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Mars launches Accelerator for food start-ups in partnership with FIAL

Photo source: Just Means

Mars Food Australia launched its new Seeds of Change Accelerator on Tuesday in partnership with Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL), to fast-track growth of innovative food-focused businesses.

Six Australian-based start-ups will be selected to undertake a tailored four-month program to help tackle their individual challenges, and will be supported with a grant of up to $40,000.

The program will include face-to-face workshops and access to a panel of expert mentors and advisers including Hamish Thomson, GM of Mars Food Australia; Bronwyn Powell, Mars Food marketing director; Dr Angeline Achariya, CEO of the Monash Food Innovation Centre; Cameron Turner, entrepreneur in residence and lecturer at the University of Queensland; and Dr Martin Cole, deputy director of food and agriculture at CSIRO.

The Accelerator program is looking for start-ups with a focus on one or more of the following areas: Sharing World Flavours, Easy-Meal Solutions, Responsible Food, Creating with Care, Better for You, Plant-Based Eating, Accessing Asia, Food Manufacturing and Value Chain Transformation.

“Mars Food is committed to nurturing the next generation of food innovators and dedicated to creating and delivering healthier, easier and tastier food for more people,” Peter Crane, research and development director at Mars Food Australia and program mentor said.

Mars Food will not hold any equity in the start-ups but hopes that the company will learn from these budding businesses.

The Australian Seeds of Change Accelerator is part of a joint US-Australia initiative. Applications can be submitted via the Seeds of Change Accelerator website between Tuesday 28 May and close on Friday 19 July.

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