Food Processing is looking at the role of venture capital, private equity and other investors in the food and beverage industry. If you have had experiences, either positive or negative, with an outside investor – VC, PE, angel, incubator or whatever – we’d love to hear all about it. Contact Senior Editor Pan Demetrakakes or call him at 630-467-1301 ext. 321.
Stacy's Pita Chips, which was founded by Stacy Madison in 1996, is helping other female founders get their food and beverage products in front venture capital firms. Called the Rise Project, Stacy’s Rise Project was launched in 2019 as a program to help women grow their food and beverage ventures through funding, mentorship, and community.
Because only 3% of all venture capital funding goes to female-founded businesses, Stacy and the company she founded are hoping to see that percentage rise by helping women not only perfect the way they present their products to venture capitalists, but also get the ideas in front of more VC firms. Female entrepreneurs are encouraged to submit their business ideas on the Stacy's website.
Stacy's, which has been owned by PepsiCo since 2006, collaborates with HelloAlice.com, a website that helps women find funding, opportunities, and experts for along their small business journey, for the Rise Project. The Rise Project also works alongside Hello Alice and PepsiCo/FritoLay for the WomanMade Funding Challenge, which announced its winners during an online broadcast.
