Finnegans Brew Co.’s Finnovation Lab, a hub that supports impact-driven consumer-packaged goods startups, has hired a new leader to help its fractional program, which connects startup founders with industry veterans.
Fractional executives are sort of the gig workers of the C-suite — industry veterans who lend their expertise to businesses in need of specialized leadership. Jennifer Barta is taking over as fractional CEO, meaning she will act as a mentor for Finnovation Lab’s entrepreneurs and will help implement programming for other fractionals that join the program.
Finnovation Lab announced its efforts to connect fractionals with entrepreneurs in August after it inked a deal with Voyageur U, a Minneapolis-based organization that educates people on how to become fractional executives and helps connect them to opportunities.
Barta joins the lab with more than 30 years of experience in consumer products, including directing and managing at industry giants General Mills Inc. and Land O’ Lakes Inc.
She’s also been engaged in the startup and accelerator community. She has served as a mentor for University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business food and agriculture startup hub Naturally Minnesota (formerly Grow North) and as a judge in Minnesota Cup’s food/agriculture/beverage division.
She signed on in September.
"Stepping into this role has been exciting and rewarding," Barta said in a recent announcement. "I enjoy serving as a guide to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs who have ideas that have real potential to create change.”
Barta is joining Connie Rutledge, executive director of Finnovation Institute since 2019. The Institute, which is a nonprofit, works alongside the Finnovation Lab to provide entrepreneurial education to support early-stage social entrepreneurs.
“Finnovation Lab is doing impactful and important work, and my sleeves are rolled all the way up as we connect our members with resources and services to help them in their growth journey,” Barta said in the announcement.
