MBOLD

What MBOLD does

MBOLD is a nonprofit coalition initiative of GREATER MSP Partnership, launched on October 16, 2020 in Minnesota to convene leaders of Fortune 500 food and agriculture companies, research institutions, and startups around pre-competitive challenges in the food system. Its programmatic portfolio is anchored by the Protein Catalyst umbrella initiative, which combines the Bold Growth mentorship program for high-growth protein startups, the Protein Navigator service for ecosystem navigation (powered by AURI), and pre-competitive R&D on animal feed and plant-based proteins. Sector-specific initiatives include Winter Camelina R&D (with the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative and USDA ARS), a Flexible Film Circular Economy initiative (anchored by the Rogers, MN recycling facility operated by GDB International), and an Agricultural Resiliency Program focused on soil health and water stewardship.

The coalition operates as a collaborative platform rather than a commercial enterprise, with no proprietary technology products. Founding and ongoing members include General Mills, Cargill, Target, Compeer Financial, Hormel Foods, Land O'Lakes, Schwan's Company, Ecolab, the University of Minnesota, AURI, McKinsey & Co., and others. Member companies reach consumers in 125+ countries with combined annual revenues exceeding $250 billion, providing unmatched scale and convening power.

MBOLD is funded through corporate membership contributions, foundation grants (McKnight Foundation, Builders Vision, Builders Initiative), and state of Minnesota DEED grants. It does not sell products or services and charges no fees for participation in mentorship or coalition activities. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, including co-hosting the Bridge2Food North America Summit and Food. Ag. Ideas Week. The operating team is small (1-10 employees) and currently navigating a leadership transition, with Managing Director JoAnne Berkenkamp retiring in July 2026 and a national search underway for her successor.

Name

MBOLD

Legal name

MBOLD Coalition (an initiative of GREATER MSP Partnership)

Website

https://mbold.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MBOLD is a nonprofit coalition initiative of GREATER MSP Partnership that convenes Fortune 500 food and agriculture companies, research institutions, and startups in Minnesota to address climate change, protein sustainability, agricultural resiliency, and circular economy challenges through pre-competitive collaboration and mentorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food and Agriculture Industry Coalition

NAICS

All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing (311999), Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant-Based Prepared Meals & Convenience Foods Manufacturing (AFAKAGAL), Bioprocessing & Fermentation Manufacturing (Bioreactors, Scale-Up, Toll/CMO) (AFANAKAF), Sustainable & Alternative-Protein Aquafeed (Insect, Algae, Single-Cell, Byproduct-Based) (AFADADAM)

Keywords

• Food agriculture coalition
• Protein sustainability innovation
• Agricultural resiliency programs
• Circular packaging economy
• Pre-competitive collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Coalition Membership and Partnership: MBOLD operates as an initiative of GREATER MSP Partnership, funded through membership contributions from leading food and agriculture companies and organizations. The coalition does not generate revenue through product sales.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: MBOLD receives financial support from foundations including The McKnight Foundation, Builders Vision, and Builders Initiative to fund specific initiatives like the Protein Catalyst and winter camelina research.
3. Government and State Funding: The coalition receives funding through grants from the State of Minnesota, including the Department of Employment and Economic Development, for programs like Bold Growth entrepreneurship initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MBOLD operates as a pre-competitive coalition of Fortune 500 food and agriculture companies, research institutions, and nonprofit partners that collaborate to accelerate solutions to climate change, protein sustainability, agricultural resiliency, and flexible packaging circularity. It delivers this through named programs including the Protein Catalyst umbrella initiative, the Bold Growth mentorship program for high-growth protein startups, the Protein Navigator service for ecosystem guidance, and sector-specific initiatives in winter camelina R&D and flexible film recycling.

Product overview

MBOLD is a coalition — an initiative of the GREATER MSP Partnership — that operates as a collaborative platform rather than a single product. Its portfolio spans multiple named programs and initiatives: the Protein Catalyst (the overarching umbrella initiative combining pre-competitive R&D, mentorship via Bold Growth, and the Protein Navigator gateway); Bold Growth (a structured mentorship and entrepreneurship support program for protein innovation companies); Protein Navigator (a personalized advisory and connection service powered by AURI); and sector-specific initiatives including winter camelina R&D, flexible film circular economy development, and agricultural resiliency. These programs work together to accelerate solutions across food and agriculture value chains through pre-competitive collaboration among member companies, research institutions, and partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Protein Catalyst: Pre-competitive collaborative initiative to drive innovation in protein sustainability, encompassing R&D for animal feed and plant-based proteins, mentorship programs, and personalized support for protein companies.
• Bold Growth
• Protein Navigator

Products and services

• Protein Catalyst A pre-competitive, collaborative umbrella initiative that drives innovation in protein sustainability by combining pre-competitive R&D for animal and plant proteins, the Bold Growth mentorship program for startups, and the Protein Navigator advisory service.
• Bold Growth Mentorship Program A mentorship initiative that helps high-growth protein innovation businesses scale through in-depth coaching from executives at MBOLD member companies, with participation free of charge and no equity taken.
• Protein Navigator A personalized gateway service, powered by AURI, that helps protein-focused companies explore and navigate Minnesota's protein ecosystem by providing tailored market insights, strategic connections, and expert guidance for companies entering or expanding in the U.S. market.
• Bold Growth Exchange A component of MBOLD's entrepreneurship support that connects emerging protein companies with executives from member organizations for hands-on mentorship and strategic guidance tailored to each company's needs.
• Winter Camelina Research & Development An initiative evaluating and building market opportunities for winter camelina as a cash cover crop, sustainable aviation fuel feedstock, and animal feed ingredient, in partnership with the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative, USDA ARS, and NDSU.
• Flexible Film Circular Economy An initiative developing a circular economy for flexible packaging film in the Upper Midwest, supporting recycling infrastructure (notably the Rogers, MN facility operated by GDB International with investment from General Mills and Schwan's Company) to reduce virgin plastic use and give materials a second life.
• Agricultural Resiliency Program An initiative advancing soil health, water stewardship, and agriculture resiliency through market development, shared learning, and risk management strategies that help agriculture become more economically and environmentally resilient while creating new farm revenue opportunities in Midwest agriculture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bold Growth alumni So Good So You grew from a startup to the number-one wellness shot brand in the U.S., expanding the category from $100 million to $600 million
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• SunOptasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Member of Protein Catalyst initiative; provides expertise in alternative proteins and hosted Bridge2Food workshop; participates in trade missions and mentorship through Bold Growth.
• Buhler GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Partner in Protein Catalyst initiative; Switzerland-based company; hosted Food Application Center tours for Bold Growth International cohort; co-sponsored Bridge2Food Summit.
• Northarvest Bean Growers AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Partner in Protein Catalyst initiative contributing expertise in dry beans and pulse crops for protein innovation.
• Consulate General of Canada in MinneapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Catalyzed cross-border collaboration; supported Bold Growth International program for Canadian companies; co-sponsored Bridge2Food North America Summit; facilitated trade mission to Saskatchewan.
• Protein Industries CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Partner in Protein Catalyst and trade mission collaboration supporting Canadian-U.S. protein innovation ecosystem development.
• Saskatchewan Food Industry Development CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025Met during trade mission to Saskatchewan; part of expanding cross-border collaboration on protein innovation and sustainability.
• Naturally MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-manages Bold Growth mentorship program with AURI and MBOLD staff; provides ecosystem navigation support; participated in Bold Growth International cohort coordination.
• GDB International / GDB Circular (MN), Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2024Lead investor and operator of the Rogers, MN flexible film recycling facility. Partnered with General Mills and Schwan's Company to reopen and upgrade the facility for circular economy development in the Upper Midwest.
• General MillscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member and Co-Chair; Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening serves as coalition Co-Chair. General Mills provides executive leadership, participates in pre-competitive collaboration on sustainability initiatives, and contributes mentors to the Bold Growth program.
• CargillcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member; Gonzalo Petschen (President of Food business in North America) serves on Executive Council. Cargill partners on winter camelina initiatives, hosting contract production at West Fargo plant for SAF production, and provides mentorship through Bold Growth.
• TargetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member; Lisa Roath (EVP and CMO of food, essentials and beauty) joined Executive Council in 2025. Target provides mentorship through Bold Growth and strategic guidance on consumer and retail insights.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member; Forever Green Initiative partners with MBOLD on winter camelina research, development, and market opportunity evaluation. The university provides research capabilities and agricultural expertise.
• Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member; co-manages Bold Growth mentorship program with Naturally Minnesota and MBOLD staff; co-developed Protein Catalyst camelina feed report; provides technical expertise and product development support.
• McKinsey & Co.supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member providing strategic consulting and analytical support to coalition initiatives and working groups.
• Compeer FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member; CEO Jase Wagner serves as Coalition Chair (2024). Compeer Financial provides agricultural financial expertise and mentorship through Bold Growth.
• Land O'Lakes, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member contributing expertise in dairy, animal feed, and agricultural cooperative operations.
• Hormel FoodssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member providing expertise in meat and protein production, and mentorship through Bold Growth program.
• EcolabsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member contributing expertise in sustainability, water stewardship, and environmental solutions for food and agriculture.
• Schwan's CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member; Brian Schiegg (CEO) joined Executive Council in 2024. Schwan's invested in Rogers flexible film recycling facility and provides mentorship through Bold Growth.
• Minnesota AgriGrowth CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member representing agricultural businesses and providing advocacy and industry connections.
• Grow NorthsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Founding coalition member supporting food and agriculture entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development in Minnesota.
• GREATER MSP PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and initiative sponsor. GREATER MSP is the economic development partnership for the 15-county Minneapolis Saint Paul region, providing organizational infrastructure and support for MBOLD.
• Bridge2FoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNetherlands-based organization; MBOLD co-hosts Bridge2Food North America Summit in Minneapolis, the premier plant and alternative protein industry gathering in the Western hemisphere.
• USDA ARS MorrissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in winter camelina development, contributing decades of crop development expertise as part of the multi-decade effort to develop winter annual crops for the Upper Midwest.
• North Dakota State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in winter camelina development contributing agricultural research expertise for winter annual crop development.
• Ag-West BiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaskatchewan-based partner supporting trade mission collaboration and cross-border protein innovation partnerships.
• Saskatchewan Pulse GrowerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet during trade mission to Saskatchewan; supports pulse crop research and market development collaboration.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner supporting cross-border collaboration on protein innovation and agricultural sustainability.
• Avena FoodssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet during trade mission; Canadian company in protein ingredients space exploring U.S. market expansion.
• Bay State MillingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet during trade mission; company engaged in protein ingredient innovation for food applications.
• Bread and Butter VenturessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenture firm providing mentorship through Bold Growth program to protein innovation startups.
• CHSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mentorship through Bold Growth program contributing agricultural cooperative and energy expertise.
• Nielsen IQsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides market research and analytics mentorship through Bold Growth program.
• Plug and Play MinnesotasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator program partnered with MBOLD for food and agriculture innovation ecosystem development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR): A nonprofit public-private partnership that funds food and agriculture research and convenes stakeholders across the value chain. Highly comparable to MBOLD's pre-competitive, multi-stakeholder coalition model with similar funder base (foundations, USDA, industry).
• The Good Food Institute (GFI): Nonprofit think tank and coalition focused on accelerating alternative protein (plant-based, fermentation, cultivated) — directly overlapping with MBOLD's Protein Catalyst initiative and Bold Growth mentorship. Operates globally with similar pre-competitive collaboration framework.
• EAT Foundation: Norway-based nonprofit linking food, health, and sustainability through multi-stakeholder coalitions (EAT-Lancet Commission). Highly comparable as a food-system coalition focused on planetary boundaries and protein demand, a core MBOLD thesis.
• Foodshot Global: Multi-stakeholder coalition and prize platform convening food system innovators and investors. Directly comparable as a coalition focused on breakthrough food innovation with member companies and research partners.
• Soil Health Institute: Nonprofit coalition driving science-based soil health and regenerative agriculture adoption. Directly comparable as a multi-stakeholder food/agriculture coalition focused on agricultural resiliency, a core MBOLD strategy.
• Global Alliance for the Future of Food: International coalition of philanthropic foundations working on food systems transformation. Comparable as a peer-coalition enabling pre-competitive collaboration on sustainable food and agriculture.
• Protein Industries Canada: Canada-based alt-protein innovation cluster and value-chain coalition. Directly comparable as a partner member organization that funds and convenes protein innovation companies, with overlapping cohort/membership models.

Broad incumbents

• Food Tank: Food systems think tank producing research, events, and media across global food and agriculture. Larger and broader in scope than MBOLD but operating a similar convening and thought-leadership model.
• Plant Based Foods Association: U.S. trade association representing the plant-based food industry. Comparable as a coalition advancing plant protein, a focus area of MBOLD's Protein Catalyst, but operates as an industry trade body rather than a coalition.
• World Wildlife Fund Food & Agriculture Program: Major nonprofit initiative focused on sustainable food and agriculture outcomes through corporate partnerships. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder convener on protein sustainability and resilient agriculture, but operationally larger and broader than MBOLD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MBOLDmn
• Facebookfacebook.com/MBOLDmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mboldmn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MBOLD