CPG GROWTH SERIES
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Naturally Chicago CPG Growth Series is a curated programming experience, designed to accelerate the rise of founders and brands who are shaping the future of consumer packaged goods in Chicago.
From capital readiness to product innovation to celebrating the women driving the next generation of CPG, the Growth Series of live events brings Chicago’s most promising founders into the room with the mentors, investors and strategic partners — industry leaders who can help them scale.
The lineup:
Capital Readiness Workshop: Thursday, October 22
Innovation and Product Development Intensive: Friday, November 6
Celebrating and Elevating Women in CPG: Thursday, December 10
Naturally Chicago is part of the Naturally Network, a national organization of 10 regional chapters that fosters thriving communities for mission-driven, better-for-people and better-for-the-planet brands.
SERIES PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES- $10,000
Title Sponsor
Premier logo placement on all event materials — top position above all other sponsors
VIP tickets to each event
Opportunity to host a session at an event of your choice
Keynote introduction or featured speaking opportunity at the Women in CPG flagship event
Featured sponsor spotlight — dedicated post, newsletter article and website profile
PART 2 — Innovation and Product Development Workshop
Friday, November 6, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bank of America Tower, 110 N. Wacker, Chicago
Part 2 of the Series is a day built for builders. The Innovation and Product Development Intensive is a hands-on experience at which innovators roll up their sleeves, challenge their assumptions and sharpen their brands — together — with guidance from industry experts.
The formal program runs from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Check-in will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Highlights
1:00 p.m.: Welcome & Introduction by Jim Slama, Naturally Chicago founder/CEO
1:15 p.m.: Innovating for Growth with Julia Foxworthy, Mattson Vice President for Innovation
2:15 p.m.: Product Compliance: Building a Foundation for Growth with Michael Wu, Truli Co-Founder
2:45 p.m.: Fireside Chat — What does Whole Foods Look for in Innovation and new products? with Margie Omastiak, Whole Foods Market Senior Category Merchant, and Jim Slama of Naturally Chicago
3:15 p.m.: Closing Remarks
Then we celebrate with a networking reception that runs to 5 p.m., honoring the creativity, resilience and momentum of Chicago’s CPG founder community. This is where new ideas meet old friends, and where the energy of a new season takes hold.
NATURALLY CHICAGO CPG GROWTH SERIES III
Thursday, December 10, 4 p.m. central
Naturally Chicago's three-part CPG Growth Series closes with its most powerful event.
Women in CPG — presented in partnership with BMO and held at its West Loop office tower (320 S. Canal St.) — is an experience that celebrates and invests in women founders and leaders who are driving innovation across food, beverage, beauty and wellness. The formal program, which will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., will be followed by a food and drink reception that will reflects the joys of the holiday season.
The event will provide elevated programming, networking and impact — all toward the goal of advancing the burgeoning community of women who are natural products entrepreneurs:
Fireside Chat with Lifeway's Julie Smolyansky, who when she took the reins of the family-owned company in 2002 became the youngest-ever woman CEO of a publicly traded company.
Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, is a featured presenter at Celebrating and Elevating Women in CPG.
Other programming will recognize the key roles women play in building the Natural Products industry.
Community and peer connection across all stages of growth.
The program schedule for Celebrating and Elevating Women in CPG. (NOTE: We expect to add additional speakers.)
3:30 p.m.: Check-in opens
4:00 p.m.: Welcome and official announcement that Newtopia Now is coming to Chicago in 2027
4:15 p.m.: How to Build a Culture Where Women Thrive in CPG with panelists Deb Conklin, President & CEO, KeHE; Katie Paul, Senior Vice President of Merchandising, KeHE; Liz Carter, President & CEO, Chomps… Moderated by Jessica Murphy, Principal, S2G Investments
4:50 p.m.: Driving CPG Growth through Sustainability with panelists Michelle Lorge, President, Simple Mills; Teresa Polli, North America Regional Marketing Head, OFI; Suzy Richard, Chief Sales Officer, SPINS; Nicole Schumacher, CMO & Commercial Leader, Pre
5:25 p.m.: Fireside Chat featuring Julie Smolyansky, CEO, Lifeway Foods, interviewed by Betsy Erdelyi, Managing Director of Food & Beverage Group, BMO6:00 p.m.: Networking Reception
7:30 p.m.: Event concludes
CELEBRATING AND ELEVATING WOMEN IN CPG
NATURALLY CHICAGO CPG GROWTH SERIES III
Thursday, December 10
Presented at BMO West Loop Headquarters
320 S. Canal Street, Chicago
Thursday, December 10
Program: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Reception: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
PART 3 — Celebrating and Elevating Women in CPG
PART 1 — Capital Readiness Workshop
Thursday, October 22, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m
Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University Downtown, 1 East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago
In Partnership with Women’s Business Development Center: A Focused Capital Readiness Experience
Access to capital is one of the greatest barriers facing CPG founders. We built Capital Readiness Workshop — developed in partnership with the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) — to help change that.
Not by handing out money, but rather by making founders more fundable. This focused half-day program was designed to provide founders with the tools, language and confidence to pursue the capital they need to grow.
It also put them in direct conversation with the lenders, investors and advisors who can open doors.
Highlights
1 p.m.: Welcome and Event Framing (Jim Slama, Naturally Chicago; Maura Downs, WBDC )
1:15 p.m.: (Session 1) Debt Financing - What It Takes to Secure Funding (Jim Rolfe, CIBC; Kelly Gumbiner, WBDC/Kiva; Alex Felton, Pursuit; Christopher Parker, BMO)
2:00 p.m. : (Session 2) Grants & Non-Dilutive Funding (Kelly Gumbiner; Sam Shanley, Funding Trail)
2:45 p.m.: Break
3:15 p.m.: (Session 3) A Successful Fundraising Journey: Fireside Chat (Emily Groden, Evergreen; Jim Slama)
3:45 p.m. (Session 4) Raising Early Stage Equity (Alok Advani, Chicago Seed Co; Leslee Cohen, AllRise Legal Counsel; Laura Luckman Kelber, independent investor; Michael Krutz, Barrel Ventures)
4:30 p.m.: Networking Reception with Investors/VCs/Capital Providers (ends 6 p.m.)
PARTNERSHIP
Ready to partner with us?
- Logo on event signage
- 1 VIP ticket per event
- Social media thank-you post
- Host Committee Private Reception
- Logo on event signage & website
- Product inclusion in swag bags
- 2 VIP tickets to each event
- Social media mention
- Host Committee Private Reception
- Logo on event materials & website
- Product inclusion in both event swag bags
- On-stage mention & speaking opportunity
- 4 VIP tickets to each event
- Social media + newsletter highlight
- Host Committee Private Reception
- Series naming rights: your organization named as the presenting sponsor across all three events
- Premier logo placement on all event materials
- Keynote introduction or featured speaking opportunity
- Exclusive Title Sponsor private reception with founders, investors and key partners
- 6 VIP tickets to each event
- Product or branded materials featured prominently in swag bags across all three events
- Featured sponsor spotlight
- Priority first-right-of-renewal for the following season
- Co-branded promotional content in pre-event outreach
NEXT STEPS:
1) DECIDE how you can best engage with our community across the fall series.
2) CONNECT reach out to: Joan McGloin — joan@naturallychicago.org
WHY PARTNER WITH US
1 CONNECTION
Naturally Chicago connects the most important regional leaders in our industry to exchange ideas, build relationships and explore new business opportunities.
2 ENGAGEMENT
The CPG Growth Series gives sponsors’ organizations the opportunity to engage with CPG founders, investors, buyers and emerging entrepreneurs across three high-impact fall events.
3 COMMUNITY
Three touchpoints for meaningful exposure and lasting community impact across Chicago’s CPG ecosystem.
