Real California Milk Excelerator Unveils 2025 Cohort
Emerging – and growth-stage dairy brands highlighting consumer demand for protein, clean label, sustainability and more.
Over the past eight years, the program has become a proven engine for dairy innovation and growth. More than 60 brands have participated, benefiting from over $2.5 million in non-dilutive funding, 6.3 billion media impressions and connections to more than 100 industry executives spanning distribution, retail, manufacturing, venture capital and corporate innovation.
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), in partnership with VentureFuel, today announced the 14 companies selected to participate in the 7th Annual Real California Milk (RCM) Excelerator and Incubator programs.
One of the most active dairy innovation programs in the U.S., the Excelerator recently evolved into two tracks to support brands at various stages of growth: the Excelerator for growth-stage companies and an Incubator for earlier-stage products.
This year, each track will feature seven companies providing access to programming, mentorship, and stipends to help accelerate company and product growth.
The 2025 cohort reflects the growth and versatility of real dairy in fueling the next generation of food innovation.
Cold companies include:
- Foggy Bottom’s Boys’ Jersey Scoops (Loleta, Calif.) - Organic, lactose-free, carbon-negative farm-to-scoop ice cream with 16g of protein, crafted from A2 Jersey cow’s milk by a sixth-generation North Coast dairy farm.
- Joseph Farms’ String Cheese (Atwater, Calif.) - 99% lactose-free string cheese with 7g protein per stick.
- Mavens Creamery (San Jose, Calif.) - Asian-inspired indulgent ice cream made with rich, exotic ingredients in flavors like Thai Tea, Durian, and Black Sesame.
- Pioneer Pastures (Bozeman, MT) - Ultra Filtered, A2 whole milks crafted for superior nutrition and taste with higher protein and lower sugar for easier digestion.
The seven companies selected for the Incubator track have products that highlight the next wave of dairy innovation: Clover Sonoma, Coney Island Creamery, Jonzo Inc.’s Frosty Cream Donut in the cold categories.
"The Real California Milk Excelerator continues to push the boundaries of dairy innovation, and this year’s’ cohorts showcase both market-ready products and bold early concepts," said Bob Carroll, CEO of CMAB. "This year’s cohort represents exactly what today’s consumers are looking for — products that deliver wellness, indulgence, and sustainability.”
The program will culminate in December at an exclusive pitch event in Napa, Califonia, where all seven Excelerator companies will present their businesses and products to a live judging panel.
During this pitch event, four finalists will be selected to receive $30,000 in marketing support. Those four will then be tracked over the next 12 months for sales growth, competing for a $100,000 grand prize to be awarded in 2026.
About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state's dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB's programs focus on increasing demand for California's sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs.
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