PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand has announced the launch of the APAC edition of its global initiative, the PepsiCo Greenhouse Program.
The 2023 program will mark the first time the program will be launched in the region as it seeks to collaborate and support entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions that promote the circular economy for packaging and climate reduction.
“The launch of PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator Program in APAC is a testament to our enduring and continued dedication to sustainability and innovation,” Wern Yuen Tan, CEO, PepsiCo Asia Pacific, said. “As a company, PepsiCo is acutely aware of its critical role in driving positive change and creating a more sustainable future for all.
“The Greenhouse program has been a tremendous source of ideation, talent development, and agility, allowing us to collaborate with like-minded, mission-driven entrepreneurs as they scale innovative ideas to reduce our environmental impact and promote a more resilient future,” Tan added.
Ten start-ups based in the Asia-Pacific region will be chosen for the program, with the criteria of their selection based on the solutions that integrate purpose into their mission, creating tangible impact for the business, consumers, communities, and the planet. The selected start-ups will receive USD$20,000 in funding and will participate in a four-month business optimisation program designed to accelerate growth.
The program includes personalised mentorship with experts across various PepsiCo functions to help address critical early-stage business operations such as strategic planning, corporate structuring, and fundraising. Start-ups will also have access to brand optimisation, product development, supply chain management, customer acquisition and distribution during the program.
At the end of the program, one start-up will be awarded an additional USD$100,000 in funding to continue expansion, and an opportunity to continue partnering with PepsiCo on future projects.
PepsiCo first launched its Greenhouse program in Europe in 2017 and expanded the program to North America in the fall of 2018, and then to AMESA (Africa-Middle East-South Asia) in 2022. The Greenhouse Accelerator program is now on its seventh year and has thus far supported 58 start-ups which have collectively delivered an estimated combined sales growth of over USD $8 million in revenue.
