Rethinking CPG SF

Food+Tech Connectis the community for food innovation. We help innovators understand how new business, tech and investment models are transforming the food industry through our newsletter, website and events. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletterhere.

Food+Tech Connect

Increasing demand for healthy, sustainable and personalized food is dramatically transforming the CPG industry. Startups are rethinking the status quo to make food more nutritious, delicious and accessible. 
Join us to learn about the business models, technologies and strategies of some of the game-changers who are transforming the food industry. John Foraker, co-founder and CEO of <A HREF="https://onceuponafarmorganics.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Once Upon A Farm</A>, will be doing a deep dive into how the company achieved WIC approval for its organic, cold-pressed baby food bowls. Larissa Russell, co-founder and CEO of <A HREF="https://podfoods.co" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pod Foods</A>, will do a deep dive into creating a B2B marketplace and distribution network to connect emerging food and beverage brands to retail stores. And Livio Bisterzo, founder and CEO of Green Park Brands and co-founder of <A HREF="https://www.buddynutrition.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Buddy Nutrition</A>, will do a deep dive into Buddy Nutrition’s approach to building a D2C personalized nutrition platform.
 
We will also have networking with the community and lots of great food and drinks to sample from <A HREF="https://akua.co" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">AKUA</A>, <A HREF="https://www.blueevolution.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Blue Evolution</A>, <A HREF="https://www.burlapandbarrel.com" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Burlap & Barrel</A>, <A HREF="https://gokaibae.com" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kaibae</A>, <A HREF="https://www.kulikulifoods.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kuli Kuli</A>, <A HREF="https://teffco.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Teff Company</A>, <A HREF="https://www.raisedreal.com" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Raised Real</A>, <A HREF="https://www.eclipsefoods.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Eclipse Foods</A>, <A HREF="http://barunut.com.br/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Labra</A>, <A HREF="https://kinshipfoods.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kinship Meats</A>, <A HREF="http://www.pureuala.com" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">`Uala Pure Purple Power</A> and <A HREF="http://www.medlie.com" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Medlie</A>.
 
Interested in sampling your food, beverage or technology product at the event? Apply <A HREF="https://bit.ly/2xQWyiu" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</A>. 
 
<HR>
 
SCHEDULE:
6 - 7:15pm: Networking, tech demos and food and beverage sampling 
7:30 - 9:30pm: Presentations + Q&A
 
<HR>
 
PRESENTERS:
John Foraker, Co-Founder & CEO of Once Upon A Farm 
John is the co-founder and CEO of <A HREF="https://onceuponafarmorganics.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Once Upon A Farm</A>, a company with the mission of providing yummy and nutritious “farm-to-family” foods to kids of all ages. Prior to his new start-up, John spent more than 30 years in the natural and organic food industry running businesses with a sharp focus on sustainability and social responsibility. John was the longtime leader of Annie’s, Inc., a leading natural & organic food brand, in the US from 1999 to 2017. As CEO of Annie’s, he took the company public in 2012 under the symbol BNNY before General Mills acquired the business in 2014 for $820 million. Foraker received a B.S. in agricultural economics from UC Davis and an MBA from UC Berkeley.
 
Larissa Russell, Co-Founder & CEO of Pod Foods
Larissa Russell is the co-founder and CEO of <A HREF="https://podfoods.co" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pod Foods</A>, a B2B marketplace and distribution network connecting emerging food and beverage brands to retail stores. Prior to co-founding Pod Foods, Russell had a cookie business called Green Pea Cookie, which produced cookies out of peas. She and her cofounder Fiona Lee experienced the challenges of the grocery supply chain first-hand. Russell graduated from Dartmouth in 2013, where she was a Senior Fellow and studied Government. She is excited about the impact of Pod Foods as a pathway for emerging brands to succeed and for consumers to access high quality food and beverage products.
 
Livio Bisterzo, CEO and Founder of Green Park Brands, Co-Founder Buddy Nutrition
Livio Bisterzo started his first venture in college when he launched an events business. Since then, Bisterzo has a proven track record of starting successful businesses. Over the last 12 years, he has built consumer brands globally. In 2015 Bisterzo created Green Park, a startup incubating platform. In 2016, Green Park launched its first brand, HIPPEAS. Their current portfolio includes other brands like UGLY DRINKS, MAVERICKS SNACKS, <A HREF="https://www.buddynutrition.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BUDDY NUTRITION</A>, and REEL PAPER.
 
<HR>
 
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
 
<IMG ALT="WeWork Food Labs Logo" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/311163515/weworkfoodlabs-2.png">
<A HREF="https://www.wework.com/promos/food-labs" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">WeWork Food Labs</A> is building a community of entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors to fix food, now and for the future. A workspace and global platform, Food Labs is dedicated to startups impacting the future of sustainable food.
 
 
<IMG SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/9177411/kin-1.png">
 
<A HREF="https://www.kineuphorics.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kin</A> believes in a night where social isn’t sinful and self-care doesn’t stop at sunset. It didn’t exist at the bar, so we turned to ancient remedy and modern alchemy to create euphorics: a new category of nightlife beverage crafted for conscious connection.

WeWork Food Labs at Waterfront Plaza

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Rethinking CPG SF

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in San Francisco and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Rethinking CPG SF

More Food & Drink events

Browse more Food & Drink events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in San Francisco and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.