SKU Food & Beverage Track
A number of successful brands have gone through SKU – from EPIC Provisions to Siete. This track focuses entirely on emerging food and beverage brands. It features best-in-class curriculum supporting the needs of startups as well as mentorship by successful CPG industry leaders.
The Program
- 12-week program that running March-May
- The ideal company has revenues of $100K or more, a compelling founder with an innovative brand in a hot category.
- The curriculum covers topics important to CPG startups, including Mission + Vision, Branding, Channel Strategy, Supply Chain and Innovation.
- Each brand is supported by team of powerhouse mentors.
- Participating companies receive $20,000 at the end of program.
About SKU
Founded in 2011, Austin-based SKU is the first and leading Consumer Product Goods (CPG) accelerator in the country. CPG entrepreneurs quickly discover that simply having a great product and funding is not all that it takes to grow a successful brand. SKU surrounds stellar startups with a wraparound infrastructure of seasoned Mentors, a customized program, advanced operations support, access to industry expertise, and connections to capital.
More than 90 companies have gone through SKU. Success stories include EPIC Provisions, Siete and Seaweed Bath. More than 90 percent of SKU alumni are still in business.
SKU Atlanta Founding Partners
Chris Olivier
Chris brings to Craft Catalyst 20 years in marketing, commercialization and business development in consumable as well as media & technology. In this role. Chris has served across a variety of categories in marketing leadership and board-level positions for emerging food and beverage brands like LesserEvil Snacks, Kill Cliff Recovery Beverages, Slingshot Coffee Co and Revolution Gelato to name a few.
Steef Schelke
With 20-plus years of experience in the global sales and marketing of domestic
and imported food and beverage brands, Steef drives the sales, business, channel and territory development efforts for Craft Catalyst’s partners, including brands like High Road Craft, Popcorners and Spindrift among others. Prior to this role, our resident Dutchman was President of in2food, an importer of chocolate and pastry ingredients that was sold to The Carlyle Group’s IRCA.
Graham Engebretsen
Graham has spent the past 15 years crafting and delivering holistic Brand and Experience strategies for Global brands working and living across North America, Europe, and Asia. As the Managing Partner at Goods & Services, he leads the agency’s approach to solving its clients’ business challenges. Prior to joining Goods & Services, Graham held senior leadership positions at SapientNitro and Rightpoint in Business Consulting, Strategy, Client Services, and Program Management. His portfolio of past and present clients include: J.P. Morgan, Lord Abbett, IEX, Chubb, MetLife, AIG, Citibank, DBS Bank, Credit Suisse, The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, FIAT Chrysler, Harley-Davidson, NASCAR, Lane Crawford, JCPenney, Carter’s, & Intel.
John King
John is CMO of Goods & Services, named the fastest growing brand agency in America by Inc and one of the fastest growing globally by Adweek. John is responsible for the development and execution of Goods & Services marketing strategy and provides executive leadership for the company’s new business and venture growth. Previously, John was Vice President of Marketing Communications for SparkCognition, where he built and led the company’s marketing and communications strategy.
Paul Choi
Paul is chief product officer at Goods & Services,. As Chief Product Officer at Goods & Services, Paul is focused on our branded commerce practice and incubator where he works to design, create and merchandise brands and experiences by challenging what was and designing what’s next. Prior to joining Goods & Services, Paul was on the client side where he held various roles leading the design, product development, and merchandising teams with omni-channel distribution for Ralph Lauren (Black Label, Purple Label, & RRL), Levi’s, Filson, and Orvis.
Paul Funkhouser
Paul is a Vice President at Silver Falcon Capital and is based in the firm’s Charlotte office. Paul runs new deal flow for SFC from deal sourcing to investment execution, while also taking an active role in supporting portfolio companies.