Ideas are everywhere — but execution is everything. With so many untapped ideas, what’s holding dairy back from its next breakthrough?
This week’s VentureFuel Visionary is Sidney Herr, Research and Innovation Manager at Midwest Dairy. She plays a pivotal role in advancing dairy innovation, particularly with the upcoming Midwest Dairy Accelerator, which supports and accelerates entrepreneurs with new dairy-based products.
Episode Highlights
- Why Dairy Innovation Matters – Sidney explains how dairy is not just a nutritional staple but also a foundation for innovation, supporting everything from health-conscious snacks to indulgent treats.
- Inside the Checkoff Program – She breaks down how the checkoff program works — mandatory fees from dairy sales are pooled to fund research, education, and promotional efforts that benefit all farmers.
- Midwest Dairy Accelerator in Focus – Sidney introduces the Midwest Dairy Accelerator, a new program that supports entrepreneurs developing novel products using dairy as a key ingredient. The program is accepting applications now through May 11, 2025.
- Unexpected Dairy Startups – From Twisted Egg Roll to popcorn cookies, she highlights surprising products that have won past Midwest Dairy pitch contests, showing how dairy shows up in unexpected and creative ways.
The Midwest Dairy Accelerator will hold a virtual Information Session on Tuesday, April 22 at 1 PM CT for those interested in learning more about the strategic and financial advantages of this new program. RSVP HERE!
VentureFuel builds and accelerates innovation programs for industry leaders by helping them unlock the power of External Innovation via startup collaborations.