Chicago's
premier food and ag innovation event showcases the region's
global leadership in food
CHICAGO, May 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- World Business Chicago announces the inaugural
edition of Future-of-Food Week, May 20th-May
24th, 2024. This week-long, multi-partner experience is an
evolution of previous Future-of-Food editions of the Chicago
Venture Summit series.
Chicago
announces Future-of-Food Week, affirming its role as a global food
innovation hub.
"Chicago stands as a
trailblazing force in food innovation, and we invite startups,
investors, and companies from across the globe to join us at the
Future-of-Food Week to witness the remarkable advancements taking
place in food production and innovation. Here, too, you'll see our
unwavering commitment to Chicago
leading the charge in cultivating and sustaining an inclusive
environment for entrepreneurship and ensuring equitable access to
venture capital opportunities, especially for startups founded by
women and people of color," noted Mayor Brandon Johnson.
World Business Chicago manages a portfolio of programs to
attract growth capital for local entrepreneurs, attract STEM talent
for emerging companies, and grow the region's innovation economy
with corporate, university, and national lab partnerships. These
programs include the city's flagship startup conference the Chicago
Venture Summit series, the startup growth and capital attraction
program Startup Chicago, STEM talent attraction and retention
program, ThinkChicago, and corporate program, Enterprise
Chicago.
"Having long admired the stellar reputation of the Chicago
Venture Summit, I am immensely proud to join in announcing the
expansion into the Future-of-Food Week," said Phil Clement, President & CEO of World
Business Chicago. "Chicago's food
and beverage manufacturing industry is the nation's largest, and by
evolving this into a multi-day, multi-partner experience, we're
showcasing Chicago's strength as a
brand and demonstrating why the region is a global hub for food
innovation."
"The Future-of-Food Week serves as a vital bridge
connecting local businesses and startups with investors and
opportunities within prominent corporations," said Charles E. Smith, Vice Chair of World Business
Chicago. "I commend the dedicated team, led by Abin Kuriakose, for orchestrating this
transformative event and look forward to hearing about the
meaningful outcomes that will result."
"We know that Future-of-Food Week will only expand on the
groundwork laid by past years' single-day Summits," stated
Abin Kuriakose, Chief Strategy &
Innovation Officer for World Business Chicago. "With partners
stepping in like Relish Works, Naturally Chicago, Foode,
Chicago:Blend, TechRise, and more, we have events happening for
professionals in food innovation from downtown Chicago to DuPage
County."
WBC-led events will include:
- Chicagoland Day with the Greater Chicagoland Economic
Partnership (GCEP), Choose DuPage and WBC board member
Ajinomoto,
- Future-of-Food Week Reception with Relish Works, and,
- Startup Day with TechNexus Venture Collaborative.
Future of Food Week partner events include:
- Week-long restaurant activation by Foode,
- Pitch Slam by Naturally Chicago,
- Executives Club of Chicago
luncheon with Bayer AG's CEO,
- Relish Works Demo Day, and more.
Future-of-Food Week 2024 is made possible through presenting
sponsors Mars Wrigley, Microsoft,
Edelman, and the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago. Startup Day Sponsors include Cooley,
Lofty Ventures, Schreiber Food Ventures, Relish Works, and
TechNexus Venture Collaborative.
"Mars Wrigley has called
Chicago our home for over 100
years and we're committed to attracting top talent to this great
city by investing $50 million in our
global innovation center, which included building a brand new pilot
plant last year and expanding our headquarters," said Fabiano Lima, Global Vice President for
Corporate Affairs for Mars Wrigley,
and a World Business Chicago board member. "Building capabilities
to develop new products not only enables our associates to innovate
in new ways, but also allowed us the opportunity to add new
elements to our facilities focused on the wellbeing of our
associates. These improvements make it a great place for the best
talent to thrive."
Nisaini Rexach, Community Engagement Lead for Microsoft, added:
"Microsoft actively participates in local events such as World
Business Chicago's Future-of-Food Week, which demonstrates our
dedication to supporting Chicago's
vibrant startup ecosystem & food scene and thriving
entrepreneur community.".
"Edelman was founded in Chicago
more than 70 years ago with a deep heritage in food & beverage,
said Alison Borgmeyer, MS, RD, US
Food & Beverage Sector Chair for Edelman. "While our clients
span the globe now, Chicago food
& beverage innovation will always have a special place in our
hearts and we're proud to partner with WBC's Future-of-Food Week to
drive it forward."
"Over the next decade, Canada
needs innovative ingredient manufacturing and food processing
companies commercializing new products and processes to meet the
nation's $25 billion market
opportunity. The Government of Canada has just committed to regulatory
sandboxes in support of innovation and the entrepreneurs building
the future of food," said Madeleine Féquière, Consul General of
Canada in Chicago. "I am proud of the partnership the
Consulate General of Canada in
Chicago has with World Business
Chicago and the work of our teams to connect innovation ecosystems
on both sides of the border to find solutions and increase
prosperity together."
Future-of-Food Week is also dedicated to supporting local
small business owners and entrepreneurs impacted by the recent
closure of Outfox Hospitality. Future-of-Food Week is calling
all impacted entrepreneurs to contact World Business Chicago
directly (via Venture Program Manager Billy
Ndizeye: bndizeye@worldbusinesschicago.com) to join the
official startup portfolio for the May
20-24 events.
Follow World Business Chicago on social for relevant updates on
upcoming events and initiatives in support of Chicago's food startup ecosystem.
You can learn more about World Business Chicago's Future-of-Food
Week 2024 at www.ChicagoVentureSummit.com. Registration for these
invite-only investor and startup events is now open.
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SOURCE World Business Chicago