TRACY, CALIF. — The California Milk Advisory Board, in partnership with VentureFuel, named eight startups to participate in the sixth Real California Milk Excelerator.

This year’s competition focuses on health and wellness, with innovating products that aim to improve digestion, boost cognitive function, provide balanced nutrition, support hydration, and deliver sustainable and convenient solutions.

The following companies were selected for this year’s cohort:

• Smearcase: A brand turning cottage cheese into an ice cream-like product formulated with collagen. 

• Stellify/Insymmetry LLC: A low-calorie, functional, dairy-based energy and wellness shot formulated with reduced-fat lactose-free milk. The product features natural caffeine from coffee cherry, theobromine and L-theanine.

• Drink Todo: A high protein, high fiber breakfast smoothie featuring 25 grams of milk protein, 6 grams of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.

• Voyager Milk: A USDA organic whole milk formulated for toddlers in a stick-pack format.

• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.: Curd Cup is a 6-oz, single-serve cottage cheese cup with global savory flavors.

• Pluff: A high-protein dessert formulated from Greek yogurt, heavy cream, cottage cheese and whey protein that is blended and whipped together.

• Projo: An instant coffee blend of organic Arabica coffee, marine collagen, organic coffee fruit extract, digestive enzymes and whole milk.

• TruJoy Yogurt: An elevated frozen Greek yogurt formulated with natural ingredients, including protein and probiotics.

The program will offer a three-month CMAB/VentureFuel Mentorship Program in addition to a value of up to $500,000 in prize and program value, CMAB said.

Competing companies also will have access to mentorship from founders, investors, corporate executives and experts in design, marketing, sales, manufacturing distribution, farming and processing.

The program will conclude on Nov. 14 at the “Future of Dairy Expo,” where cohorts will showcase their products to attendees and listen to experts on trends and insights. During the Excelerator Final Pitch Event, a winner will be chosen for the $500,000 prize.

“The Real California Milk Excelerator continues to push the boundaries of dairy innovation, and this year’s focus on health and wellness is particularly exciting,” said John Talbot, chief executive officer of California Milk Advisory Board. “We are committed to supporting these startups as they develop and bring their health-focused innovations to market.”

This year, the program has added an incubator for seven early-stage, student-led dairy innovations.

Those companies include: Mighty Moo, Sauce Plus and BuffMoo in affiliation with Fresno State University; Joelato and Moove Hydration in affiliation with Cal Poly San Luis Obsipo; Sol in affiliation with Chapman University; and Yo’s Froyo Bites.