Over the past 40 years, Austin has evolved from a quirky natural-foods haven into a bona fide Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) launchpad. Early wins like Sweet Leaf Tea’s sale to Nestlé Waters signaled what was possible, while the 2011 debut of SKU, America’s first CPG accelerator, gave founders structure and mentorship for scale.

Today, the flywheel is spinning fast: purpose-driven labels are landing headline exits, and fresh capital is pouring in.

This panel unpacks Austin’s CPG arc, exploring how mission, money, and technology have converged, and then looks ahead to what’s next: regenerative sourcing and functional beverages.

Attendees will leave with a historical lens, a snapshot of the current deal table, and a playbook for building or backing the region’s next household name.