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Advice from mentors, sharing experiences with other startups: sign up below to get updates on our articles and the upcoming applications calls for ToasterLAB!

Our previous 'All About FoodTech' bulletins:

• All about FoodTech October 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech September 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech July 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech June 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech May 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech April 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech March 2018 bulletin

Startuppers (France and the world),

Vitagora , ToasterLAB & mondelez international are offering you a unique opportunity:

make your innovation a global success story!

Do you have a brilliant food innovation for seniors 65+ and over?

Foods, ingredients, technologies, packaging, business models…

Take part in the Boomer Challenge and make your innovation a real world success!

Cash prizes and acceleration support to be won.​
 

The demographic of older consumers is exploding, but food innovators are racing to keep up. That is why Vitagora, ToasterLAB and Mondelez International are launching the Boomer Challenge, to detect and accelerate food innovations for life-loving seniors

More info and applications at www.boomer-challenge.com

Applications close November 23rd, 2018!

For any questions:

Clémence PARIS
Tél : +33 (0)3 80 78 97 97   
Mobile : +33 (0)6 87 91 51 74 
clemence.paris@vitagora.com

More than 60 mentors and experts take part in supporting startups in the ToasterLAB program. In order to let you get to know these experts and experienced professionals, each month we will be publishing a "mentor profile".

Valérie VUILLEMOT
General Manager of ENDEAVOUR DEVELOPMENT

why you should listen to her

Valérie is one of those people that you need on your side. A fighting spirit and full of good advice, she takes your success very personally.

Her first name, from the latin "valere", means "to be strong". You can judge for yourself... A graduate of ESCP Europe in international marketing in 1988, she has developed her career like a competition - with ambition, teamwork and agility. Well, why not, considering her background as an elite sportswoman in handball and triathlon (including the title of France's amateur triathlon champion!).  
 

She began her career as a consultant in management strategy for Cegos Conseil. She has come back to that field within Endeaver Development, where she assists companies of all sizes (from startups to multinations) in their transformation challenges.

In between, she worked at SEB (she was behind the blockbuster Actifry – more about that here), at Dijon Céréales, Elior, and Laboratoire Gilbert, where she added the strings to her bow of marketing and general management, allowing her a 360° vision of strategy in the pursuit of sustainable growth.

For more than 15 years, Valérie has been contributing to innovation ecosystems within Vitagora (she was the president of the Taste-Nutrition-Health congresses until 2014), but also with Silver Valley, Pink'Innov, Station F... She also teaches at the IAE de Dijon, mentors the Entrepreneuriales, and takes part in volunteer actions towards underpriviledged groups.

A formidable personality full of energy and commitment... and a huge asset to your network!

How valérie can help you

• Strategy and business développement
• Innovation, design thinking and creativity
• Management
• Networks and business contacts in food and health
• Marketing, communication and public relations

in her own words

"Anyone can have an idea. The true challenge in transforming that idea into a sustainable commercial success."

more reading 

• Article Sucess stories: our mentors tell us their tales
• LinkedIn profile
   

Go deeper

Do you want to take advantage of coaching support that is challenging, generous... but never complacent, from our exceptional mentors? Contact me and find out more about the ToasterLAB program:  claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com.

By Claire VO

ToasterLAB Programme Manager, Claire "VO" is in charge of our start-ups' post-acceleration as well as intrapreneurship.  After 12 years with Vitagora, Claire's unparalleled knowledge of our network is put to good use while integrating our startups into the food business ecosystem!  E-mail her at: claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com

Plus de 60 mentors et experts participent à l’accompagnement des start-ups dans le cadre du programme ToasterLAB. Pour vous faire découvrir leur valeur et leur expertise, nous vous proposons chaque mois un « profil de mentor ».

Valérie VUILLEMOT
General Manager chez ENDEAVOUR DEVELOPMENT

Les bonnes raisons de lui faire confiance

Valérie fait partie de ces personnes que l’on est heureux de connaître – et avec qui l’on est fier de connaître. Pugnace et pleine de ressources à partager, elle est capable de se donner corps et âme pour la réussite de votre projet.
 

Son prénom, issu du latin « valere », signifie « se montrer courageux ». A vous de juger…Diplômée de l’ESCP Europe en marketing international en 1988, elle mène sa carrière comme une sportive, à l’instar des sports qu’elle pratique, le handball ou le triathlon (dont elle est championne de France amateur en distance olympique) : avec audace, sens du collectif et agilité.
 

Elle débute sa carrière comme consultante en stratégie et organisation au sein de Cegos Conseil. Forte de cette vision à 360°, depuis 2015 au sein d’Endeavour Development, elle accompagne la transformation des entreprises de toutes tailles (start-up, TPE, ETI, grands groupes).
 

Chez SEB (elle est notamment à l’origine de l’Actifry – en savoir plus ici), Dijon Céréales, Elior, Laboratoire Gilbert, ou aujourd’hui chez Endeavour Development, elle endosse avec pragmatisme et vision des fonctions de direction marketing ou de direction générale, cherchant invariablement à réconcilier réalité du terrain, vision stratégique, et business par la création de valeur durable.  

Depuis plus de 15 ans, Valérie s’investit dans les éco-systèmes d’innovation ouverte au sein de Vitagora (présidente du congrès Goût-Nutrition-Santé organisé jusqu’en 2014), de la Silver Valley, Pink’Innov, Station F….  Enseignante à l’IAE de Dijon, marraine des Entrepreneuriales, Valérie s’engage aussi dans des actions de bénévolat au service de populations défavorisées.

Une personnalité résolue et énergique… qu’il vous faut à tout prix rencontrer.

Là où valérie vous aidera

• Stratégie et business développement
• Innovation collaborative, design thinking et créativité
• Management
• Réseaux et contacts bienveillants dans les domaines agroalimentaires et santé
• Marketing, communication et relations publiques

Elle l’a dit (et le pense)

« Tout le monde est capable d’avoir des idées. Le défi, c’est de transformer l’idée en un blockbuster commercial durable. »

A consulter 

• Article « Sucess Stories : nos mentors nous racontent  » 
• Profil LinkedIn
   

Pour en savoir plus

Vous souhaitez bénéficier du coaching exigeant, bienveillant... mais jamais complaisant de nos mentors exceptionnels? 
Contactez-moi pour en savoir plus sur l'accompagnement de ToasterLAB :  claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com.

Par Claire VO

Responsable du programme ToasterLAB, Claire VO est également en charge de la post-accélération de nos start-ups, ainsi que de l'accompagnement des intrapreneurs. Après 12 ans au sein de Vitagora, Claire est véritablement le "cerveau du réseau" et, dans les méandres de notre écosystème, vous aide à y voir plus... clair ! Contactez-la  claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com

Startuppers (de France et du monde),

Vitagora , ToasterLAB et mondelez international vous offrent une opportunité unique :

Faites de votre innovation un succès mondial !

Vous avez développé une innovation agroalimentaire géniale pour les 65 ans et plus ?
Aliments, ingrédients, technologies, packaging, business models…
Participez au concours The Boomer Challenge et gagnez des cash prizes et des solutions d’accompagnement.

Face à l’explosion du marché des Seniors, Mondelez International et Vitagora lancent The Boomer Challenge
pour détecter et accompagner la croissance de vos projets innovants.

Retrouvez toutes les infos utiles et la procédure pour candidater sur www.boomer-challenge.com

Attention la date limite pour candidater est le 23 novembre !

Pour en savoir plus :

Clémence PARIS
Tél : +33 (0)3 80 78 97 97   
Mobile : +33 (0)6 87 91 51 74 

Go deeper

Advice from mentors, sharing experiences with other startups: sign up below to get updates on our articles and the upcoming applications calls for ToasterLAB!

Our previous 'All About FoodTech' bulletins:

• All about FoodTech September 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech July 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech June 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech May 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech April 2018 bulletin
• All about FoodTech March 2018 bulletin

why take part in the toasterlab program? and what were the results?

Startups have plenty of dreams:

• Save time  
• Meet new clients
• Increase their knowledge of their markets
• Start making money
• (and why not, meet Jeff Bezos)

Here at ToasterLAB, we can't help you too much with the last one. But for the rest, Cohorts #1 & #2 of ToasterLAB have confirmed that the program helped them meet these goals. Indeed, 90% of our alumni wourld recommend our acceleration program to other startups!

a helpful infographic: 

to find out more

To get the most out of our advice and support, whether you are an SME or a startup, you have two solutions: sign up for our newsletter below, or apply to join the program! For any questions, contact me:  claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com.

By Claire VO

ToasterLAB Programme Manager, Claire "VO" is in charge of our start-ups' post-acceleration as well as intrapreneurship.  After 12 years with Vitagora, Claire's unparalleled knowledge of our network is put to good use while integrating our startups into the food business ecosystem!  E-mail her at: claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com

More than 60 mentors and experts take part in supporting startups in the ToasterLAB program. In order to let you get to know these experts and experienced professionals, each month we will be publishing a "mentor profile".

Georges DEVESA
Co-founder of Nutrisens

why you should listen to him

When you talk to Georges (over a coffee, why not?), you can't help being charmed by his vision of leadership and entrepreneurship. A charismatic speaker and teacher, Georges shares his experience and his advice with young business owners.

Having graduated from ISC  (Institut Supérieur de Commerce de Paris) in 1997, he began his carreer with the Elior and Brake France groups before launching his own business in 2010. This business became Nutrisens, a company specialised in the development, manufacturing and distribution of specialised food products for the elderly and infirm, adapted to their pathologies and tastes.

In 2015, Nutrisens even created its own incubator with the goal of supporting startups in their market access strategies. Have a chat with Georges: he can advise you on the relevant tools to speed up your development... and will be at your side to mentor and guide you on practical matters of running your business.

How georges can help you

• Innovation, networks and business contacts
• Market access for specialised food products: hospitals, elderly care centres, pharmacies, e-commerce
• Access to B2B or B2C retail channels for food companies
• Advice and practical tools for leadership and entrepreneurship
• Food engineering and technical aspects for increasing palatability

in his own words

"Being a business owner means being continually challenged. It's a series of failures that force you to course correct and learn on the fly."

more reading 

• LinkedIn profile

Go deeper

Do you want to take advantage of coaching support that is challenging, generous... but never complacent, from our exceptional mentors? Contact me and find out more about the ToasterLAB program:  claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com.

By Claire VO

ToasterLAB Programme Manager, Claire "VO" is in charge of our start-ups' post-acceleration as well as intrapreneurship.  After 12 years with Vitagora, Claire's unparalleled knowledge of our network is put to good use while integrating our startups into the food business ecosystem!  E-mail her at: claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com

Pourquoi participer Au Programme ToasterLAB ? Et pour quels résultats ? 

Il y a plein de choses dont rêve une start-up :

• Gagner du temps  
• Rencontrer de bons clients potentiels
• Améliorer ses connaissances sur son marché
• Dégager du chiffre, évidemment 
• (Et pourquoi pas, rencontrer Jeff Bezos ...)

ToasterLAB ne vous promet pas Jeff Bezos. Pour le reste, les promos 1 et 2 de ToasterLAB ont confirmé avoir bel et bien atteint ces objectifs. D'ailleurs, 90% de nos anciens élèves seraient prêts à recommander notre programme d'accélération ToasterLAB à d'autres start-ups.

Les chiffres en infographie : 

Pour en savoir plus

Pour bénéficier vous aussi des conseils de notre accompagnement, que vous soyez PME ou start-up, deux solutions : vous abonner à notre newsletter mensuelle, ou nous rejoindre ! Pour en savoir plus, contactez-moi : claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com.

Par Claire VO

Responsable du programme ToasterLAB, Claire VO est également en charge de la post-accélération de nos start-ups, ainsi que de l'accompagnement des intrapreneurs. Après 12 ans au sein de Vitagora, Claire est véritablement le "cerveau du réseau" et, dans les méandres de notre écosystème, vous aide à y voir plus... clair ! Contactez-la  claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com

Atelier du Fruit is an innovative food SME, member of Vitagora since 2014, working on natural and clean label processing techniques to optimise flavours of fruit-based food products. Founded in 2012 by Alain Etiévant (who has a 30-year career, including 10 years working for Frutarom), Atelier du Fruit took part in the third cohort of ToasterLAB's acceleration program beginning last spring.

But, hey, you say, what's an SME doing in a startup program? What does an entrepreneur with decades of experience under his belt get out of this type of program? And what were the results? Well, keep reading for the feedback from Clémence Carbonnel, R&D project manager for Atelier du Fruit who shows us that all business founders, even old dogs (sorry, Alain ;) ), can learn new tricks and learn a lot from an acceleration program.

why apply? a key stage in the road towards industrialisation

Clémence Carbonnel, Atelier du Fruit : "Since our creation in 2012, we have been a R&D-based company (which we will continue to be as that is where our DNA and our passion truely lies). But, so that our clients are able to use our enzyme and fermentation-based solutions, we were also going to begin selling the same enzymes and cultures that we use in our laboratory. We wanted to move up to an industrial scale reproduction of what we do in our laboratory, effectively and efficiently. In order to pivot in this way, we needed help, and the ToasterLAB program seemed just what we were looking for."

"out of our comfort zone": what an SME can do in an acceleration program

Clémence Carbonnel, Atelier du Fruit : "First of all, it was intense! For 3 months, every Thursday, we got together with the rest of the cohort to go over a new topic: business model, business plan, innovation, industrialisation, marketing, HR management, sales... The experts gave explanations on the various topics and how to address them in our company, fellow entrepreneurs gave their feedback, and we talked one-on-one with them. And each week, we went well and truly out of our comfort zone and were challenged continually. Even on subjects that we thought we had a good handle on! During each session, we learned a huge amount and made huge strides forward.

The program requires a lot of investment, which is of course not easy when you are running a company. But the ToasterLAB team and the mentors were behind us throughout the program and helped us stay the course, prioritise and move forward."

Immediate results: development strategy, network...

Clémence Carbonnel, Atelier du Fruit : "Thanks to ToasterLAB, we were able to clearly define our business model, to tackle regulatory questions more confidently, and to refine our financial and sales strategies. And we are still doing so, as we didn't have the time to do everything during the program: with the help of experts, we are restructuring our team and reorganising our activity. So that the team is both more efficient and happier in their work, so that everyone gets job satisfaction while also satisfying our clients and developing the business. We are also going to start our international development. 

ToasterLAB also allowed us to build up a great network: with the other startups of our cohort, but also the mentors and experts that we met and with whom we are developing exciting innovation projects!"

go further

To find out more if our acceleration program is right for you, whether you are an SME or a startup, contact us: claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com.

By Claire VO

ToasterLAB Program Manager, Claire "VO" is in charge of our start-ups' post-acceleration as well as intrapreneurship. After 12 years with Vitagora, Claire's unparalleled knowledge of our network is put to good use while integrating our startups into the food business ecosystem!  E-mail her at: claire.vanoverstraeten@vitagora.com