# Accelerators & Incubators 101 - Find the right program for your brand

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2022-01-31
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 10
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2452d912

## Summary

Sarah Nathan, founder of Bloom CPG and former manager of the Chobani Incubator, joins host Jesse Freitag to discuss how CPG founders can select and benefit from accelerator and incubator programs. Nathan shares insights from her experience reviewing hundreds of applications for Chobani and Mondelēz, emphasizing the importance of humility, responsiveness, and long-term relationship building over transactional interactions. She also introduces a new Startup CPG database designed to help founders filter and identify the right programs for their specific stage and needs.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=3) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=295) Defining Accelerators vs. Incubators
- [6:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=397) Evaluating Program Fit and Equity
- [14:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=843) Key Questions for Applicants
- [16:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=981) What Makes a Strong Application
- [19:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=1176) The Buyer Perspective on Accelerators
- [23:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=1415) Maximizing Program Resources
- [41:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-31-accelerators-incubators-101-find-the-right-program-for-your-brand#t=2470) Navigating the Startup CPG Database

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Bloom CPG (company)
- Chobani (company)
- Mondelēz (company)
- Startup CPG (company)
- Skew (company)
- Wegmans (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Walmart (company)
- General Mills (company)
- Mars (company)
- Partake Foods (company)
- Regrained (company)
- National Co-op Grocers (company)
- Sephora (company)

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- [Advice Line with Angie & Dan Bastian of Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-04-02-advice-line-with-angie-dan-bastian-of-angies-boomchickapop) (How I Built This)
- [290 - Taylor Foxman is the master connector for CPG's!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-09-26-290-taylor-foxman-is-the-master-connector-for-cpgs) (People of Packaging)
- [Advice Line with Jeni Britton of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (2025)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-07-09-advice-line-with-jeni-britton-of-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-2025) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method returns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-04-23-advice-line-with-eric-ryan-of-method-returns) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Sarah Kauss of S'well](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-20-advice-line-with-sarah-kauss-of-swell) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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