milk + honey

milk + honey was founded in 2006 by Alissa Bayer, who had the vision of creating a modern-day spa in the heart of Austin that was committed to an exceptional spa experience, hyperclean ingredients, and giving back to the community. She saw that Austin lacked an urban day spa, and was inspired to found a brand focused on helping people to feel great while also taking great care of her team. Alissa bootstrapped milk + honey, cobbling together funding for the initial spa from home equity and loans from both family and friends. Over the past 13 years and hundreds of thousands of massages, facials, and nail treatments later milk + honey has grown organically by adhering to principles of putting its employees first, using non-toxic products in its services to ensure the safety of its clients and employees, and giving back to local community-driven organizations.

Meals on Wheels Central Texas

Meals on Wheels Central Texas provides life-sustaining assistance to the folks who helped make the ATX what it is today! Many of the home bound older adults have lived in Austin their entire lives. They worked hard as teachers, police officers, carpenters, or in the military. For a fraction of the cost of assisted living, MOWCTX services keep folks living where they want to be - in their own home. The organization's dedicated and caring volunteers deliver hot meals, warm smiles, and safety checks to home bound clients as part of our signature Meals on Wheels program. Their Home Repair and In-Home Care programs make clients' homes a safer place for them to live. MOWCTX also has a Connecting Seniors with Technology program that helps clients bridge the digital divide - and the PALS (Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors) program provides free pet food and basic vet care for our clients' pets.

Briggo Coffee

Briggo is extremely passionate about coffee and we respect its importance to people. Briggo is a part of a world community that celebrates all that coffee is; just like the thousands of growers, roasters and baristas striving for perfection. The company has an amazing Austin-based team of mechanical and software engineers, electrical engineers, service technicians and go-to-market professionals who are poised to transform the global coffee industry. Briggo works together by combining the best specialty ingredients with modern mobile technology, cloud computing and robotics to reduce waste and inefficiencies and produce the ultimate coffee experience. The results speak for themselves as Briggo has just been named to Fast Company's list of the world's most innovative companies and they are set to install a second Briggo Coffee Haus in Austin and two new Hauses in San Francisco Airport this summer.

Boomerang's Foods, Inc.

Boomerang's Foods was started by two UT Austin grad entrepreneurs, Jack Fennel and Lance McInnes, working to realize their vision to share a much loved Australian food staple, boomerang pies, with the U.S. The savory meat pie is the Australian equivalent of the hamburger in the U.S., enjoyed as a cultural staple for its taste and convenience. With the success of local store fronts, Jack and Lance knew it was time to pursue their dream of sharing the Aussie pie with the rest of the U.S., and focused on national grocery distribution. Initially working directly with Whole Foods Lamar in downtown Austin, they launched Boomerang's in the frozen aisle. Today Boomerang's Foods are sold in Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, Randall's, Publix, HEB and other retailers. The company has also been involved with Meals on Wheels Central Texas for years, sponsoring the annual golf tournament and volunteering for meal delivery throughout the year.

Nulo Pet Food, Inc.

Nulo knows that Austin is a special place where all people and all dogs are welcome and any business that understands both of those ideals is going to thrive here. Named by Forbes Magazine to its list of the Top 25 Most Innovative U.S. Consumer Brands, Nulo is a super-premium pet food. The company manufacturers industry-leading high-meat, low-carb, low-glycemic food products for dogs and cats that is grain free to help reduce exposure to common allergens making it ideal for pets with sensitivities. Nulo also provides blankets at Blues on the Green and passing treats out to dogs, starting the first ever Canine Club with UT Athletics, walking in the Austin Pride Parade or simply ensuring Nulo water bowls are scattered at local coffee shops and breweries, Nulo is naturally integrated into every part of Austin. A fast-growing company in a beautiful new office space where dogs come to work every day and happy hours are a regularity, Nulo is authentically integrated in nearly every aspect of Austin culture.

COCINA 54

COCINA 54 has been in Austin for more than 20 years making empanadas that are convenient yet gluten-free, made from scratch with fresh vegetables and antibiotic-free beef. The company, founded by two Argentinians, is focused on bringing the best savory empanadas to the US market. The empanadas are made from scratch, baked, convenient, gluten-free, and sold in more than 250 HEB stores, Central Market, Amazon and Farmhouse Delivery. Last March, COCINA 54 was selected by Chobani to be part of their 2019 Incubator. This opportunity has brought incredible growth for the company and this fall they are expanding distribution into key retailers on the East coast including Wegmans.