Six innovators join dairy accelerator program

MINNEAPOLIS — Six startups utilizing dairy in their food and beverage innovations will compete in the second annual Midwest Dairy Accelerator this year.

Midwest Dairy revealed members of the 2026 cohort, along with details about their products:

• Disco Cow (Chicago) – Founder Kate Colehour reimagined cottage cheese by creating whipped, protein-packed dips and spreads that were developed to offer convenient and nutritious snacking.

• Drippy Dip (Saginaw, Mich.) – Co-founder Ryan Fitzpatrick set out to create a shelf stable cheese dip using real cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, as well as clean ingredients with no seed oils, artificial dyes or “unnecessary” additives.

• MOOJ Foods (Chicago) – Founder Ritu Sreenivasan upgraded traditional paneer by developing a high protein, lower fat dairy product for “everyday cooking” across various occasions.

• Pretty Cool Ice Cream (Chicago) – Founder Dana Cree, who has won awards for her pastry making, creates gourmet frozen novelties by using premium dairy ingredients and innovative flavors.

• (P)RiND (Chicago) – Founder Matteo Caoia worked to make a cheese pop snack that delivers 30 grams of protein while also being free from lactose or gluten. The snacks are made with cheese and four simple ingredients.

• Yotopia (Iowa City, Iowa) – Founder Veronica Tessler uses frozen yogurt as a vehicle for probiotics. The brand’s premium frozen desserts are made with locally sourced dairy and were created to offer indulgence with functional benefits.

"Consumers are increasingly looking for foods that deliver more: more protein, more functionality, cleaner ingredients and authentic experiences," Midwest Dairy chief executive officer Corey Scott said. "The strong growth we're seeing in categories like yogurt and cottage cheese underscores the opportunity for founders who can create innovative products that meet those evolving needs while showcasing the versatility and nutritional value of real dairy. We're excited to help them accelerate their growth and bring new dairy-forward products to more consumers."

Organizers behind the Midwest Dairy Accelerator, which includes VentureFuel, noted the startups beginning in late June gained access to workshops, one-on-one mentorship and direct collaboration with dairy industry leaders. The competition’s programming covers consumer insights, ingredients and innovation, manufacturing, distribution, retail strategy, marketing, and business pitching.

"What's especially exciting about this year's cohort is how effectively these founders are using dairy to address some of the biggest trends shaping food today; from protein and functionality to convenience and clean label ingredients," VentureFuel founder and CEO Fred Schonenberg said. "The future of food belongs to entrepreneurs who can identify emerging consumer needs and quickly bring innovative solutions to market. We're proud to help these founders accelerate their growth and strengthen the next generation of dairy innovation."

The Midwest Dairy Accelerator wraps up on Sept. 16, when finalists will present their respective businesses to a panel of industry experts and judges during a pitch event. The grand prize winner will receive $20,000 and the runner-up will be awarded $10,000.

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