Editor's note: The role of Rev1 Ventures has been clarified in this story.
A new partnership could boost Ohio’s food and agriculture industry.
The J.M. Smucker Company is collaborating with Rev1 Ventures, a Columbus-based start-up acceleratorand venture-capital fund, to seek out and promote emerging technologies in the food industry.
Tom Walker is the CEO of Rev1. He hopes the partnership will highlight food innovation in Ohio and draw in early-stage companies to work with Smucker.
“The food and ag-science market has been growing over the past five years, especially if you track the amount of venture capital investment across the country in those sectors. It’s really been on a growth spurt. I think this is an opportunity for Ohio to once again stand above other states and other regions and to be a leader in this industry.”
Walker says Rev1 will search the nation for innovative startups and potentially invest in them, while working with Smucker to develop and grow those companies.
