WeWork Labs is launching WeWork Food Labs, an innovation lab that will be focused on powering future food, this year with programming starting this spring and a flagship space opening in late 2019 in New York City.
WeWork Labs currently operates in 49 locations including 32 cities and 15 countries and serves over 1,000 startups around the world. WeWork is known worldwide as a leader in the cowork space and opening a cowork location in Tampa soon.
WeWork Food Labs will support growing startups by bringing together entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors in the same space with a focus on food. WeWork is seeding $1 million in equity investments to its first Food Labs accelerator cohort as a display of its commitment to this sphere.
The flagship space will be in New York City at 511 West 25th Street and open later this year. It will feature a custom R&D space and food pantry with dedicated workspace, merchandising area, outdoor space for events, and more.
Two programming tracks be available at WeWork Food Labs. The Food Labs Program will be an inclusive, flexible, workspace for startups across in the food industry and be available with a paid membership. The Food Labs Accelerator will follow a traditional accelerator model and be a direct arm for investments in early stage food startups.
Community will be a major focus of WeWork Food Labs as is the case with most cowork spaces with a goal of bringing together startups, policy makers, university partners, venture capitalists, and more to help startups bring their ideas to life.
Univos Partners and their VC fund New Crop Capital will join the space with their portfolio companies and review startups for potential investments in sustainable and plant-based solutions.
An advisory board will consist of leaders, innovators, and educators throughout the food realm including CHLOE founder Samantha Wasser and food scholar Marion Nestle of Food Politics and professor at New York University.
Marion Nestle shares, “From malnutrition to food safety to labeling, the food industry today is facing major challenges. With WeWork Food Labs, there’s an opportunity to propel the entrepreneurs that are building solutions. I’m excited to support WeWork Labs on their WeWork Food Labs initiative and look forward to seeing how we can create real impact.”
Applications are currently being accepted for startups to join the first WeWork Food Labs cohort in New York City. Those interested can find out more at http://www.wework.com/food-labs
Carlos Eats 