manufacturing, and wellbeing snacks and ingredients.
“This year’s CoLab Tech cohort brings exciting, disruptive technologies across the entire value chain.” — Ian Noble | VP for global ingredient R&D | Mondelez International
This year’s cohort members are:
- Bread Free: The Spanish company developed technology that can neutralize gluten in wheat flour.
- Enginzyme: The Sweden-based company behind an enzyme-enabled biomanufacturing process that develops sustainable and cost-efficient “gut-friendly sugar.”
- Enjay: This Swedish company generated the first system that can recover and recycle waste heat generated by exhaust sources, such as manufacturers, and re-introduce it as a new resource that also lowers CO2 emissions.
- hs-tumbler GmbH: The German company created a programmable new-age industrial mixer that is faster, gentler and more efficient.
- Kokomondo: This Israel-based company created controlled and climate-resilient cocoa with cell-cultured technology, offering a way to produce the ingredient year-round with no climate or region restrictions.
- Luminescent: The Israel-based clean energy startup’s solutions portfolio includes a heat engine that converts heat into zero-emission electricity, a heat pump and long-duration energy storage.
- Outlander Materials: The Dutch company’s “Unplastic” solution is a compostable, lightweight and flexible alternative to single-use plastics.
- Savor: The US company delivers net-zero, deforestation-free fats with technology that use 1,000 times less energy than commodity agricultural production.
- Tasteomics: This Swiss company’s plant-based product, Peakaroma, elevates the Kokumi flavor and sensory experience with the potential to reduce MSG, fat and calories.
- Yangi: The Sweden-based sustainable packaging startup uses proprietary technology to convert cellulose pulp into 3-D molded products.
