On August 12, USHBC, in collaboration with VentureFuel, announced the four companies selected for the inaugural cohort of the Blueberry Boost Accelerator. Each startup was chosen by a jury of blueberry industry experts, based on their bold use of blueberries in innovative products ranging from wellness, to fun snack formats, to better-for-you desserts — offering consumers new and exciting ways to enjoy blueberries.
Launched earlier this year, the Blueberry Boost Accelerator was created with the goal of encouraging product innovation and promoting blueberries as a hero ingredient, supporting visionary startups. From functional nutrition to clean-label desserts, this cohort perfectly represents the future potential of blueberries.
The selected startups
The 2025 cohort of the Blueberry Boost Accelerator includes:
Bonny Prebiotic Fiber Powder (New York, NY) — A clean-label powdered supplement made with blueberry-flavored prebiotic fiber, designed to support gut health and make fiber consumption enjoyable, tasty, and functional.
Farmer Bob’s “Beyond Berries™” (Salem, OR) — A playful, nutrient-rich frozen fruit snack made with upcycled blueberries and raspberries, paired with naturally sweet dates. A fun, wholesome treat for the whole family.
Pluff (Orlando, FL) — A protein mousse-style dessert, launched in the “Berry Blast” version featuring freeze-dried blueberries. It delivers an indulgent texture combined with functional nutrition, in a high-protein, low-sugar format.
Sorbatto’s “Blue Cream” (Wapato, WA) — A dairy-free frozen dessert suitable for allergy sufferers, made with 75% highbush blueberries. With no added sugar or water, Blue Cream is a creamy, fruity alternative to traditional ice cream.
Evaluation and criteria
The companies were evaluated based on several criteria: volume potential and market relevance, value proposition and degree of differentiation (including the centrality of blueberries), commercial appeal and media potential, funding and scalability opportunities, as well as the strength of the founding team.
The startups will now enter an intensive nine-week acceleration program, during which they will receive weekly one-on-one coaching from VentureFuel, expert sessions, roundtables with fellow participants, and support in developing marketing materials, including a professional commercial.
Program conclusion
The journey will conclude with a live pitch competition at the Blueberry Convention, to be held in Seattle from October 8–10. The winning company will receive a prize of $20,000 (approx. €18,800), while the runner-up will be awarded $10,000 (approx. €9,400).
For more information on the Blueberry Boost Accelerator, visit: blueberryboostaccelerator.com
Source: blueberry.org
Image source: VentureFuel
