In an effort to cultivate probiotic innovation in the functional food and beverage market, Ganeden® announces “Probiotic Innovation Jumpstart,” an industry-first entrepreneurial program designed to help companies launch new probiotic products.

The program from Ganeden is an opportunity that invites all scientists, entrepreneurs and inventors with a brand-new probiotic food or beverage product concept to submit their idea to Ganeden. While entries will be accepted for all product categories, the company encourages submissions for novel products that will resonate with consumers and fill a specific need in the marketplace. The grand-prize winner will receive $25,000 in support to utilize GanedenBC30® probiotics in the product, as well as the guidance, assistance and expertise needed to help develop and launch their innovation into the food and beverage industry.

“Ganeden’s growth and success has been accomplished by helping hundreds of forward-thinking companies around the world develop and market innovative, first-of-their-kind probiotic products,” says Andy Lefkowitz, Ganeden’s CEO. “The future of the food and beverage market is functional foods, and we see this program as a huge opportunity to share our expertise and support the industry by helping others bring their ideas to life and onto shelves.”

All initial concepts must be submitted on the Probiotic Innovation Jumpstart website by May 6, 2016. Three finalists will then be chosen to present their ideas in-person to a panel of esteemed judges during the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) show in Chicago on July 16, 2016. The presentations, to be done by two representatives from each company, will be judged by a panel of respected industry experts from both manufacturing and retail backgrounds. The panel includes Mark Retzloff, a pioneer in the organic and natural foods industry, and Caroline Beckman, co-founder and CEO at Nomva.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to help nurture our fantastic industry, and I am humbled to be a judge for Ganeden’s program,” said Mark Retzloff, senior partner for the Boulder Farm Team and chairman for multiple food and beverage boards. “I’ve personally watched products containing GanedenBC30 gain significant traction in the marketplace, and look forward to seeing the success that this program will bring.”

To learn more about Ganeden’s Probiotic Innovation Jumpstart program or to submit a product idea, visit Ganedenprobiotics.com/jumpstart. For information on GanedenBC30 probiotics, visit GanedenBC30.com.

About Ganeden

Ganeden is at the forefront of probiotic research and product development with an extensive library of published studies and more than 100 patents for probiotic technologies in the food, beverage, animal health, sports nutrition and personal care ingredients markets. Ganeden is best known for GanedenBC30® (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086), its patented, FDA GRAS, non-GMO, highly stable probiotic ingredient.

Ganeden's newest ingredient, Bonicel, is the first science-backed, probiotic-derived, personal care ingredient shown to dramatically reduce signs of aging. For more information about Ganeden and licensing opportunities visit GanedenProbiotics.com.

About GanedenBC30

GanedenBC30® (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086), Ganeden’s patented probiotic ingredient that can be found in more than 200 leading food, beverage, sports nutrition and companion animal products around the world. Unlike most other probiotic strains, GanedenBC30 is a spore-former which makes it highly stable and allows it to remain viable through most manufacturing processes, three years of shelf life and the low pH of stomach acid.

The efficacy of GanedenBC30 is backed by over 20 published studies showing safety, digestive and immune support and GanedenBC30 has an exceptional safety record with FDA GRAS status from the United States FDA. It can be formulated into virtually any food, beverage or companion animal product that is baked, boiled, frozen or squeezed…. including all hot or refrigerated beverages! For more information, please visit GanedenBC30.com.