# Ep. 4: The Power of Partnerships with Caroline Cotto, COO of Renewal Mill

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2020-05-29
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 4
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/79604624

## Summary

Caroline Cotto, COO of Renewal Mill, explains how the company upcycles food byproducts like soybean pulp (okara) and pea starch into high-fiber ingredients for B2B and consumer products. She details their co-location dehydration technology, which processes wet waste immediately at partner sites like Hodo Foods to prevent spoilage and reduce transport emissions. Cotto highlights strategic partnerships with brands such as Humphrey Slocum, Square Baby, and Pulp Pantry to integrate okara into ice cream, baby food, and chips, while discussing the formation of the Upcycled Food Association to drive industry-wide certification and awareness.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill#t=5) Introduction: Caroline Cotto and Renewal Mill's Mission
- [1:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill#t=92) Origin Story: From Hodo Foods Partnership to Okara Flour
- [4:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill#t=256) Co-Location Dehydration Technology and Byproduct Challenges
- [9:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill#t=598) Key Partnerships: Humphrey Slocum, Square Baby, and Pulp Pantry
- [16:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill#t=991) Building the Upcycled Food Association and Industry Collaboration
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-29-ep-4-the-power-of-partnerships-with-caroline-cotto-coo-of-renewal-mill#t=1184) Okara Flour Applications: Extrusion, Snacks, and Nutrition

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Renewal Mill (company)
- Hodo Foods (company)
- Okara (product)
- Humphrey Slocum (company)
- Imperfect Foods (company)
- Square Baby (company)
- Pulp Pantry (company)
- Tia Lupita (company)
- Regrained (company)
- Planetarians (company)
- Upcycled Food Association (other)
- Bob's Red Mill (company)
- Cargill (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Reclaiming food waste with Jasmine Crowe-Houston of Goodr (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-14-reclaiming-food-waste-with-jasmine-crowe-houston-of-goodr-2022) (How I Built This)
- [HIBT Lab! Too Good To Go: Lucie Basch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-03-09-hibt-lab-too-good-to-go-lucie-basch) (How I Built This)
- [HIBT Lab! Yolélé: Pierre Thiam](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-08-25-hibt-lab-yolele-pierre-thiam) (How I Built This)
- [This episode is trash](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash) (Catalyst)
- [243 - Tony Perrotta on why we need to move beyond just talking about sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-02-06-243-tony-perrotta-on-why-we-need-to-move-beyond-just-talking-about-sustainabilit) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

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