The Greg Steltenpohl Pragmatic Visionary Award, which honors the late plant-based business pioneer Greg Steltenpohl, is officially accepting entries for its first annual $100,000 grant for early-stage food ventures.
“Our industry and world are better off because of Greg, and this Award seeks to encourage and support innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers”
Each year, the grant will be awarded to plant-centric entrepreneurs to enable or expand the accomplishments, reach and impact of their work. Any innovations related to the food system from “soil to soul” are eligible for the grant.
Early-stage food initiatives will be judged according to the merit of its team and strategy, as well as the embodiment of the four core principles Greg championed: systems entrepreneurship, pragmatic vision, ethical leadership, and creative transformation.
Final collaboration
The Visionary Award will be presented annually in March at Natural Products Expo West, and is hosted in collaboration with the Plant Futures Initiative, Greg’s final entrepreneurial project. The Plant Future Initiative is a non-profit social venture that connects college and graduate students with learning experiences and innovative food and agricultural enterprises.
Greg founded the leading beverage brand Califia Farms in 2010, which went on to become one of the most successful plant-based milk brands, receiving $225M in investments in 2020. The creation of the Pragmatic Visionary Award was first announced in March 2022, and is organized by Greg’s friends, family, and colleagues in the natural food industry.
“Our industry and world are better off because of Greg, and this Award seeks to encourage and support innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers creating the more positive, plant-centric food system he dedicated his life to building,” said Gary Hirshberg, co-founder of Stonyfield and a 30-year friend.
Interested entrepreneurs can submit their applications at pragmaticvisionaryaward.org. The deadline is November 30, 2022.
