Blueberry Boost Accelerator 2025 Official Rules

ELIGIBILITY

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) Blueberry Boost Accelerator Program is a competition open to any persons who, as of the date of entry, (i) are legal residents of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, (ii) are at least eighteen (18) years of age or older (or the age of majority in their state of residence if greater than eighteen (18), whichever age is older), and (iii) have a promising blueberry product. Eligible participants include startups, Small to Medium Enterprises, or a combination of these. 

Employees of the USHBC and the North American Blueberry Council, their Board Members, and members of the immediate family of any such persons, are not eligible to participate and win through any entity or otherwise. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws,” or by current or past marriage(s), remarriage(s), adoption, co-habitation, or other family extension, and any other persons residing at the same household whether or not related. 

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following criteria for the product being submitted by the applicant or organization: 

• The product is generating revenue. 

• The product is reviewed under USDA oversight. 

• A safe, working prototype of the product must be ready for judges to sample by the final event in Seattle, WA, on October 8-10, 2025, at the National Blueberry Conference. 

• If the product is new or a spin-off from an existing business and the product meets the above criteria, it will also be eligible. 

PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must have an innovative product featuring blueberries as a prominent ingredient. These innovations may include, but are not limited to: 

• Beverages (including alcohol) 

• Snacks 

• Frozen and refrigerated products 

• Ready-to-eat or instant meals 

• Dressings and sauces 

• Confectionaries 

• Personal care products (e.g., hair care, skin care, cosmetics) 

• Supplements (wellness, performance, etc.) 

• Pet products 

A commitment to sourcing and using highbush blueberries (both conventional and organic will be accepted) in the product will be required if the applicant wins one of the prizes. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

An internal selection panel will evaluate applicants based on the following selection criteria: 

• Volume Potential, Relevance and Total Market Potential 

• Unique Value Proposition, Differentiation, and "Secret Sauce,” including the Prominence of Blueberries 

• Marketability, Press Excitement, and Organic PR 

• Fundability and Scale Potential 

• Challenges to Scale 

• Founder/Investor Teams 

Decisions made by the judging panel are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. The composition of the panel may vary, and judges will select up to four (4) companies to participate in the program. 

AWARDS

Applicants will be eligible to compete for the following prizes:

• Grand Prize Winner: $20,000
• Runner-Up: $10,000

PROGRAM TIMELINE

FINAL PITCH EVENT & WINNER SELECTION

At the end of the program, companies in the cohort will appoint a spokesperson from their team to pitch their business and plans to a live audience and panel of industry expert judges during the final in-person pitch event at the USHBC Blueberry Convention in Seattle, WA. Safe product samples will be required for each company as part of judging criteria and expo booth. Each pitch will be followed by a brief Q&A session with the judges. After all pitches are completed, the judges will determine and announce the grand prize winner and runner-up. 

Each cohort company will also operate an expo booth for promotion and networking for the duration of the Blueberry Convention. 

ADDITIONAL TERMS

• Participants must be willing to work with USHBC throughout the accelerator period to refine their product and business strategy. 

• The grand prize and runner-up recipients must provide updates on their progress for at least one year post-program to share the impact of their participation. Progress KPIs include but are not limited to: 

• • Total sales revenue ($) growth post-program 

• • Number of new retailers or distribution channels secured 

• • Increase in units sold (%) 

• • Number of new partnerships or contracts signed 

• • Investment or funding secured ($) post-program (if actively fundraising) 

• USHBC reserves the right to modify or amend the competition rules at any time.