The 4th ANNUAL Real California Milk Excelerator: Open Innovation Final Pitch Event live-streamed on November 2nd at 5 p.m. PT!
Play the Excelerator Recap video at right to learn more about this year's program.
The Real California Milk Excelerator returned for its fourth year with $500,000 worth of prizing and a broadened playing field to support dairy-based product innovation across categories.
dosa by DOSA
Emily Gilels, CEO and Co-Founder
As a young American woman traveling in India, Co-Founder Emily Gilels developed a passion for many homestyle recipes that she enjoyed in people's homes, of which lassi was number one. Lassi is arguably, the oldest and most celebrated yogurt drink in the world at 3,000 years old. It's made simply and naturally using freshly roasted spices and ripe fruit puree. As cows are considered sacred in India, dairy and yogurt, in particular, are deeply treasured products. Yogurt is made at home so it's fresh, creamy, delicious, and rich in nutrients. dosa by DOSA was founded to share this homestyle lassi recipe with the world in uniquely spice-forward flavors, all rich in protein, probiotics, and lactose-free!
Pariva Marinated Yogurt Bites
Manjarrie Saha, Founder
A delicious, spreadable, yogurt snack. Creamy. Savory. Tasty. Healthy. Addictively Yummy! “Pariva” is extracted from a Hindi word that means “Transformation.” It promotes the idea that our past mistakes in behaviors or wellness decisions should not prevent us from thriving as good, healthy, and productive people in the future.
Tres Lecheria
Vincent Berretta and Kevin Moulder, Co-Owners
Tres Lecheria is a bakery business specializing in tres leches cakes by the slice. Available in over 10+ flavors daily at their Seattle flagship store, their tres leches cake slices offer a unique alternative to ice cream and other cold desserts. In addition to operating daily from the Wallingford, Seattle shop, Tres Lecheria has built a wholesale program that currently services 40+ accounts between Washington and Oregon and has recently expanded in Southern California.
Wheyward Spirit
Emily Darchuk, Founder
Wheyward Spirit makes superior tasting "farm-to-flask' spirits from excess artisan whey, with a scalable yet craft approach. It is built on the ethos of doing things differently, for the right reasons. With a vision to have a local impact, scaled to a national brand, making a dent in waste and changing the way people look at spirits with every bottle sold.
Click Here to read our Press Release
Board at Home
Raymond Rumiano, General Manager
Board at Home's product are the values and principles of the artisan cheese community of California. Each collection Board at Home ships is a connection between the artisan and the consumer, developing a long-lasting relationship between California cheeses and dairy and the marketplace.
Goon With The Spoon
Earl Stevens, Owner and Manager
The Goon with the Spoon is owned by platinum recording artist Earl Stevens, AKA E40. Earl is an entertainer, not just with music but also with his growing portfolio of frozen foods and adult beverages. His super-premium ice cream is key to that range of products made with real California milk. Currently offering 6 flavors with big plans to expand the offer to some never before seen combinations in the ice cream set.
Mi Terro
Robert Luo, CEO & Founder
Mi Terro is a venture-backed synthetic biology and advanced material company that engineers biomass waste into compostable biomaterials to end microplastic – this is a first-of-its-kind approach. We are excited to see such a significant leap forward in our ability to manipulate nature’s most diverse and abundant building blocks.
FINALISTS COMMERCIALS





























The California Milk Advisory Board believes in unleashing the power of real dairy through innovation and driving a meaningful impact on dairy farm families, processors, and consumers through the use and consumption of novel dairy products.

We sought for early-stage innovative products made with at least 50% real dairy.
Foods, beverages, snacks, shakes, desserts, personal care items, textiles - this year is all about unleashing the innovation!

Access to world-class Mentorship,
retailers, investors, resources, live final pitch event and more
Have any questions? Reach out to our Innovation Analyst, Ko Kondo, Ko@VentureFuel.net