Igniting Dairy Innovation — California Milk Advisory Board CEO Bob Carroll

From functional beverages to sustainable packaging, the dairy aisle is evolving fast. Can traditional sectors keep pace with the demands of today’s consumers?

This week’s VentureFuel Visionary is Bob Carroll, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board. Now in its seventh year, the Real California Milk Excelerator has become a powerhouse for commercializing breakthrough dairy innovations.

With over 60 startups and 100+ mentors participating to date, the program continues to elevate the dairy category by fueling scalable, consumer-ready products. If you're into food innovation, scaling startups, or future-proofing traditional sectors, you don’t want to miss this conversation. For founders, go to www.realcamilkexcelerator.com to apply by August 4, 2025.

Episode Highlights

• From Dairy Staples to Scalable Innovation - Bob explores how consumer trends like clean labels, probiotics, and high-protein diets are driving a new wave of dairy products through the Real California Milk Excelerator.
• Building a Future-Focused Dairy Industry - The discussion covers how long-term thinking, cultural stewardship, and farmer support are reshaping the strategy behind California’s largest dairy initiative.
• Unlocking New Opportunities in Year Seven - Bob highlights how the Excelerator continues to attract fresh, unexpected ideas — from nostalgic products with a modern twist to smarter use of dairy byproducts like whey.
• Expanding Support Through a Dedicated Incubator Track - He outlines how the Excelerator includes a formal incubator track to better serve early-stage startups with tailored guidance on formulation, co-packing, and commercialization strategy.
• Scale and Credibility Through the Real California Milk Seal - The conversation explains how the seal builds instant trust with consumers and retailers, giving emerging brands marketing power, retail access, and a halo effect that helps drive category growth.