The May 2015 new ventures demonstrate what is new in entrepreneurship and startup companies. This includes unique and unusual business ideas, new partnerships and success stories.
Following 4/20 at the end of April, many enterprising folks decided to capitalize on the marijuana-fueled holiday celebrating Bob Marley's birthday. This can be seen with specially branded product inspired by the late reggae icon. Rebranding medical marijuana and elegantly designed dispensaries are other tactics beyond simple sales increases at venues like Taco Bell or having an optimally timed charity bake sale.
In the food industry, hybrid items that are both savory and sweet are immensely popular. It makes sense that this would now carry over to mashup restaurants and combination cafes that incorporate recording studios, barber shops and a love of cats.
To make things more streamlined for entrepreneurs, May 2015 new ventures ideas also reflect an influx of tools and platforms.
Top 35 New Ventures Ideas in May
From Cannabis Merchandising Firms to Artisan Yogurt Boutiques:
Alyson Wyers — May 30, 2015 — Business
35
Metropolitan Cat Cafes
The Recently Opened Meow Parlour is the First NYC Cat Cafe
34
Scholarly Boutique Gyms
The Library Gym is Transforming Training into an Upscale Activity
33
Garage-Grown Produce
Vertical Fresh Farms is an Urban Farming Initiative in Buffalo
32
Financial Startup Stats
This Venture Capital Infographic Asks If You Have Enough Money to Begin
31
Hybrid Barbershop Cafes
Hurwundeki in London Serves Homemade Food and Affordable Haircuts
30
Mobile Womenswear Boutiques
Fierce Finds Applies the Food Truck Model to Women's Clothing
29
Mobile Florist Services
The Uprooted Flower Truck is a Full-Service Florist on Wheels
28
Elegant Cannabis Dispensaries
This Albuquerque Dispensary Puts a New Spin on Pot Branding
27
Branded Shipping Boxes
Pakible Offers E-Commerce Solutions for Custom Packaging
26
Recording Studio Cafes
The Songbyrd Record Cafe in Washington Has a Recording Booth
25
Cannabis Merchandising Firms
The High Road Design Studio is Aiming to Rebrand Medical Marijuana
24
Artisan Yogurt Boutiques
The Yogurt Culture Company is a Specialty Shop Located in NYC
23
E-Commerce Equity Crowdfunding Sites
Alibaba Competitor JD.com Launched a Crowdfunding Platform
22
Jewelry Printing Platforms
Trove Facilitates Custom Jewelry Creation In-Browser
21
Gourmet Mayo Shops
The Brooklyn Empire Mayonnaise Store is Definitely Niche
20
Diet-Friendly Meal Plans
Blue Apron's Meal Plans Include Those with Dietary Restrictions
19
Native App-Building Tools
The Fuse App Development Platform Will Focus on the Designers' Process
18
Restaurant Crowdfunding Sites
The Equity Crowdfunding Platform Turns Customers Into Investors
17
Musician-Branded Cannabis
Marley Natural Fine Cannabis is a Marijuana Startup with Major Backing
16
Rentable Hamster Ball Games
The Criss Cross Collision Course Game Promises Laughs and Splashes
15
Warm Canned Coffee
HOTSHOT is a System of Portable Heated Java in Aluminum Cans
14
Underground Parcel Deliveries
This UK Company Wants to Deliver Parcels Using Automated Tunnels
13
Effortless Reservation Services
Zomato's 'Book' Improves Restaurant Table Reservation Services
12
SMS-Based Virtual Assistants
GoButler is an App Claiming to Help Users with Anything Legal
11
Social Acquisition Tools
Needls Helps Small Businesses Generate Leads with Social Media
10
Mobile Travel Journal Apps
The Start-Up Polarsteps is Revolutionizing the Way We Track our Travels
9
E-Retailer Travel Sites
Amazon Destinations is the Latest Project from the Online Marketplace
8
Bluetooth Networking Apps
Surf Labs' LiNK App Uses Beacon Technology for Networking
7
Drone Hiring Platforms
DroneBase Lets Commercial Clients Hire a Drone and Experienced Pilot
6
Collaborative Microblogging Features
The Tumblr App Lets Users Purchase, Pledge and Get Involved
5
Co-Worker Carpooling Apps
The Ride App Aims to Increase Ease of Commuting and Carpooling
4
Hybrid Streaming Services
Freecast's Rabbit TV Combines Free and Paid Video Content
3
Retirement Plan-Enabling Platforms
Honest Dollar Makes Offering Retirement Packages Easier
2
Listenable Concert Listings
'Show Gopher' Allows Users to Stream Samples Before Making a Purchase
1
Hybrid Ridesharing Services
HitchPlanet Combines Carpooling and Hitchhiking
Related Ideas
Matcha-Mayo Condiments
Heinz x PerfectTed Matcha Mayo Unites Two Favorite Products
4/20 Marketing Campaigns
Fat Tuesday and Still G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop Limited Offer
Cannabis Streetwear Collaborations
Ksubi and Cannabis Brand STAYME7O Dropped Its 4/20 Capsule
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
Trend-Aligned Menu Launches
Jamba's New Summer Bundles are Inspired by Gen Z and Millenial Trends
Fan-Created Menu Items
Creative Customer Orders Inspired the Taco Bell Fan Style Menu
Entertainment-Driven Distilleries
Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw create immersive brewery venues
Summer-Ready Pizzeria Menus
The Latest Mellow Mushroom Menu Update Boasts New Food and Drinks
Layered Coffee Beverages
Peet’s Coffee Introduces Layered Coffee Beverages
Springtime Cafe-Inspired Coffee Products
Starbucks Spring Grocery Range Embraces Lighter Flavors
Juicy Cannabis Seltzers
Not Beer Vibed Features Real Fruit Juice, THC and CBD
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Beaded Beverage Carriers
Six Specialty Drinks are Coming to McDonald's This Spring
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
Fiesta-Focused Food Campaigns
Ortega® Extends Cinco de Mayo Celebrations with Seis de Mayo
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
THC-Infused Beverage Lines
Gigli Has Emerged as a Disruptive Force in the Cannabis Beverage Market
Floral Ice Cream Collections
The May Flowers Series by Salt & Straw Takes Cues from Blooms
Marathon Running Brand Pop-Ups
Bandit Running is Launching Its Boston Marathon Pop-Up
Tea Experience Bars
HeyTea's Teabar Expands Tea into Desserts, Tastings, and Social Experiences
Fashion-Inspired Coffee Events
Starbucks Partnered with NYFW2026 and Hosted a Coffeehouse Rave
Smoky Seafood Boxes
Fishwife and Edie Parker Dropped a Smoky, Savory 4/20 Bundle
Innovative Snack Launches
Utz Brands, Inc. Unveils a Variety of Products at the 2025 NACS Show
Comprehensive Easter-Inspired Collaborations
Peeps' 2026 Spring Collaboration Lineup is Impressive
Floral-Inspired Spring Menus
Peet's Coffee Revealed Its Limited-Time 2026 Spring Menu
Experiential Student Activations
Just Eat's Hey U Up Campaign Coincides with Freshers’ Week
Experiential Fast Food Collaborations
Popeyes Turned Chicken Tenders Into a Music Venue Experience
THC-Infused RTD Launch Events
TeaPot Hosted a New Beverages Launch Event in Toronto on 4/20
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Co-Branded Cannabis Cookies
Gelato Canna x Fat & Weird Cookies are Launching THC-Infused Cookies
Girl Dinner Experiences
Waverly Kitchen + Bar Curates Shareable Comfort Food Plates
Sports Branding-Inspired Cannabis Products
Sluggers Embraces Sports Fandom and Collecting
Veggie-Infused Snack Products
These New Happy Orchard Products from Rich's are Functional
Mobile Beauty Retail Activations
Cardi B Debuts Beauty Truck for Her Haircare Brand
Casual Cannabis-Infused Beverage Campaigns
Triple Debuts Its Laid-Back 'Turfing' Campaign
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
CPG-Focused Innovation Launchpads
Albertsons Companies is Running Its Innovation Launchpad
Branded Retro-Inspired Wellness Houses
Lifeway Foods is Hosting a Special Pop-Up in Palm Springs
Munchies-Themed Donut Boxes
Voodoo Doughnut is Serving Up a New 'Blunt Box' for 4/20
Fast-Casual Salad Concepts
Mandy's Salads Unveiled its 2026 Summer Menu and Seed-Oil-Free Approach
Beer Brand Artist Refreshes
Terrapin Beer Co. Refreshes Packaging With Artist Collaborations
Mayo-Inspired Art Gallery Pop-Ups
Hellmann's Mayonnaise Collaborates with Kareem Rahma
Social-Friendly Cannabis Refreshments
Fizzy Jane’s and Happy Flowers Introduced Higher THC Options
Hemp-Derived THC Products
Wana Brands Introduces THC Edibles and Beverages in Georgia
Restaurant-to-Retail Expansions
Little Sesame Secured $8.5M to Scale Its Manufacturing Operations
Warm Weather-Taco Menus
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Has a New Viva Los Tacos Menu for Late Spring
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Edgy Holiday Beverage Campaigns
Dutch Bros Coffee Debuts Its New Beverages for the Holiday Period
New Year-Motivated Health Promotions
Health-E Commerce Launches the New Year, New You Campaign
Basketball Film-Inspired Pizza Campaigns
Pizza Hut Debuts Space Jam-Inspired Menu Bundle & Recipes
Spring-Themed Pastel Drinkware
Starbucks Launches Vibrant Drinkware for Spring
Bread-Branded Single-Serve Pastries
These New Wonder Bakery Snacks Come in Three Varieties
Mediterranean Street Food Expansion
Nick the Greek grows demand for authentic fast-casual gyros
Plant-Based Dessert Expansions
Over the Moo Emphasizes Indulgence & Health-Conscious Recipes
Crafted Fast Food Beverages
McDonald’s Expands into Refreshers, Dirty Sodas and Energy Drinks
Limited-Edition Designer-Forward Collaborations
Black Market Debuts the Highly Anticipated Capsule
Low-Dose Cannabis Beverages
Wynk THC-Infused Seltzers Come in New 2.5mg and 5mg THC Options
Cinematic Sci-Fi QSR Meals
The Burger King Star Wars Menu Features Food and Merch
Mainstream THC Beverages
Target Expands Hemp-Derived THC Drinks Beyond Specialty Retail
Interactive Artisan Coffee Campaigns
The Illy Summer Campaign Will Immerse Consumers
Jalapeño-Infused QSR Dishes
These New Wendy’s Jalapeño Menu Items are Here for the Spring
Idea Repository Books
Business Ideas Database Curates Proven Business Opportunities At Scale
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
Italian-Inspired Home Collections
Carbone Fine Food x Houseplant Blends Food, Ceramics, and THC
Dairy-Focused Startup Accelerator Programs
California Milk Advisory Board & VentureFuel Partner
Beauty Entrepreneurship Incubators
Estée Lauder Companies Expanded Its India Innovation Initiative
Celebrity Wellness Brand Expansions
Bob Marley's Estate Expanded into Natural Health Markets
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Reimagined Creative Campaigns
Marc Jacobs Dropped its '26 Summer Campaign and New Visual Identity
Retro Dessert Menu Offerings
Bakery79 Launches The Summer of 79 Menu
Music Festival-Themed Cannabis Drinks
Woodstock Goods is Launching Hemp-Derived Drinks
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Startup Idea Newsletters
Easy Startup Ideas Delivers Business Roadmaps For Aspiring Founders
Convenience-Focused Summer Salads
Gardencup Boasts New Offerings for the Summer
New Year Menu Debuts
CAVA Restaurants Announced a New Menu Overhaul to Kick-Off 2026
Artisan-Style Foodservice Breakfasts
Michael Foods Announced New Breakfast Items for Spring
Carrier Pigeon Campaigns
The Travel Agency's Viral Project Pigeon Spiked Social Media Engagement
Cannabis Wedding Initiatives
Ivy Hall Hosts the 'Weed Love to Marry You' Initiative
All-Hours Micro Markets
Healthy Smart Mart is Enticing Entrepreneurs with Its New Model
Pride-Inspired Cannabis Campaigns
Mfused Launches the Celebratory High on Pride Campaign
Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer Partnerships
Momentum Brewery Partners with Liquid Opportunities
Cannabis Visibility Studies
5W Public Relations Releases the Cannabis AI Visibility Index 2026
Sports-Inspired Beverage Collaborations
Kung Fu Tea and Red Bull Launch Soccer-Themed Bubble Tea
Boutique Grocery Designs
The Meadow Lane Store Introduces a Refined Retail Concept in Tribeca
Monthly Donut Menu Updates
The Parlor Doughnuts Rotating Menu Will Offer More Flavor
Human-Centered Marketplace Campaigns
Etsy's Shop Other Jeffs Celebrates Independent Sellers
Community-Centered Bakery Cafés
Paris Baguette expands through neighborhood café experiences
Rum-Powered Hat Collaborations
The Von Dutch x Sailor Jerry Collaboration is Eye-Catching
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
Bi-Coastal Cannabis Competitions
MJBizCon & Budist Launch the MJBowl — a First-Of-Its Kind Event
Balancing New Year Campaigns
Recess' You Don’t Need A New You Challenges Tired January Marketing
Plant-Based Recipe Kit Meals
GRUBBY and Bosh Partnered to Help Consumers Celebrate Veganuary
Potent Cannabis Portfolio Expansions
Aurora Cannabis Announces New Cannabis Product Launches
Joint Holiday Pizza Promotions
Stoner's Pizza Joint is Marking National Pizza Day and V-Day
Tax-Focused Marketing Campaigns
Intuit Debuts the Second Iteration of 'Now This is Taxes'
Mid-Strength Marketing Pushes
6Percent, Small Beer And Quarter Proof Launch Mid-Strength March
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Festival-Themed Retail Snack Campaigns
Kellanova Announced Flavour Fest ’25 in the UK
Mindful Cold Brew Rebrands
Here&Now Repositioned Its Cold Brew as an Antidote to Burnout
Discovery-Driven Beverage Programs
Dog Haus Expands Drinks Into a Menu Exploration Platform
Online Dropshipping Seller-Focused Initiatives
Doba Announces Mid-Year Growth Carnival
Expansive UK-Based QSR Menus
McDonald’s UK Unveils a Summer Menu with New Customizations
Indulgent Springtime Cafe Menus
Scooter's Coffee ‘Licious Lineup is Arriving Soon
Nourishing Personality-Packed Combos
The New Summer Jamba Bundles Tap into Popular Personas
Foodservice Product Showcases
McLane Company is Unveiling New Products at the 2025 NACS Show
QSR Bagel Catering Menus
B. Bagel Launches Mini Bagel Platters and New Breakfast Dishes
THC Beverage Insurance Programs
Frontier Risk Offers an Innovative Insurance Program for Venues
Nourishing Community-Focused Initiatives
Fresh Thyme Market Expands Efforts During the Holidays
Cost-Effective Confectionery Items
World of Sweets Highlights Key Easter Trends Amid Rising Costs
Nostalgic Dessert Mashups
Wendy’s Combines Cookie Dough and Brownie Batter in Frosty Treats
Curated Pet Subscriptions
Genius Dog's Limited Monthly Boxes Create Moments Between People & Pets
Community-Driven Loyalty Programs
Salad House Turned Guest Spending Into Local Donations
Philanthropic Point-Of-Sale Initiatives
Dutchie Launches 'Round Up the Change' for Cannabis Retail
Controlled Cannabis Experiences
Go Brands expands its light cannabis portfolio
Branded Cannabis Store Expansions
The Trulieve Cannabis Corporation Establishes a New Location
Tastemaker-Starring Father's Day Campaigns
Psycho Bunny Launches 'This Is Generational Wealth'
Conciliatory Cannabis Promotions
JARS Cannabis Supports Spirit Airlines Customers & Employees
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
Founder Marketing Resources
Better Marketing Blog Shares Practical Playbooks For Founders
Adventurous Summertime Retailer Promotions
The Maverik Summer Deals Prioritize Cost Savings
Seasonal QSR Menu Options
bellagreen Launches its New Spring Seasonal Menu Across Texas
Strain-Specific Cannabis Gummies
Squier’s Specialty Elixirs Launched a Range of Real Fruit Gummies
Startup Deal Platforms
Discover Hidden Startup Gems With Micro Deals This Black Friday
Herb-Forward Spring Toasts
Tender Greens Launches its Exclusive 'Garden Toast'
Boutique Grocery Makeovers
This Women’s Clothing Boutique is Charming and Thoughtful Design
Hyper-Local Guided Culinary Experiences
Tasty Tours Toronto Debuts New Guided Experiences
Inflight Dining Menus
Jetblue Mint Tapped Kent Hospitality Group and More for Its Onboard Menus
Breakfast-Themed Donut Ranges
The Voodoo Doughnut Breakfast Club Series is Playful
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Cannabis Art Ventures
Snoop Dogg Presented the 'Rich N Infamous: the Joint Venture' Art Launch
Digital Sharing Platforms
Venture Vault Enables Innovators to Share Ideas and Collaborate
CPG-Focused Service-For-Equity Models
Crave Ventures Has Formally Commenced Operations
Celebration-Themed Donut Ranges
These New Parlor Doughnuts Treats are Arriving for Spring
Streaming-Inspired Toy Lines
Moose Toys Expands Netflix Stories Into Toy Collections
Plant-Based Wellness Digital Storefronts
The Sisters of the Valley Debuts a New Digital Storefront
High-Profile Festive Marketplace
Naturally New York Launches the Second Annual Holiday Bazaar
Product Discovery Maker Communities
JustGotFound Helps Independent Products Reach New Audiences
Branded Joint-Rolling Competitions
The Hefestus x Joint Wars Event Kicked Off MJBizCon Week
Celebratory Artisanal Pizzas
The California Pizza Kitchen National Pizza Month Promotion is Tasty