One Week and Counting

Well, we’re one week away from the American Food Venture Forum. Several changes have been made to the presenters’ line-up, which hasn’t been unusual the last couple of years, as companies strapped for cash decide they can’t afford the trip and others contact us and decide they can’t miss the opportunity. The number of presenters are about the same and the quality has been maintained, but it ends up we have many more Midwestern companies than anticipated, possibly because travel is less expensive for them.

In some ways this week and the next couple of days are the lull before the storm. By Friday we will need to be assembling conference notebooks and on Monday and Tuesday all the logistics must be completed, presentations loaded on computers, presenter tables set up, rehearsals completed and the finishing touches put on the conference. To-do lists will checked and double-checked.

Then the big show; from noon on Tuesday until about 5:00 pm on Wednesday it is just a whirlwind of activity for the board, staff and volunteers of the American Food Venture Forum – Giving directions, putting out fires and greeting and meeting all those at the Forum. Many times after the Forum is over I realize that I only got to listen to one or two of the presentations.

Only after a week or so following the event can we as staff and volunteers take a look at what happened and marvel at how it all came together. Then at the board meeting in the second week of November we begin the process anew. What went right? What went wrong? How do we improve for next year? What dates in 2011 make sense? Where will we hold it? Who will sponsor?

It’s a great deal of work. More than most realize, because when it works it looks easy and we wouldn’t want it to look any other way. Oh, and one thing that continues starting the day after the conference is social media posts and blogs. It is a very effective and inexpensive way to promote the conference but followers expect a continuous stream of content and we certainly don’t want to disappoint, so expect to see a new post on our blog October 27, 2010.

Two New Algae Technology Companies to Present at the AFVF

There are two distinctly different methods of growing algae for various uses. IO Mega of Clinton, Iowa uses waste sugars from agricultural processing facilities to produce algae high in Omega 3 fatty acids. These omega 3 fatty acids can then be added to animal feeds and human foods at a fraction of the cost of other sources of Omega 3. This market is currently growing at annual rate of twenty-one percent and is expected to exceed $2 billion in revenue by 2014.

According to IO Mega, “Omega-3 fatty acids have emerged as a vital functional ingredient delivering significant health benefits, particularly those related to the heart….  The universal acceptance of the ‘heart health’ benefits of omega-3 oils can be ascribed to the enormous body of scientific evidence that has translated into rising consumer recognition.”

Greenwater Global LLC of Phoenix, Arizona economically grows and sells algae to companies for chemicals, feed, food, or fuel products. Unlike traditional open-pond growing systems, their closed tanks with 24-hour continuous production are not subject to environmental contamination. “Our competitive advantage is that our systems are inside warehouses and can be located almost anywhere in the world! This reduces transportation costs and time as well as ensures freshness for the end user.”

Algae can be used as food, fertilizer animal feed wastewater treatment and fuel. One pound of algae consumes 1.8 lbs of CO2, and algae fuels have lower emissions than petroleum fuels, making it carbon neutral. Almost any product made from petroleum can be derived from algae. “Our customers recognize the world’s diminishing natural resources and the need to find sustainable, economically-viable alternatives for chemicals, feeds, foods, and fuel while reducing their carbon footprint.”

Nutraceuticals, fertilizers, and fish feed products will be Greenwater Global’s initial focus as there seems to be a lack of dependable supply in these markets.

These and many more food and agricultural technologies will be on display at the Third Annual American Food Venture Forum, at Harrah’s in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 19 & 20, 2010.

Local Business Will Present at American Food Venture Forum

Less than an hour away from this year’s American Food Venture Forum is Energique Herbal one of the 2010 presenters. Energique, located in Woodbine, Iowa has been around longer than any other presenting company at this year’s conference. It is also probably the latest stage company in terms stage of development. Read an article about them here.

Energique was established in 1987 to provide natural remedies to health care professionals. Jesse Rettig and his wife Kathy Simon are the third owners of the company and much has changed since their purchase in 2005. They have made several acquisitions and expanded the line of products developed internally, as well. Energique’s campus covers ten acres of land and includes seven buildings.

The company currently has four distinct lines of products, herbal or botanical extracts; homeopathic singles and combinations; medicinal quality essential oils; and specialized nutritional supplements. It carries an inventory of 3500 different products including 600 herbal extracts. Products are labeled under several brands. The company is also a contract manufacturer for other natural remedy companies.

Energique has its own FDA regulated homeopathic lab and an extraction laboratory for its flagship line of herbal extractions and tinctures. The lab uses a unique extraction process developed by Jesse Rettig. The company currently employs approximately 110 people, many of them highly paid scientists and professionals – A significant, positive impact on a community of 1,500 people.

One of its newest products is an aronia berry supplement. Aronia berries are native to the United States and have the highest level of antioxidant of any fruit. Aronia berries have been produced and consumed in many countries in Europe for years but are only beginning to get traction in the United States. The largest concentration of aronia berry production in the United States is in the Loess Hills region of Western Iowa, near Council Bluffs.

Many AFVF 2010 Presenters Win Technology Awards

Michigan Teenagers win National Spirit of Innovation Award

The Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards “challenge High School Students to:

Create an entrepreneurial enterprise for Lunar Exploration; Create an innovative product for use in personal spaceflight; or, Create a clean carbon-free way of using renewable energy to change everyday life.” The program was developed and is managed by the Pete Conrad Foundation, named after the late Charles “Pete” Conrad, the third person to walk on the moon.

Pete Conrad was “…a kid who couldn’t read and couldn’t spell who was expelled from an elite private school… a kid who should have been a wash-out. Through the insightful work of his mother, his school headmaster saw something special in Pete and lit his candle, getting him excited about education. Pete went on to get a scholarship to Princeton and a ride to the Moon.”

This year four freshmen and sophomores from Battle Creek, Michigan won the national award in the Space Nutrition Category. Mikayla Diesch, Ethan Rutherford, Naomi Joseph and Shannon Diesch who attend high school at the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center (BCAMSC) in Battle Creek, Michigan developed, tested, refined and packaged their Solar Flare the Star Bar for the competition. They also prepared a market study and developed marketing material for their product.

The competition required that the snack bar meet specific nutritional requirements, be light weight, crumb free and not be sticky. The bar won out over other bars from around the country. Solar Flare has been invited to present their investment proposal at this year’s American Food Venture Forum in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 19 and 20.

Vestaron Named “TiE Midwest 20” Winner

Vestaran Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan was named a 2009 TiE Midwest winner at the TiEcon annual conference last October. Vestaron has developed a new generation of insecticides based on the peptides spiders use to kill insects. The technology was developed at the University of Connecticut and licensed exclusively to Vestaron.

TiE is a global, not for profit, non-political, non-religious organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurs and professionals across its international network. Since its founding in 1992, TiE has become the world’s largest network of entrepreneurs and professionals with 52 chapters in 12 countries.

Vestaron Corporation will be presenting its investment opportunity to investors at the 2010 American Food Venture Forum.

Suntava named 2009 Minnesota Ag Innovator of the Year

Each year the Agricultural Utilization and Research Institute (AURI) recognizes one Minnesota business that is achieving market success through an innovative product or process. The Ag Innovator of the Year award is presented annually to recognize the company’s innovation and to highlight the contributions value-added agriculture makes to the state’s economy.

Suntava uses purple corn to produce natural colorants for food items such as soft drinks, vitamin waters, confections, snacks, dairy foods, condiments, cereal and even cosmetics. They also produce flour for food items such as corn chips and tortillas as well as nutraceutical ingredients.

AURI provides applied research services a targeted network of resources and product development assistance to create new ag-based products and help move them to market. With unique facilities and a highly-functioning, professional staff, AURI is a one-of-a-kind resource that provides assistance to Minnesota businesses looking to create more value for the state’s agricultural products.

Suntava will be presenting at this year’s American Food Venture Forum.

Fizza Wins “2008 Best New Beverage” at the Virginia Food and Beverage Expo

Fizza Sparkling Dairy Nutrient Beverage won the award for best new beverage given by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at the 2008 Virginia Food and Beverage Expo. A panel of professionals from agriculture, commerce, food science and consumer services evaluated the products for originality, taste, aroma, nutritional value, packaging, visual appeal and product presentation.

Fizza is a new line of beverages that has the mouth feel, sensory appeal and taste of carbonated soft drinks but the nutrient value of lactose free, skim milk. The products meet the minimum beverage nutritional specifications of the USDA Wellness Policy of 2006 and have been approved by the USDA for sale in school cafeterias.

Fizza, LLC is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and was developed with assistance from Virginia Tech University. Fizza, LLC has been invited to present at the AFVF in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 19 and 20, 2010.

2010 Presenting Companies

Today we are starting a series of posts that highlight some of the businesses that will present at this year’s American Food Venture Forum.

Since this is the first in the series I thought it might be good to provide a short description of all of the companies, with future articles going in-depth on particular companies. I think you will find quite a variety in product categories, stage of development, investment sought and geography. The following descriptions have been provided by the companies themselves and AFVF does not guarantee the accuracy of the statements.

ClicRweight, LLC, Tampa, FL – The ClicRweight device allows you to remotely weigh any livestock animal or human without a scale, with ClicRweight it’s point, Clic, weigh. The solution was initially developed to solve the problem of accurately and safely determining and tracking the weight of cattle, or any other animal, without exposing them to the risk of physical and mental injury caused by the stress placed on the animal during check weighing. Seeking $2,000,000

Energique, Woodbine, IA provides this full range of natural remedies directly to health care professionals, with more than 600 herbal extracts and a full inventory of 2,500 products. Amount seeking undisclosed.

Epiphany Solar Water Systems, New Castle, PA - We provide concentrated solar powered water purification and desalination systems which are economical, portable and easy to install & maintain. Epiphany is focusing on 3 primary markets for our purification systems: Middle East, India, & China. Seeking $2,000,000.

Focus Works, Inc., Patchogue, NY – We have a proven, unique software required by Fed Gov’t for food plants for Bioterrorism Act Compliance. We have an established product and technology that’s use is mandated by the federal government and foreign governments. Companies such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Trader Joe’s require their food suppliers to implement and use this technology. We have fortune 500 companies like Kellogg’s, Aunt Millie’s, and Bose as customers using it. Seeking $700,000.

GoGo Juice, Daly City, CA – The only provider of juices specifically for millions of children with food issues ranging from simple allergic reactions to diseases such as Autism. Seeking $630,000

Greenwater Global, Phoenix, AZ – We economically grow and sell algae to companies for chemicals, feed, food, or fuel products. Unlike traditional open-pond growing systems, our closed tanks with 24-hour continuous production are not subject to environmental contamination. Our competitive advantage is that our systems are inside warehouses and can be located almost anywhere in the world! This reduces transportation costs and time as well as ensures freshness for the end user. Seeking $1,000,000.

IO-Mega, Keokuk, IA is focused on creating algae derived omega-3 fatty acid using agricultural waste streams such as “off spec” sugar as a nutrient source for the algae. The process combines utilization of a normally disposed of waste stream in the creation of a high value product, using a low cost total lipid extraction system that enables higher yield of omega-3 during the purification step. Seeking $1,000,000.

ModMix, West Hollywood, CA – Our WBENC certified biz provides an organic gourmet drink mixing solution for millions of at-home cocktail drinkers & on-premise bartenders. Primarily sold via grocery distributors to retail accounts, but also direct to Costco. Seeking expansion into liquor distributors, liquor stores and bars. Expanding into market by leveraging strategic partnership with nationally distributed vodka company with strong relationships in place. Seeking $750,000.

Nature’s Pride Organic Foods, Chaska, MN has been producing and selling organic meat and produce for three years and plans to move into the ready to serve organic diet meals. We also wish to introduce a Quick Service Organic Restaurant concept. Seeking up to $2,000,000.

ORDERite, Clinton, IA is a vertically integrated OEM manufacturer of self-service point-of-sale solutions that provide QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) Operators with a new and innovative self-ordering & payment option. ORDERite has a relationship with the QSR industry’s premiere POS engine provider, XPIENT Solutions. Seeking $1,050,000.

Pure Pressure, San Franciso, CA offers food manufacturers the opportunity to utilize High Pressure Processing (HPP) with exclusive toll processing rights in key areas of CA, AZ and NV. HPP provides an alternative to traditional pasteurization, enhancing food safety, freshness, and shelf life while enabling products to be labeled natural and preservative free. PP will target companies who want to utilize HPP but cannot afford the necessary infrastructure costs. Seeking $2,250,000.

Suntava, Afton, MN – Suntava’s founders developed a proprietary, natural Purple Corn, whose abundant antioxidants and natural dyes are economically extracted from all parts of the plant. We contract from harvest to processing to create unique ingredients, allowing us to focus our resources on new product development and sales/marketing. Our Purple Corn is capable of delivering at least 30 times more revenue per acre than yellow corn hybrids. Seeing $7,000,000.

Turbosystems Engineering, San Rafael, CA – Our patented, non-polluting power generation process converts wet organic materials, such as wastewater sludge or micro-algae slurry, to electric power with ultra low emissions. Our product line includes toll processing, technology licensing, and aftermarket parts & service. Proof of concept confirmed by German national lab. The technology is ready for scale-up and commercial demonstration. Seeking $4,000,000.

Universal Global Coatings, Mesa, AZ – The heart of our business is providing anti-microbial polyurea elastomer coatings that is ideal for all applications where hygiene is desired, such as: healthcare facilities, food service operations, animal care, and many, many others. The Universal Global Coatings product provides protection against MRSA, e.coli, salmonella, listra, pseudomonas, and other contaminating bacteria. Seeking $700,000.

Vestaron Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI develops innovative insecticide products for the environmentally conscious 21st century. The products being developed by Vestaron will meet the needs of our customers which include efficacy and safety. They are highly effective and formulated in a manner for ease of use throughout the distribution chain. They are indistinguishable in form and in function from conventional synthetic insecticides except for the key benefits of environmental safety and a new mode of insecticidal action that will delay the onset of resistance.  Seeking $12,000,000.

Sponsor Focus – Friends of AFVF

A very important part of our sponsor core are contributors that may not give as much in monetary resources as some of the major sponsors, but give as much or more in other ways. Our three “Friends of AFVF” certainly fall into this category. All are very active in critical aspects of putting on a quality event. Below is a brief description of each and why they are truly “Friends of AFVF”.

Husch Blackwell, LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm with more than 600 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London making it one of the 100 largest law firms in the U.S. based on revenue. The firm represents national and global leaders in major industries that include agribusiness, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals and telecommunications. Their attorneys are recognized by leading professional and industry organizations for their knowledge and expertise across a broad range of legal services.

Husch Blackwell is headquartered in St. Louis, but its office in Kansas City is nearly as large as the facility in St Louis. The Chicago and Omaha offices represent the next two largest practices each having over 40 employees, making the firm a dominant force in the Midwest market.

Husch Blackwell has a history of sponsoring conferences and workshops in industries and locations where they have a practice. Their Omaha office has a strong practice in the food and agribusiness industries and so the American Food Venture Forum was a natural match for them. They also have a long history in community service. That’s why it was no surprise when they rolled up their sleeves and began networking in the Omaha area to find others who might be interested in sponsoring, presenting at or attending the Forum this October.

Iowa Western Community College is tucked into the beautiful Loess Hills in Council Bluffs and offers a safe, affordable environment for students seeking a quality education. With its peaceful setting, Iowa Western offers picturesque scenery, wandering paths, and a quiet getaway. Yet, with downtown Omaha just 10 minutes from campus, a big city fix is never far from students.

Currently the College offers 84 different vocational/technical programs and Arts and Sciences/Transfer majors. 2009-2010 enrollment was 5,500 students. In addition, there are over 42,795 enrollments in continuing education classes each year. In addition to the campus in Council Bluffs, the college has an eight acre campus in Clarinda, Iowa and academic centers in three other Southwestern Communities.

The College’s Division of Economic and Workforce Development is working closely with the American Food Venture Forum on our youth entrepreneurship initiative. The college will select a number of students from its Entrepreneurship and/or Culinary Arts program to attend the forum. It is also conducting a competition among entrepreneurship students in area high schools that will result in the top five candidates attending the Forum.

Smart Solutions Group is a consulting firm providing economic development services for communities, counties, regions and states throughout the U.S. The firm approaches economic development from a business perspective, integrating basic principles and techniques of organizational accountability, product branding and marketing and product development and innovation to create winning growth strategies. Their comprehensive line of services is designed to address an array of community and economic development needs.

Smart Solutions Group’s major contribution to the AFVF is not monetary. It’s founder and CEO, Bob Henningsen is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the AFVF. He has put in countless hours organizing meetings, finding sponsors, developing policy and directing contract employees. Over the year’s Smart Solutions Group has contributed tens of thousands of dollars in Bob’s donated time.

Composition of Companies Presenting at 2010 AFVF Differs Significantly from 2009

All of the applications to present at this year’s American Food Venture Forum have been reviewed, ranked and discussed by the panel of judges and decisions have been made. Eighteen companies have been selected from a pool of about 40 applicants and it appears that the class of 2010 may be the strongest line-up top to bottom that the conference has ever had. There are still a couple of slots open for a company or two from the region around Omaha and Council Bluffs.

It is interesting that this year’s slate is quite different than 2009. Last year, both applications and presenters were dominated by consumer goods companies especially in the beverage category. This year, while there are still some of those, the competition was dominated by technology companies in areas of health, safety and green products both in the food space and agricultural technology.

Geographically the presenters are much more concentrated in the West and Southwest. Last year it was more evenly balanced between the West, Midwest and East. We have companies from Florida, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Texas; states that have never been represented in the past. California, as was the case last year, had a strong group of companies apply and there are five companies from California selected to present. There are three from Washington and two from Arizona, so over half the presenters come from these three western states.

The Midwest is under-represented, especially given that this is a Midwestern conference; only four companies come from the Midwest. The hope is that we will get a couple of more from this region by the time of the conference. Three of the presenting companies, or about 17% ,are women owned and operated, continuing are tradition of showcasing a high percentage of women run businesses.

Given the variety of presentations, this should be a great year to listen to the presentations at the conference. For a complete list of this year’s presenting companies click here.

Sponsor Focus – Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce

The Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce is one of two major sponsors for the 2010 American Food Venture Forum (AFVF), but more than this, the Chamber is the ambassador to the conference, representing the residents and businesses of Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. The AFVF is excited to have the conference in the Omaha/Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area where food and agriculture play such a significant role in the economy. It is the home of ConAgra Foods, Omaha Steaks, Ag Processors, Inc., Union Pacific Railroad, Oakland Foods and many others.

Tyson Foods, Bunge, Inc. and Plumrose, USA also have major food processing facilities in Council Bluffs. The venue at Harrah’s probably has the best meeting facilities that we have encountered in our three year history and it’s close to the airport, restaurants and entertainment.

The Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce provides the traditional services that businesses expect from a chamber, but they also provide many more development services to the City of Council Bluffs, the rest of Pottawattamie County and beyond, under one integrated organization. The Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Greater Council Bluffs Regional Economic Partnership and the Chamber are all under one organization and many instances provide services to all three Iowa counties included in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

For those of you coming to the conference, you may wish to take a few extra days to soak in the history and natural beauty of the area. Autumn probably has the best weather and natural color of any season in the area. Council Bluffs is nestled between the Missouri River and Loess Hills, a landform that is only found in China and Western Iowa. The area is full of history located directly on the Lewis and Clark and Mormon Trails. It is where many pioneers started their journey across vast western wilderness. Council Bluffs actually derives its name from history. The bluffs, surrounding Council Bluffs was a favorite site for various Native American tribes to hold their council meetings.

As I said before, there is far too much to do in this metropolitan area of 850,000 people to list here, but whether your interests are western heritage or air and space, you will find quality museums; whether its western art or modern art you will find a gallery or museum. For the outdoor enthusiast there is hiking, bicycling, canoeing and fishing. Others may find casinos, the zoo or shopping more to their liking. If you have a couple of extra days, you will not regret spending them in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

The AFVF is honored to call Council Bluffs our home for 2010 and perhaps beyond.

First Seven Presenting Companies Selected

The first seven companies selected to present at this year’s conference represent a wide spectrum of food and agricultural technology. They represent six different states and three distinct regions of the United States. Following is a short description of each:

Epiphany Solar Water Systems, New Castle, Pennsylvania – Epiphany provides concentrated solar powered water purification and desalination systems which are economical, portable and easy to install & maintain.

Focus Works Inc, Patchogue, New York – Focus Works has an established product and technology whose use is mandated by federal and foreign governments. Companies such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Trader Joe’s require their food suppliers to implement and use this technology. We have fortune 500 companies like Kellogg’s, Aunt Millie’s, and Bose as customers using it.

GoGo Juice, Daly City, California – “The only provider of juices specifically for millions of children with food issues ranging from simple allergic reactions to diseases such as Autism.”

ORDERite, Clinton, IA – ORDERite is a production ready company that specializes in unique self-service POS hardware for the untapped quick service restaurant industry.

Pure Pressure, San Francisco, California - PP offers food manufacturers the opportunity to utilize High Pressure Processing (HPP) with exclusive toll processing rights in key areas of CA, AZ and NV. HPP provides an alternative to traditional pasteurization, enhancing food safety, freshness, and shelf life, while enabling products to be labeled natural and preservative free. PP will target companies who want to utilize HPP but cannot afford the necessary infrastructure costs.

Suntava, Afton, Minnesota – Suntava’s founders developed a proprietary, natural Purple Corn, whose abundant antioxidants and natural dyes are economically extracted from all parts of the plant. They contract from harvest to processing to create unique ingredients, allowing them to focus their resources on new product development and sales/marketing.

Vestaron Corporation, Kalamazoo, Michigan – Vestaron Corporation develops innovative insecticide products for the environmentally conscious 21st century.

ConAgra Executive to Speak at the 2010 American Food Venture Forum

Over the past several months the staff and volunteers of the American Food Venture Forum (AFVF) have been contacting potential sponsors, companies that may wish to present and investors from all over the United States. We have been lining up speakers, facilities and planning meals and refreshments. This week things really began to hop as we received confirmation on a keynote speaker and made decisions to invite seven companies to present at the Forum. For those that have not been selected, do not panic, we will be selecting another 10-13 companies to present before we are done.

Dr. Al Bolles, Ph.D, Executive Vice President, Research, Quality and Innovation for ConAgra Foods recently greed to speak at this year’s AFVF conference. We are excited to have someone with Dr. Bolles experience and education provide insights to those attending our conference. Dr. Bolles has spent a lifetime on the innovative side of the food industry. Below is a short Bio of Dr. Bolles:

Dr. Bolles joined ConAgra Foods in 2006 as executive vice president, Research, Quality & Innovation. In this role, he leads the company’s research, quality, and innovation functions and guides the development of new products based on consumer insights and technological best practices.

Al focuses on delivering fewer, bigger and better new products that will add sales to the top line and build consumer loyalty to ConAgra Foods brands. He continues to concentrate on delivering big-bet innovation to the market with flawless execution. In 2007, he brought to market a highly successful product extension of the Healthy Choice® brand. Healthy Choice® Café Steamers™ entrees were named as the No. 1 new food item, measured by sales across the grocery store in 2008 by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI).

Prior to joining ConAgra Foods, Al led worldwide research and development for PepsiCo Beverages and Foods. He has a Ph.D. and master’s degree in food science and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, all from Michigan State University. He holds several patents and has won numerous awards for his contributions to the world of food science