What Vegpreneur does

Vegpreneur is a media brand and operating partner serving plant-based and sustainability businesses. Founded in 2018 by Noah Hyams and operating as a remote-first organization based in New York, the company connects founders, investors, and operators across food, fashion, materials, tech, and ingredients sectors. Its productized offerings include VEGPRENEUR Circle (an application-only paid membership providing warm buyer and investor introductions, trade show floor presence, and curated peer community), the DTC Accelerator (zero-equity grants up to $50,000 for plant-based brands), the VEGPRENEUR x Shopline Ecommerce Accelerator (up to $12,000 in zero-equity cash grants launched August 2025), the VEGPRENEUR Collective (a vetted service provider directory), the Jobs & Internships Hub (a job board for the sector), and an annual VEGPRENEUR Awards program (450+ product tastings, 16 winners in the inaugural 2024 cycle).

Vegpreneur generates revenue through six streams: subscription-based Circle membership, professional services for trade show pavilions and curated events, event ticketing (e.g., NYC Vegan Soiree priced at $25 early bird / $35 general admission), advertising on the Jobs & Internships Hub, sponsorship-backed accelerator programs, and a small e-commerce merchandise shop. Its technology stack is non-proprietary, comprising Squarespace for content management, email newsletter infrastructure, and Eventbrite, Tally, and Partiful for event registration. The company is not a technology vendor and does not disclose any proprietary software, AI capabilities, or data products.

The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: editorial content, Founder Spotlights, and a newsletter drive top-of-funnel discovery, while trade show pavilions at nine or more major industry events (including Summer Fancy Food Show, CHFA NOW Toronto, NACUFS, Newtopia Now, Fit Expo) and regional mixers convert founders into Circle members and accelerator applicants. The company's reach is evidenced by coverage in Bloomberg, Business Insider, VegNews, Plant Based News, vegconomist, The New Republic, and A Sustainable Mind, and by trade show organizer relationships across the U.S., Canada, and the UK.

Name

Vegpreneur

Legal name

VEGPRENEUR

Website

https://vegpreneur.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vegpreneur is a media brand and operating partner that connects plant-based and sustainability business founders, investors, and operators through a paid membership program, trade show pavilions, a zero-equity grant accelerator, editorial coverage, and curated industry events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Media and Business Community Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue Sourcing & Contract Negotiation Specialists (THAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Hospitality & VIP Services (Hosting, Protocol, Concierge) (THAHADAG), Venue & Special Event Site Sourcing (Unique Venues, Permitting) (THAHADAE)

Keywords

• Plant-based business community
• Food entrepreneur networking
• Sustainability startup accelerator
• Trade show pavilion services
• Venture media and events

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership (VEGPRENEUR Circle): Application-only paid membership for founders, investors, service providers, and professionals working in plant-based or sustainability. Membership tiers include access to trade show floor presence, warm buyer and investor introductions, curated dinners with decision-makers, peer community, and the team's relationships across the sector. Scale range cited: pre-revenue to $50M+ companies.
2. Accelerator Program: DTC Accelerator providing plant-based brands with zero-equity grants (up to $50,000). The VEGPRENEUR x Shopline Ecommerce Accelerator offers up to $12,000 in cash grants with zero equity. Grants attract applicants and serve as a funnel into the membership program.
3. Trade Show Pavilion Services: VEGPRENEUR curates group pavilions at major trade shows (Summer Fancy Food Show, CHFA NOW Toronto, Newtopia Now, Fit Expo, and others), splitting booth costs across member brands and providing hands-on support, buyer access, and media coverage.
4. Event Ticketing & Registration: Revenue from paid event tickets including the NYC Vegan Soiree ($25 early bird / $35 general admission), webinars, workshops, and CPG mixers. Some events are free for members.
5. Events & Workshops: Panel discussions, invite-only dinners, workshops, and trade show pavilions generate revenue through sponsorship, ticket sales, and membership upsell.
6. Job Board & Classifieds: The Jobs & Internships Hub features exclusive role listings (Community & Partnerships Manager, Content & Storytelling Specialist, Events & Experience Coordinator) and paid job postings for external companies seeking plant-based and sustainability talent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vegpreneur (VEGPRENEUR) operates as a media brand and operating partner for plant-based and sustainability businesses. Its core offerings include the paid VEGPRENEUR Circle membership providing trade show floor presence, warm buyer and investor introductions, curated dinners, and peer community access; the DTC Accelerator offering up to $50,000 in zero-equity grants for plant-based brands; trade show pavilions at major industry events; editorial coverage via blog and newsletter; and a jobs hub serving the sector.

Product overview

VEGPRENEUR is a media brand and operating partner for plant-based and sustainability businesses, offering a platform of interconnected services. The core offerings include VEGPRENEUR Circle (paid membership with warm intros, trade show presence, and peer community), the DTC Accelerator (providing up to $50,000 in zero-equity grants for plant-based brands), the VEGPRENEUR Collective (directory of vetted service providers), and Events & Pavilions (trade show presence and industry events). Additional services include a Jobs & Internships Hub, Media & Newswire editorial coverage, VEGPRENEUR Awards (annual product recognition program), and the Founder Spotlight profile series. The company operates as a community platform connecting founders, investors, and operators across food, fashion, materials, tech, and ingredients sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VEGPRENEUR Circle Membership Application-only paid membership for founders, investors, service providers, and operators in plant-based and sustainability sectors. Includes trade show floor presence, warm buyer and investor introductions, curated dinners with decision-makers, peer community, and direct access to the Vegpreneur team's relationships across the sector. Designed for companies from pre-revenue to $50M+ in revenue.
• DTC Accelerator Direct-to-consumer accelerator providing plant-based brands with up to $50,000 in zero-equity grants, along with resources and funding to support scaling. Operates on rolling applications with limited spots and serves as a funnel into the VEGPRENEUR Circle membership program.
• VEGPRENEUR x Shopline Ecommerce Accelerator E-commerce-focused accelerator run in partnership with Shopline offering plant-based brands up to $12,000 in zero-equity cash grants. Combines Vegpreneur's community and brand expertise with Shopline's e-commerce platform capabilities. Includes in-person events and rolling applications with limited spots.
• Trade Show Pavilions Curated group pavilions at major industry trade shows including Summer Fancy Food Show (Javits Center, NYC), Winter Fancy Food Faire (San Diego), NACUFS National Conference (New Orleans), Newtopia Now (Denver), CHFA NOW Toronto, Fit Expo (Anaheim), ECRM (Dallas), and California Restaurant Show. Splits booth costs across member brands, provides hands-on support, buyer access, and media coverage.
• Events & Workshops Panel discussions, invite-only dinners, workshops, CPG mixers, and networking events connecting plant-based founders, buyers, and investors. Includes ticketed events such as the NYC Vegan Soiree ($25 early bird / $35 general admission, with a portion of proceeds donated to Chilis on Wheels) and webinars. Some events are free for VEGPRENEUR Circle members.
• Jobs & Internships Hub Job board platform featuring roles at plant-based and sustainability companies. Lists exclusive Vegpreneur roles (Community & Partnerships Manager, Content & Storytelling Specialist, Events & Experience Coordinator) alongside paid external job postings and curated external boards across vegan, climate, alt-protein, food tech, and impact sectors including VeganJobs.com, Vegan Work, Good Food Institute, Alt Protein Careers, and Blue Horizon.
• VEGPRENEUR Awards Annual awards program recognizing outstanding plant-based products across sustainability, taste, packaging, innovation, and market viability categories through blind tastings. Held in partnership with Plant Based World Expo. Generates media coverage and drives membership applications. The 2024 edition featured 450+ tastings, 150+ products, and 16 winners.

Named customers8 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ShoplinecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 August 2025VEGPRENEUR partnered with Shopline, a leading global e-commerce platform, to launch the VEGPRENEUR x Shopline Ecommerce Accelerator. The program offers plant-based brands up to $12,000 in zero-equity cash grants, rolling applications, and in-person events. The partnership combines VEGPRENEUR's community and brand expertise with Shopline's e-commerce platform capabilities to help consumer brands scale online.
• Plant Based World ExpocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVEGPRENEUR partnered with Plant Based World Expo to host the first-ever VEGPRENEUR Awards, conducting over 450 product tastings across more than 150 products and crowning 16 winners at a ceremony in New York City. The partnership provides VEGPRENEUR with a flagship event platform while offering Plant Based World Expo access to VEGPRENEUR's curated brand community.
• MISTAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVEGPRENEUR partnered with MISTA for the Future of Food San Francisco event (part of San Francisco Climate Week). MISTA provides the venue and innovation ecosystem context while VEGPRENEUR curates the panel and attendee community. VEGPRENEUR and MISTA members receive free tickets and booth access.
• FoodxClimateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVEGPRENEUR co-hosted the Future of Food San Francisco event with FoodxClimate, an organization that hosts gatherings at the intersection of food systems and the climate crisis. FoodxClimate brings its community of professionals and scientists while VEGPRENEUR contributes its founder and investor network.
• The Lead SummitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVEGPRENEUR announced a partnership with The Lead Summit to expand its reach into the sustainable business community. VEGPRENEUR blog covered the partnership as a news item in March 2026.
• T. Colin Campbell CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVEGPRENEUR partnered with the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies to support plant-based entrepreneurship and education. VEGPRENEUR blog announced the partnership as a news item in February 2026.
• WISEcodeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVEGPRENEUR partnered with WISEcode for an Expo West Happy Hour event on the show floor at booth #8813. WISEcode is a VEGPRENEUR member partner. The event provided networking for founders, buyers, and operators across the plant-forward ecosystem.
• Chilis on WheelsminorOthersA portion of all NYC Vegan Soiree ticket proceeds is donated to Chilis on Wheels, a nonprofit dedicated to making veganism accessible through meal shares, food demos, clothing drives, and mentorship. VEGPRENEUR acts as an event organizer donating proceeds to the organization.
• Food Policy PathwaysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization for the NYC Vegan Soiree event alongside VEGPRENEUR, Vegan-Friendly, EarthPass, and V.H.O.T.
• Vegan-FriendlyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization for the NYC Vegan Soiree event. Vegan-Friendly is a platform promoting vegan businesses.
• EarthPassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization for the NYC Vegan Soiree event.
• V.H.O.T.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization for the NYC Vegan Soiree event.
• HawkeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHawke, a marketing services leader, co-sponsored the CPG Mixer Los Angeles event with VEGPRENEUR in June 2025, hosting a rooftop networking event in Venice Beach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plant Based News: Plant-focused news media covering vegan business, food, and sustainability. Comparable in editorial function and audience overlap, though weaker on the operating-partner and trade-show-pavilion layers that differentiate VEGPRENEUR.
• Good Food Institute (GFI): Nonprofit supporting alternative protein companies with research, policy, and entrepreneur resources. Strongly comparable ecosystem function for plant-based/alt-protein founders and investors, though operating as a nonprofit rather than commercial platform.
• VegNews: Leading plant-based consumer and business media outlet. Directly comparable audience overlap (plant-based founders, investors, and consumers) and editorial coverage, though VegNews leans more consumer/lifestyle while VEGPRENEUR focuses on business and operating support.
• vegconomist: Vegan business and lifestyle news platform. Closely aligned with VEGPRENEUR on the business/industry editorial beat — both serve vegan entrepreneurs and investors — making it a near-direct media peer.
• AgFunder News (AFN): Media outlet covering agrifood tech investing and innovation. Comparable in serving founders and investors in food/agri innovation, with a stronger investor/investment-deal orientation and broader agrifood scope.

Emerging players

• The Spoon: Food tech media outlet covering innovation across the food value chain. Overlaps with VEGPRENEUR on the founder/investor audience and alt-protein coverage, though narrower food-tech focus vs. VEGPRENEUR's broader plant-based/sustainability remit.
• IndieBio: Biotech and alt-protein accelerator (part of SOSV). Comparable in accelerating plant-based/alt-protein founders, though operates as a venture-backed accelerator taking equity, whereas VEGPRENEUR's DTC Accelerator is zero-equity.
• Food Tank: Nonprofit think tank focused on sustainable food systems. Comparable in serving mission-aligned food entrepreneurs with editorial and event programming, though positioned as a policy/research organization rather than an operating partner.

Broad incumbents

• FoodNavigator: Established B2B food industry media brand covering CPG innovation and ingredients. Comparable in serving food industry decision-makers and founders with editorial coverage, though broader food industry scope and weaker plant-based specialization than VEGPRENEUR.
• New Hope Network: Long-established natural products industry media and events business (owned by Informa). Comparable in serving natural/plant-based brands with trade shows (Expo West/East), editorial, and buyer connections — operates at much larger scale and broader category scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vegpreneur
• Facebookfacebook.com/vegpreneur
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vegpreneur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Vegpreneur