Our Sponsors

ePac

Located in Boulder, CO; ePac is a new kind of flexible packaging company focused on providing high-quality packaging solutions, with eye-popping graphics, for Natural and Organic brands of all sizes. Using state of the art digital technology ePac offers locally produced, custom printed finished pouches and rollstock, ships all orders within 3 weeks of art approval, and specializes in short to medium length runs.

Aurora Organic Dairy

Aurora Organic Dairy’s mission is making high-quality organic milk and butter more affordable and available for American families. Founded in Boulder, CO in 2003, the Company is a leading producer of private-label and store-brand organic milk and butter for U.S. retailers.

Bobo’s Bars

Bobo’s Oat Bars have a moist and delicious home-made taste unlike any other snack bar on the market. Our vegan bars are made with NON-GMO, natural and organic ingredients and come in ten tasty original flavors and six new gluten-free flavors. Our gluten-free bars are just as outrageously yummy as our original flavors, so there’s no feeling of compromise.

Green Chef

It’s right in the name: Green Chef is all about eating and living green. We are a USDA certified organic company. We work with farmers to source sustainable, delicious ingredients.

Birch Benders

We believe that some of the best moments in life are spent around the table with the ones you love. In these crazy, dizzy, over-scheduled days, we want to bring people back together. Our goal at Birch Benders is to make the world a more beautiful and delicious place, one pancake at a time.

BIGR Ventures

Founded by proven industry veterans Carole Buyers, Duane Primozich, and Bill Weiland in December 2015, BIGR Ventures is a growth equity fund providing value-added, strategic partnership and capital to promising early-stage natural and organic products. Headquartered in Boulder, CO, and boasting 70+ years of combined natural product experience between its founders, BIGR Ventures leverages unparalleled industry relationships and experience to maximize the potential of promising young companies.

Manufacturer’s Edge

As a NIST MEP approved center, Manufacturer’s Edge is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Colorado. Manufacturer’s Edge encourages the strength and competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers through coaching, training, and consulting, collaboration-focused industry programs, and by leveraging government, university, and economic development partnerships.

Through onsite support and technical assistance, Manufacturer’s Edge works to boost the competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers. The experienced engineers and business professionals work closely with manufacturers to provide company assessments and customized solutions including hands-on facilitation and implementation.

Lily’s Sweets

Lily’s Sweets’ mission is to surprise and delight consumers with delicious, low-sugar treats.

AVL Growth Partners

AVL is your dedicated finance and accounting team, “always on”, responsive and available whenever you need us. As a full-stack CFO firm, we provide a complete breadth of skills and finance & accounting expertise; flexibly delivering services how you need it, when you need it.

Ingredion

OMG, Inc.

For over 30 years, we have developed a deep expertise on Target, built category knowledge in key focus businesses, nurtured longstanding partnerships, and driven mutually beneficial growth for our partners.

The a2 Milk Company

Ordinary cows’ milk contains a mix of both A1 and A2 proteins. Only a2 Milk® comes from cows hand-picked to naturally produce only A2 protein and no A1 – and that makes all the difference.

makeena, inc

Makeena is the natural products industry’s mission-driven shopper data insight platform – focused on connecting brands and consumers through product knowledge, curated information, and repeat purchase behavior tools to drive revenue results.

Eco-Products

Eco-Products is the nation’s leading brand of single use foodservice packaging made from renewable and recycled resources. Their products are, relative to traditional counterparts, gentler on the environment because they require fewer virgin resources to produce, and make diversion from landfills an option upon disposal. Visit www.ecoproducts.com for more information.

Kurtz Fargo LLP

Kurtz Fargo LLP is a nimble accounting firm based in Boulder, CO, that provides high-quality assurance, tax, and advisory services to emerging growth, small, and mid-sized businesses .The Firm is committed to delivering high quality expertise, outstanding client service and utilizing cutting edge technology and research tools. We combine high-level expertise with a personal and involved client approach. Together, we build lasting partnerships to create, grow, and sustain healthy companies. Working hard to understand your unique business challenges, we tailor solutions to shape your complex problems into simple, clear results.

Purely Elizabeth

Purely Elizabeth is an all natural and organic food company that creates products using the most innovative, nutrient-rich ingredients. Purely Elizabeth’s product lines include Ancient Grain, Grain-Free and Probiotic Granolas, Ancient Grain Muesli, Oatmeal and Cereal, all of which are certified gluten free, vegan, organic and non-GMO project-verified.

Holland & Hart LLP

Holland & Hart has been a part of the Food & Beverage industry for decades, helping our clients through the entire lifecycle of a company’s growth and with an office at the epicenter of natural and organic products – Boulder, Colorado. We don’t just have “clients” in the Food and Beverage industry — our friends are entrepreneurs alongside you. We get what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. And we’re here to help with practical legal solutions and specialized practices to address niche food and beverage legal needs.

We share the passion you have for your mission, your company, and your unique products. You can review a representative list of some of the folks we have the opportunity to work with at: https://www.hollandhart.com/food-and-beverage.

I and love and you

We make grain free and raw foods, healthy chews + treats, and supplements for dogs and cats. Everything a well-rounded pet needs, minus a tummy rub. We’re still trying to figure out how to put that in a package.

City of Boulder

The City of Boulder Economic Vitality Program is pleased to sponsor Naturally Boulder. The natural products industry is a natural fit for Boulder’s environment and consumers. Naturally Boulder fosters business growth as Boulder’s largest and most evolved “industry cluster.”

Mile Hi Express

Mile Hi Express is a refrigerated/frozen warehouse and trucking company providing distribution along the Front Range of Colorado.  We receive, consolidate and redeliver!  Our services include local pickups and deliveries into all the major retail and food service warehouses in Colorado, i.e. UNFI, Whole Foods, King Soopers, Safeway, Sysco, US Foods, Shamrock, both Walmart DC’s in Cheyenne, WY and North Platte, NE….just to name a few.  Coming in April/May of 2018, we will be moving into a new facility that will greatly expand our current frozen storage from our existing 120 pallet spots to roughly 1,200 pallet spots!   Give us a shout for more details.  303-296-8465.

Moss Adams

Moss Adams is a fully integrated professional services firm distinguished for our depth of industry knowledge, including food & beverage. We take the time to understand each client’s business or individual situation, anticipate needs, and identify gaps before they become obstacles. Plus, our strength in the middle market enables us to advise clients at all intervals of development—from start-up, to rapid growth and expansion, to transition. At Moss Adams, we bring our spirit of optimism and enterprise, and believe in the great promise of our clients, our people and the markets we serve.

Whole-Brain-Consulting, LLC

Looking for comprehensive outsourcing operations management services? Whole Brain Consulting is a fully integrated consultancy providing operations and supply chain management services to companies that outsource the manufacturing of their product. We provide a full suite of services, from contract manufacturer management to food quality and safety services.

Crowe

Crowe LLP is one of the largest public accounting firms in the United States, providing audit services to public and private entities while also helping clients reach their goals with tax, advisory, risk, and performance services. Built on a vision of deep industry specialization, Crowe is a leader serving the Food & Beverage Industry. Recognized six times by Fortune as a ‘Best Place to Work’, Crowe is committed to a progressive work environment that leverages the diversity of all its professionals.

KeHE Distributors

KeHE is dedicated to the success of our customers and suppliers by providing exceptional marketing, merchandising, and distribution services.  KeHE Distributors prides itself in being employee owned and operated.

Compass Natural Marketing

Based in Boulder, Colorado – considered by many to be the “Epicenter of the Natural Products Industry,” Compass Natural is a boutique digital marketing, branding, PR, and business development agency serving the rapidly growing market for natural, organic, socially responsible, eco-friendly and other healthy lifestyles products. Founded in late 2001 and driven by a commitment to create a better world through business, Compass Natural has been a leader in the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) market.

Sunrise Strategic Partners

Sunrise Strategic Partners provides growth capital and expertise to emerging brands in the healthy, active and sustainable living space. We team up with founders to add strategic value, share guidance on tactical priorities and leverage our industry relationships to maximize potential. The team at Sunrise has been growing businesses for over 30 years and has deep experience with the unique challenges and decisions that growing brands face. We partner with passionate founders who are ready to take their business to the next level, because we know scaling your brand can be a challenging journey. We know because we’ve been there.

Good Karma Foods

Good Karma’s commitment to goodness spans across nutrition, taste and values. We are committed to being major allergen free, minimally processed, free of additives, and full of good fats. We are also sustainable, free of GMOs, and kind to animals. On top of all of that, we stand behind products that have variety, are creamy and delicious, and contain nutrients like calcium and protein.

Moxie Sozo

Moxie Sozo is a full-service creative agency, with accounts in North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Our clients range from early-stage startups to global brands like Nike, Nickelodeon, and Gruppo Campari. Since starting in 1999, we’ve helped our clients sell several billion dollars worth of products, goods & services. From the initial brand strategy to final delivery, we are fanatical about coming up with original solutions. Our comprehensive approach has been developed and refined over the course of thousands of projects for hundreds of brands. We obsess about the details and are not happy until our clients are happy.

Summit Venture Management

Summit Venture Management consults and partners with entrepreneurs and equity investors on business and brand growth initiatives.

VOCO Creative

We’re (spirited) pragmatists. Witty strategists. Results-obsessed pros with your brand in mind. Founded in 2008 and nestled between Denver and Boulder, Colorado, VOCO Creative is a boutique marketing agency with a national client list and a straightforward, savvy, and sustainable outlook on business and life.

Brand Geek

Brand Geek is a soulful intellectual property law firm serving other multiple-bottom-line enterprises. We delight our clients through creatively solving complex puzzles and by connecting dots (often known as humans).  As a member of 1% for the Planet since 2006 and a Certified B Corp since February 2008, we strive to lead by example.

CleanWell

Company description – CleanWell has been delivering proprietary, botanical-based, clean-without-compromise formulas since 2005. We develop our products with one belief: that harmful germs can be eliminated safely with the power of nature. With powerful botanical ingredients like Thymol to refreshing plant-based fragrances, our germ-fighting household disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and hand soaps are safe for the whole family—no harsh chemicals or harmful ingredients. And, we’re planet-friendly too. So, when life gets messy go ahead and embrace the good-and-dirty. We will always help you Live Free, CleanWell.

Suzy

Over 150 leading brands use Suzy’s consumer intelligence platform to talk directly to their target customers. Get instant results from our always-on panel of verified consumers to validate new product ideas, test package designs, guide critical business decisions, and much more. Visit Suzy.com to learn more.

Mighty Fudge Studios

To be successful, you’ve got to think outside of the box. But just as important is what’s on the box. Your product packaging is a representation of your brand’s vision and promise.

Sterling-Rice Group

Sterling-Rice Group was formed in 1984. Having had experience in large, sophisticated packaged goods companies and small, intuitive, entrepreneurial firms, the founders saw value in both approaches. Quaker, Jovan, Celestial Seasonings and Frito-Lay were among the first clients. Today, companies that could go anywhere in the world come to Boulder to work with us.

Linhart PR

At Linhart PR, we know that immersion in your business is critical to success. We make serious investments in understanding our clients’ industries, competitive landscapes, cultures and business goals; in fact, identifying the latest trends and understanding thorny issues and complex concepts are key strengths of our firm.

Otis Oat Milk

Customer Marketing Group, Inc.

For more than 20 years, Customer Marketing Group (CMG) has helped leading and emerging brands maximize the efficiency of their trade spend, generating a minimum 200% ROI in the first year. How do we do it? A dedicated team with extraordinary academic qualifications, analytical firepower, and real world industry experience fully focuses its expertise on the complex job of optimizing your trade budget.

Fresca Foods Inc

Fresca Foods helps young natural food companies grow quickly into national brands. We partner with innovative companies that inspire conscious consumers and transform traditional food categories. Fresca brings manufacturing, brand management and growth capital, and together we build category leading brands.

Ancient Harvest

The Quinoa Corporation brought the first 50 lb bag of this unknown grain into the United States to share with the natural foods industry. Since that time, we have spread the word of this amazing grain to all corners of the earth.

PSL Law Group

PSL Law Group believes in providing quality legal advice at fair prices. We advise food and beverage businesses ranging from startups to established, fully capitalized companies on topics such as complying with FDA and USDA in food safety, managing regulatory and litigation risk in food labeling and marketing, providing general corporate guidance, and raising capital. Feel free to give us a call to set up a meeting– with offices conveniently located off of Pearl Street, we would love to sit down with you anytime!

Propeller Industries

Propeller Industries is the leading outsourced CFO and accounting services provider for venture-stage companies throughout the US.  Leveraging our scalable technology ecosystem, deep industry expertise, and global operating platform, we help great entrepreneurs build great companies!

Polsinelli

Polsinelli’s Food, Beverage, and Consumer Products Group works with approximately a hundred food, beverage, and consumer products brands and a number of investment funds and acquirers.  The team prides itself of being business savvy and practical and having a deep understanding of the industry.  In 2018, they closed over fifty financings and M&A transactions in the food, beverage, and consumer products space, and they expect more in 2019.

Ridgeline Ventures

Based in Boulder, Ridgeline Ventures invests in natural foods/products, active lifestyle, and technology companies.  We are former business owners and operators and take a unique approach to investing.  The capital we invest is our own which allows us to strategically align with management teams for the long run.  Our goal is to build lasting partnerships, not quick exits, and we work with teams to build successful, sustainable companies that we can all be proud of.

Little Secrets

We’re all about sourcing the best ingredients and creating premium blends without any artificial ingredients, flavors or colors because the words “delicious” and “natural” can and should absolutely go together. Pretty regular at everything else, but our candy game’s tight. And like any good little secret, sharing is optional.

Packaging & Promotions LLC

Packaging & Promotions helps growing food and beverage companies source recyclable plastic & glass bottles and closures. We offer container solutions for salsas, beer/wine/spirits, juices, jellies and virtually any other liquid food and beverage product. And, when you are ready to promote your product, we provide top-quality promotional, trade show and award specialty items.

Best Nest Wellness

Choosing the right multivitamin can be a challenge. But, at Best Nest Wellness, we’ve created neuro-nutritional vitamins grounded in science for every life stage. We only use ingredients that are proven, never trendy. Goodbye, confusion. Hello, confidence and momentum for what matters.

Heavenly Organics

Sage V Foods

SAGE V FOODS, (pronounced Sage Five) specializes in producing rice based ingredients for use in processed foods and has developed the most complete line of rice products in the industry. In addition to industrial markets, the company’s line of frozen rice is also sold into the food service and retail markets.

Fresh Ideas Group

FIG is a fiercely distinct communications agency. We’re specialists not generalists. FIG’s tenacity is born of our core belief that saving the planet is as simple as changing the way we eat, drink and, well, do business.

Maty’s

Growing frustrated that modern medicine wasn’t helping her daughter Maty with her health challenges, Carolyn Harrington was inspired to begin researching natural ways of healing.  What started with a mission to keep her friends and family healthy became what is now known as Maty’s Healthy Products.  Maty’s is focused on providing pure, all natural, and organic alternatives to traditional medication without a long list of scary side effects.  Join our movement and rethink your medicine cabinet with Maty’s whole food health alternatives!

All Packaging Company

All Packaging Company, a Denver manufacturer of retail paperboard packaging, utilizes the latest technologies and sustainability practices. While big enough to sell to the major brands, we are small enough to offer real service and support to local startup companies.

Amalgamated Bank

Amalgamated Bank is a triple-bottom-line bank serving values-driven businesses and nonprofits that are building a more sustainable world. We see money as an agent of positive social, environmental and economic change and believe banking can transform the economy into one that serves all people and the planet. By putting deposits to work for good, we lend to organizations that benefit our communities and preserve our planet.

BFG Partners

BFG seeks partnerships with early stage food and beverage consumer product companies. BFG works alongside exceptional entrepreneurs to ensure the business is able to deliver sustainable growth and outperform its competitors.

Ripple Foods

34 Degrees

These lighter, crispier, all-natural crackers are simply good to eat. We created 34° Crispbread as the perfect companion to the world’s favorite cheeses. But the truth is, we love them straight from the box too.

The Nourished Group

The  The Nourished Group is the leading U.S. integrated media company dedicated to promoting the gluten free lifestyle, with a captive audience of more than three million gluten free consumers. We offer marketing solutions through our mobile app, consumer expo tour, websites, e-newsletters, blogger outreach and social media interaction.

Kinneberg Management Group

KMG has tremendous expertise in launching, developing and thoughtfully growing brands at Target and Walmart.  Partnering with Brands to navigate the Mass Channel is our core competency.  We are particularly focused on the rapidly growing categories within which natural, organic, socially responsible, eco-friendly and other healthy lifestyle products continue to disrupt and gain market share.

Boulder Economic Council

The Boulder Economic Council, an affiliate of the Boulder Chamber, is a group of prominent business and community leaders committed to Boulder and its economic well-being.

Center for Education on Social Responsibility, The Leeds School of Business, CU-Boulder

P2Binvestor Inc.

P2Binvestor Inc. (P2Bi) is the first and only crowdfunding platform for working capital loans for growing small and medium businesses in the US. P2Bi offers a contemporary approach to financing with affordable rates, a range of financial products, quick access to working capital, and an easy online loan application process. Normally secured by a company’s accounts receivable, P2Bi underwrites each loan and then offers it to its crowd of accredited investors to fund. Companies that apply for P2Bi funding can expect funding decisions within three business days. P2Bi is headquartered in Denver.

Boulder Idea Group

The Boulder Idea Group is a Boulder-based marketing products agency that enhances brand identity through Innovation, Imagination, and Creativity! Specializing in custom in-store displays, LED or Neon sign, and branded promotional products, BIG knows how to build brand recognition that helps your products stand out in a crowded marketplace.

KO Firm

KO Firm is a corporate law boutique with a deep industry knowledge and focus in the natural products space. KO Firm represents businesses, private equity and venture capital funds, investors and individuals in a broad range of sophisticated transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, entity formations and restructurings. KO Firm also regularly advises clients on general corporate and business matters, serving as outside general counsel and drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide variety of commercial contracts including supply, manufacturing, co-branding, equipment leasing, co-packing, distribution, employment, consulting and brokerage contracts.

BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER LLP

Weller

Boulder Organic Foods LLC

Boulder Organic Foods’ mission is to craft “oh my gosh!” good organic food with uncompromised nutrition using garden-fresh ingredients. We’ve got a major thing for organic eating and we’re not ashamed to show it. Some may call our love of nutritious, fresh soup an obsession, but around here we just call it delicious business as usual.

LifeCafe

Encore Consumer Capital

Encore Consumer Capital is an innovative private equity firm built specifically to help consumer products companies grow. We invest exclusively in leading consumer products companies, and utilize the experience and network of our operating partners at Encore Associates to accelerate their growth.

Wish Garden Herb

– Providing the highest quality, most elegantly formulated, most effective products possible.
– Educating people about the use and efficency of herbs in healing and health.
– Growing our business in an ecologically and ethically sustainable manner that benefits everyone involved.

Motherlode Co-Packing

Force Brands

Pure Strategic

Label Technology

Creative Alignments

Cusa Tea

The Good Crisp Company

Meati Foods

SchroderHaus Production

Toasted Oat Bakehouse

Care2.com

Room 214

Lucky’s Market

Motherlove Herbal Company

MindFull, Inc.

American Tape & Label

Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories

DeLine Box & Display

Optimity Inc

Wellmune

Teatulia Organic Teas

GanedenBC30

2x Consumer Products Growth Partners

Good Day Chocolate

WholeMade

Motherlode Provisions

Walden Hyde

Chef Soraya Eat a Bowl

Bhakti

Bhakti produces a blend of organic ginger and spice in a brew of antioxidant rich fair-trade black tea. The company uses sustainable practices, and supports nonprofit organizations that work to empower and educate women and girls worldwide.

GoodBelly

The Jackfruit Company

Wild Zora Foods, LLC

The Seaweed Bath Co.

Natural Habitats Group

Primeflex Labels Inc

Bavarian Bakery Enterprise

NSF International

Beauty Gourmet

Anton Collins Mitchell LLP

CU – Masters of the Environment

POWDERPURE

Amplio Digital

Leapin’ Lizard Labels

Akamai

Food Business Consulting

Acme Distribution Centers, Inc

OHCO/Oriental Herb Company

Eldorado Natural Spring Water

Foodarom

Grower’s Organic, LLC