Panacheeza is the Rochester food startup founded by Janessa Steenberg, whose Italian-Maltese family heritage and years cooking alongside her grandmother Rita shaped its approach. After adopting a plant-based diet, Steenberg created a dairy-free Parmesan-style cheese to bring the flavors of her family’s traditional Italian dishes to people seeking plant-based food. The company grew from RIT’s Venture Creations Ignite program into a marketplace brand.
Pleese FoodsPleese Foods is a family business founded by New Yorkers Kobi and Abev Regev after they went plant-based in 2014 and missed the character of a proper New York pizza. The company makes vegan cheese for people avoiding dairy or common allergens, with a focus on giving children and adults a more familiar pizza experience.
RIND by Dina & JoshuaFounded in Brooklyn in 2017 by Dina DiCenso and Joshua Katcher, RIND makes soft-ripened, French-style vegan cheeses using plant-based ingredients, cultures, and old-world cheesemaking methods. The company is home to North America’s first authentic vegan cheese cave and was the first vegan cheese featured in Whole Foods Market’s fine cheese case. RIND’s award-winning cheeses are made by a vegan-owned and operated team and include cave-aged wheels alongside spreads and vegetable-based slices.BROOKLYN, NY
Uncle Nick'sNicholas Rytting, a New York City hospitality veteran with experience in a Michelin-starred kitchen, created Uncle Nick’s after struggling to find a cauliflower crust worth serving to his large extended family. The company makes plant-based pizza crusts for people who want dietary-friendly food that still feels at home at the dinner table.CALVERTON, NY
Treeline CheeseFounded in 2011 in a Hudson Valley kitchen, Treeline Cheese makes artisanal vegan cheeses, sour cream, and dips from cultured cashews and probiotics. The company still makes its products in its own dedicated 100% dairy-free facility, using traditional culturing techniques and simple ingredients rather than outsourcing production. Founder Michael Schwarz’s commitment to veganism, animal rights, and independent ownership remains central to the brand.KINGSTON, NY