Start-up by LBS alumna awarded major PepsiCo grant

Irina Turcan’s Erbology recognised by Nutrition Greenhouse incubator programme

 

A start-up co-founded by London Business School alumna Irina Turcan has been recognised for its growth potential with a €100,000 grant (£88,534.19).

The major funding was awarded as part of PepsiCo’s Nutrition Greenhouse incubator programme and adds to a €25,000 grant awarded to the business at the outset of the six-month initiative.

Founded in 2015 in London by Irina and her brother Victor Turcan, Erbology produces a range of organic wholefoods, including energy balls, shots and crackers. It was one of eight nutrition food and drink companies selected to take part in PepsiCo’s inaugural Nutrition Greenhouse programme, an initiative that gave Erbology access to the expertise of PepsiCo employees.

During the course of the programme, Erbology experienced growth of more than 400% and launched 11 new products.

The €100,000 grant was awarded to Erbology for its standout sustainable and scalable growth and followed an extensive review by a nine-member selection committee.

Programme leader Juan Ignacio Amat, Vice President Nutrition for PepsiCo Western Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, congratulated Erbology’s founders on their success.

“Their enthusiasm, drive and collaboration during the Nutrition Greenhouse programme have been exceptional and that shows in the results they have achieved,” he said.

Irina, a 2010 graduate of the LBS Masters in Management programme, said it was an honour to receive the grant.

“We’ve achieved a great deal in the last six months working with our PepsiCo mentor to best utilise our initial €25,000 grant and the injection of a further €100,000 into our business is going to make a huge difference as we focus on accelerated growth in retail and e-commerce,” she said.

“Thanks to everyone involved in this programme – it’s been a fantastic experience that’s really helped us understand how to focus hard on what is right for our brand and then to execute that activity flawlessly.”

Lee Chung, PepsiCo West Europe Marketing Director for Premium Products, mentored Erbology and expressed her delight at being part of the Nutrition Greenhouse programme.

“It’s been so incredibly rewarding to work alongside an exceptional talent like Irina and help a fast-paced start-up grow so rapidly. The experience has really challenged my way of thinking and broadened my horizons. Seeing what Erbology has achieved within the Nutrition Greenhouse window of just a few months has been really inspiring,” she said.