Naturally Chicago

What Naturally Chicago does

Naturally Chicago is a membership-based community organization serving the Good Food and Natural Product Industry in the Chicago metropolitan area. Founded in May 2019 and incorporated in Illinois, the organization operates as the convening hub for natural, organic, and better-for-you food and beverage entrepreneurs, connecting them with investors, retailers, distributors, service providers, and CPG incumbents. Its core programmatic offerings are the multi-tier membership program (six tiers priced from $500 to $25,000 annually based on partner revenue size), the Locally Made retail-access program connecting brands within 150 miles of Chicago to retailers and foodservice providers, the Chicago Seed Co. investor network (70+ venture capital, family offices, and angel investors focused on food and beverage), a cohort-based Mentorship Matching Program, and the annual Pitch Slam competition which awards prize packages exceeding $200,000.

The organization's technology footprint is minimal; there is no proprietary software platform, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability disclosed. Value delivery is operational and event-based, including Morning Mingles, facility tours, panel discussions, fireside chats, educational webinars, and the annual Founders' Gala. Marketing and member communications run through a website (naturallychicago.org), an email newsletter reaching 8,500–8,800 contacts, social media (LinkedIn), and an event registration platform (Glueup). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and an Associate Board of food and beverage professionals.

Revenue is generated exclusively through recurring membership and partnership fees plus per-event sponsorships. The brand partner ladder prices memberships at $500 (Emerging), $1,000 (Expanding), $2,500 (Growing), $5,000 (Platinum), $10,000 (Premier), and $25,000 (Diamond), with benefits scaled to partner revenue bands from under $250K to over $100M. Corporate sponsors (KeHE, SPINS, Barilla, BMO, Presence Marketing, Steans Family Foundation and others) occupy the Diamond tier and provide the institutional backbone of the organization. The lean core team of approximately five staff, combined with no publicly disclosed financials, indicates a sub-scale non-profit/community entity whose primary asset is its curated network rather than scalable software.

Name

Naturally Chicago

Legal name

Naturally Chicago

Website

https://naturallychicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Naturally Chicago is a Chicago-based, membership-funded community organization that convenes the Good Food and Natural Product Industry, connecting natural/CPG brands with investors, retailers, distributors, and service providers through tiered memberships, the Locally Made retail-access program, Chicago Seed Co. investor network, mentorship cohorts, and the annual Pitch Slam competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Products Industry Community Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Sponsorship Sales & Partnership Brokerage (THAHAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Attendee Acquisition & Delegate Marketing (THAHAGAE)

Keywords

• Natural products community
• Industry networking events
• Membership programs
• Food and beverage investors
• Pitch competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Brand Partnership Fees: Tiered annual membership fees for brand partners ranging from $500 (Emerging Brand) to $25,000 (Diamond Brand), based on company revenue size ($250K to $100M+)
2. Corporate Partnership Fees: Annual partnership fees for corporate sponsors and service providers supporting the natural products ecosystem
3. Event Sponsorships: Lead sponsorships for Pitch Slam and Innovation Forum events (e.g., $5,000 Lead Sponsor investment), including speaking opportunities, logo placement, and email marketing access to 8,500 contacts
4. Individual Membership: Annual individual membership fees for industry professionals seeking networking and educational access

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Naturally Chicago is a community organization for the Good Food and Natural Product Industry that delivers a multi-tiered membership program (Emerging through Diamond tiers, $500-$25,000 annually), the Locally Made retail access initiative, the Chicago Seed Co. investor network (70+ investors), cohort-based mentorship matching, the annual Pitch Slam competition with prize packages exceeding $200,000, and recurring events including Morning Mingles, facility tours, and educational webinars. Its mission is to make Chicago an epicenter for innovative, fast-growing natural products companies by connecting entrepreneurs with investors, retailers, and industry experts.

Product overview

Naturally Chicago operates as a community organization for the Good Food and Natural Product Industry, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include a multi-tiered membership program (Emerging through Diamond levels at $500-$25,000 annually), the Locally Made retail access program connecting local brands with retailers, Chicago Seed Co. investor network (70+ investors), the Mentorship Matching Program for cohort-based guidance, and the annual Pitch Slam competition with prize packages exceeding $200,000. The organization also hosts regular events including Morning Mingles, facility tours, and educational webinars on topics spanning retail, AI, hiring, and regulatory compliance. The programs work together to support natural product entrepreneurs through connections, funding access, and industry education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Naturally Chicago Membership Program Annual membership program for natural product brands and corporate partners offering tiered access to networking events, mentorship, educational programming, retail connections, investor access, recognition, and marketing benefits. Pricing scales from $500 (Emerging Brand) to $25,000 (Diamond Brand) per year based on company revenue.
• Locally Made Program Retail access initiative connecting local natural product brands headquartered or producing within 150 miles of Chicago with retailers, foodservice providers, and distributors to grow sales, raise brand awareness, and support retailers' need for quality local products.
• Chicago Seed Co. Investor Network Investor network operated by Naturally Chicago that connects natural product entrepreneurs with more than 70 venture capital firms, family offices, and angel investors focused on food and beverage, enabling deal flow, investment submissions, and curated investor-brand introductions.
• Mentorship Matching Program Cohort-based mentorship program that pairs Naturally Chicago brand partners with industry veterans, comprising an introductory call plus three meetings over a three to five-month period covering sales, marketing, operations, banking, venture capital, and legal topics.
• Pitch Slam Competition and Innovation Forum Annual flagship pitch competition and innovation forum that connects emerging natural product brands with investors and industry experts, featuring pitch presentations, retail/omnichannel/investor panels, fireside chats, an Innovation Showcase with 20+ rising-star brands, and prize packages whose combined value exceeded $200,000 in 2025.
• Events and Educational Webinars Recurring live and virtual programming including Morning Mingles, facility tours, panel discussions, fireside chats, and educational webinars on retail success, AI in natural products marketing, hiring for growth, regulatory trends, and CPG industry insights.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prize packages exceeding $200,000 awarded to pitch competition winners
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered diamond, platinum, core, premier and growing.

• KeHE DistributorsdiamondStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading natural and organic distributor and co-founder of Naturally Chicago. Brandon Barnholt serves as Executive Chairman. Katie Paul serves as Senior Vice President of Merchandising. KeHE supports events, webinars, and provides distribution expertise to the membership.
• SPINSdiamondStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading provider of data and insights for the natural products industry. Tony Olson serves as Chairman of the Board of Naturally Chicago and Chairman of SPINS. Simon Cutts serves as VP of Retail Partnerships.
• BarilladiamondStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor CPG company and diamond partner. Julia Gregg-Albers serves as VP of R&D, Development, and Innovation. Jean-Pierre Comte is President of Rana Meal Solutions and serves on the board.
• Presence MarketingdiamondStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner providing marketing expertise. Bill Weiland is CEO and co-founder of Naturally Chicago. Milt Zimmerman is EVP and Chair of Executive Committee.
• ChompsplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetter-for-you snack brand. Rashid Ali is Co-founder and CEO and serves on the board. Kaitlyn Fundakowski is VP of E-Commerce and Digital Marketing.
• Twisted AlchemycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetter-for-you cocktail mixer brand. Kim Holstein is Co-founder and Co-CEO and serves on the board.
• PolsinellipremierImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm providing legal services. Zack Strange serves as Shareholder. Co-sponsors Morning Mingle events.
• Mondelez InternationalpremierStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal snack company. Simon Miles serves as Director of SnackFutures.
• Lifeway FoodsplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerFermented foods company. Julie Smolyansky serves on the board.
• Simple MillscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetter-for-you baking mixes. Charlie DiGregorio is Senior Associate Brand Manager. Justin Malina is Senior Director Commercial Finance. Kara Weibeler is Senior Director of Consumer Insights & Strategy.
• Fresh Thyme MarketplatinumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional natural grocery retailer. Kenny Hausmann is Director of Merchandising - Natural Living. Celena Montes Ruiz is Category Manager Poultry & Seafood.
• Farmers FridgeplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh prepared foods company. Luke Saunders is Founder/CEO and serves on the board.
• Gotham GreensgrowingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor farming company producing hydroponic leafy greens and herbs.
• Nature's FyndgrowingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood technology company. Karuna Rawal serves as Chief Revenue Officer and CMO and serves on the board.
• NielsenIQplatinumTechnology or IntegrationMarket research and analytics provider for consumer goods industry.
• NOW FoodsplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerVitamin and supplement manufacturer.
• Rana Meal SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian prepared foods company. Jean-Pierre Comte is President and serves on the board.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Naturally Bay Area: Naturally focused products community for the San Francisco Bay Area offering member programming, events, and investor matching for better-for-you brands. Operates the same community-and-events formula as Naturally Chicago in another major metro.
• Union Kitchen: DC-region food business incubator and commercial kitchen network supporting CPG brand launches with shared production space, mentorship, retail pathways, and investor exposure. Direct functional peer on the food-startup incubator dimension.
• The Hatchery Chicago: Chicago-based food and beverage business incubator and food enterprise center supporting early-stage food brands with shared kitchens, mentorship, and capital connections. Directly comparable as a Chicago food entrepreneur support organization with overlapping brand-portfolio targets.
• Naturally Boulder: Natural and organic products industry community organization in Boulder, Colorado offering membership tiers, networking events, investor connections, and pitch programming. Same underlying 'Naturally [City]' playbook operating in a different geography.

Others

• S2G Ventures: Food and agriculture venture capital firm and Naturally Chicago Premier partner. Not a direct competitor but a high-relevance adjacent player connecting investors and CPG brands — a category every Naturally Chicago-style community must engage.
• Food Tank: Global food-industry advocacy and think tank that convenes stakeholders (brands, investors, policymakers) through events, research, and media, comparable as a community-building and convening layer in the food ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• New Hope Network (Informa): Operator of the Natural Products Expo West/Atlantic events and the Natural Products Insider media brand, serving the same natural products industry with retail matchmaking, content, and trade shows as a much larger incumbent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/naturallychicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naturally-chicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/naturallychicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Naturally Chicago