LEADERSHIP
30
PepsiCo is no stranger to innovation . From Pepsi to Lay ’ s , Tropicana to Quaker Oats , the food and beverage giant has sculpted brands that are now commonplace on grocery shelves across the globe . Under its banner , PepsiCo has not only created its own iconic flavours and styles but it has also nurtured startups with capital investments and even acquisitions . It ’ s a good deal for both parties : with an ear to the ground , PepsiCo can stay one step ahead of the hottest trends shaking up the sector , while newcomers can take advantage of the wealth of experience PepsiCo has gained since it was founded over 120 years ago .
The engine behind these partnerships is the company ’ s trailblazing investment arm , PepsiCo Ventures Group . In order to push its venture footprint further , last year the investment arm launched the Nutrition Greenhouse accelerator in Europe , a six-month program that gave 10 start-ups € 20,000 ( US $ 22,500 ) and matched them with a mentor from PepsiCo . Offering guidance on strategy , fundraising , supply chain
“ This isn ’ t something that you can do on your own . It ’ s a joint effort and there ’ s a lot of experience and guidance to be found ”
— Daniel Grubbs , Managing Director at PepsiCo Ventures Group
management and more , the accelerator proved to be a hit and now PepsiCo is bringing the scheme back to North America to help start-ups gain an edge in the ever-competitive market .
At the helm of Pepsi Venture Group is Managing Director Daniel Grubbs . Having begun at PepsiCo over five years ago , he first cut his teeth in marketing and consultancy , helping early-stage and mid-tier companies
DECEMBER 2018