The Hershey Company plans to sponsor the 2026 Land Grant Startup Launch Competition, Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and the College of Agricultural Sciences interdisciplinary collaboration focusing on fostering innovation in food and agriculture. Hershey’s is the competition’s first corporate partner.
“Championing sustainably grown food is essential as we face disruption from climatic changes,” Rachel Grunberg, Hershey’s head of environmental sustainability, said. “This opportunity shines a light on the future of sustainable food and the role of innovation in resilient farming systems, ensuring continued moments of goodness for generations to come.”
The competition will support early-stage startups focused on sustainable business practices. The Garber Venture Capital Fund will provide winners with a $50,000 investment to accelerate growth and further research and development and team expansion.
“Hershey’s support of the inaugural competition demonstrates the company’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural industry through innovative and sustainable business practices,” Travis Lesser, Center for the Business of Sustainability director, said.
Teams enrolled in the competition must be a formative-stage business entity able to enter into an investment agreement and include at least one enrolled undergraduate or graduate student. Business must also meet two of the following: created within the last seven years, pursuing commercialization and profitability, have less than $1 million in trailing 12-month revenue and have a product or service in testing or pilot production.