Startup Symposium

Startup Symposium

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM · 45 min. (US/Central)
Innovation Stage
Start-up Symposium
Startup Symposium

Information

Hear from innovative young companies making their mark in the food-tech space during this session of lightning pitches, where each company will present for five minutes. After the pitches, a panel of venture capital and food industry experts will engage the startups in a five-minute Q&A session, offering invaluable feedback and networking opportunities. You’ll have the chance to hear from the next generation of food-tech entrepreneurs as they showcase their businesses, products, and services. The lightning pitches will cover various aspects of each startup, including team dynamics, competitive edge, partnerships, growth plans, pricing, revenue models, startup valuation, and more. This comprehensive overview will provide valuable insights into the startups’ strategies and potential for success. Whether you're an investor seeking new opportunities, an industry professional interested in emerging trends, or an aspiring entrepreneur looking to refine your pitch, this session is a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and gain inspiration. By observing the pitches and Q&A interactions, you'll gather insights on how to perfect your own pitch for future engagements with investors and industry experts.

Mozza FoodsStand S13Real Dairy Protein from Plants Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Mozza Foods is a pioneering biotechnology company at the forefront of molecular farming. The company is dedicated to solving one of the most persistent challenges in the alternative protein industry: creating real dairy cheese without a cow. Mozza turns plants into mini-factories and has developed a proprietary platform that uses plants to produce casein, the primary functional protein found in cow’s milk. Casein is the holy grail of dairy, responsible for the unique structure that provides the essential stretch and melt consumers expect from mozzarella. By inserting the DNA instructions for bovine milk proteins into plants, Mozza allows the plant to grow these proteins naturally. Once harvested, the casein is extracted, resulting in a protein that is bio-identical to that found in a cow, but entirely animal-free. The core of Mozza’s strategy is the inherent economic advantage of leveraging large-scale agriculture. By utilizing the open field as a production network, Mozza harnesses the sun, soil, and rain to produce high-value proteins at a massive scale. By choosing soybeans—one of the world's most efficient and established crops—Mozza leverages existing global infrastructure of the single largest agricultural output. This approach allows for a feed-to-protein conversion ratio that can exceed that of a dairy cow, enabling Mozza to achieve a price point that undercuts traditional dairy.

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