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Introducing SousZen

See how Xinova partners with PepsiCo and Innit to launch the new Seattle restaurant tech startup, SousZen, that aims to digitize ‘back of house’.

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Innovation Opportunities

Seeking innovative solutions for:

Zymurgy! Zymurgy! Zymurgy!
Oi! Oi! Oi!

Seeking experts and innovators
to join our band!

Apply today!

The punk rock of food processing: fermentation (or Zymurgy, the science of fermentation)! This little darling of pop food culture is responsible for turning out novel foods after millennia producing underground hits like bread, beer, wine, cheese, sauerkraut, kimchi, and tofu.

So, why the big interest in fermentation?

Fermentation is an attractive route to improve the attributes of plant protein ingredients (e.g. nuts, legumes, soy, and other) across multiple metrics, including nutrition, flavor, texture, and others, while maintaining a desirable “clean label” status with consumers. That’s right, fermentation adds complex functional properties to food ingredients while capturing positive consumer perception.

Zymurgy – its an instant classic!

However, there’s art in this science! Not every song is a hit. There is a significant challenge in matching microbial cultures and substrates to achieve the desired functional attributes and attractive flavor and texture.

And, this is where we need you!

We’re forming a new band (or a few bands actually), of scientists, engineers, creatives and product people.

Let’s jam!

Are you an expert in food science and fermentation?
Get paid for your expertise!

Apply now! 

Get paid to innovate in Zymurgy!

The Challenge

Seeking experts, scientists, engineers, creatives and product people to:

  • help review and research the existing literature to provide a technical assessment of current and promising fermentation techniques. Something like a greatest hits album.
  • work in groups to create or combine fermentation processing techniques that lead to new products or functionalized ingredients.
  • ultimately, selected innovators will participate in a virtual Rapid Innovation Session (RIS). This is an 8- week project in which you will work with 3-4 fellow innovators, led by a facilitator, towards finding creative, novel solutions to the problem at hand.

Our product interests are diverse – cheese, beverages, dips, snacks. And the functional properties and benefits we hope to achieve are similarly broad – emulsification, foaming, binding, off-odor control.

The Opportunity

Join the Xinova network now and get paid to innovate in this exciting space!
Participants will earn a total of $5000, paid as milestones are completed over the course of the project.

Requirements

  • Demonstrate sufficient experience in one or more the following topics, through either technical or consultative work:
    • fermentation
    • microbiology
    • food processing
    • food formulations
    • biochemistry
    • food science in general
    • plant-based foods

Note: for this opportunity, preferred candidates should have at least a graduate level education or 5+ years work experience in microbiology, biochemistry, food science, plant-based foods or practical industry experience in fermentation.

Participants can expect to:

  • Contribute 4-6 hours per week, over 8 weeks (with breaks for holiday weeks)
  • Work with your team in real-time (virtually) to identify solutions using a variety of ideation techniques
  • Research independently and with the team to understand the topic, what solutions currently exist, and why they are inadequate
  • Identify the novelty in each of the solutions, especially any potential for patentability
  • Attend virtual meetings with the Xinova customer and the Xinova manager to:
    • share initial solutions and receive feedback to present final solutions for evaluation
    • Prepare a final report for each high-value solution
    • Prepare an initial proposal for proof-of-concept work.

Apply now!

Are you ready to innovate?
Apply now! 

Innovator Application

    Note: Your availability will affect our selection
  • Xinova is building a team of innovators to participate in Zymurgy innovation for plant-based foods. Please highlight sufficient experience in one or more the following topics, through either technical or consultative work: fermentation, microbiology, food processing or formulations, biochemistry, plant-based foods and/or food science in general. Note: for this opportunity, preferred candidates should have at least a graduate level education or 5+ years work experience in microbiology, biochemistry, food science, plant-based foods or practical industry experience in fermentation.
  • If you are unable to upload a resume or CV, please provide a LinkedIn profile link or other resume type link (i.e. personal webpage) in the next section.
    Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, Max. file size: 128 MB.
    • Please provide a link to your LinkedIn profile or other resume type link (i.e. personal webpage). To be considered, you must provide a profile link or upload a resume (above).
    • Xinova send emails announcing new innovation opportunities as well as the occasional newsletter. We do not sell or share your information. If you would like to be alerted to future opportunities please select yes.

    Want to become a Xinova Innovator?
    Sign-up now and be considered for future opportunities!

    1) Create your account

    2) Complete your profile

    3) Make sure to add any areas of expertise you have

    Join now!

    Completing your profile will allow us to identify you for additional food innovation opportunities as they arise.

    Want to learn more about becoming a Xinova Innovator?

    Visit our Innovator page.

     

    Note: Signing up for the network and/or applying will allow you to be considered for opportunities, but does not guarantee acceptance.

    Invent your future with Xinova

    We believe problems are a good thing. Every day, our global network of innovators wakes up believing each problem is an opportunity to find a new solution or application. If that’s you too, we’d love to have you join us!

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