Winnow’s Post

🌟 Earlier this week Food ingredients Europe crowned the winners of the Startup Challenge, and we are delighted to see two EIT Food Accelerator Network alumni, Fabumin and Yeastime S.r.l., amongst the winners. The Fi Europe Startup Challenge is a unique competition for innovative startups offering ingredients, products, services, or digital solutions for the food and drink industry. It takes place during Fi Europe, one of the world’s largest ingredient trade shows, where 1,500 exhibiting companies and over 25,000 industry stakeholders gather each year. A total of 20 startups across four categories took part in the 2024 Startup Innovation Challenge, pitching before judges on Monday 18 November and then in front of the Food ingredients Europe audience at the Innovation Hub on 19 November. 👏 Huge congratulations to all the trailblazers leading the way in innovation, disruptive technology and ground-breaking solutions that will drive the industry forward. Here are the five Startup Challenge winners: 🥇Most Innovative Plant-based or Alternative Ingredient: Fabumin  🥇Most Innovative Foodtech Solution: Yeastime S.r.l.  🥇Most Innovative Food or Beverage Ingredient: Perfat Technologies  🥇Most Innovative Service or Digital Solution Supporting the F&B Industry: Natural Trace 🥇Most Innovative Sustainable Solution: Akoua Juice "It is a great privilege to be among such great ideas and inventors. When I saw their pitches today [at the Startup Challenge award ceremony], I was overwhelmed by the creativity, the desire and the ability to change the world. To be considered as one of them is quite amazing.” Adi Yehezkeli, CEO and Co-founder of Fabumin  “Receiving such an award from such an international environment and international event means a lot. Food Ingredient Europe is amazing: lots of companies from small to big in one space. I really recommend taking part in the Startup Challenge." Pierfrancesco Mazzolini CEO and Co-founder of Yeastime S.r.l. This prestigious award highlights the startups' commitment to revolutionising the food and biotech industries with leading technologies driving efficiency and sustainability. #foodsystemtransformation #startupacceleration #agrifoodtechinnovation #fieurope #foodingredients 

🥇What are the top AgriFoodTech deals? 💰 Investments have bounced back in Q1 2024, and we can see that this has been driven by a couple of mega deals: more than $1B went to these two startups, Picnic Technologies and Wonder. Are megadeals making a comeback in FoodTech? 🍦 Also, it is surprising to see the number of CPG brands in this top 10: Bloom Nutrition, TRUFF, and Liquid Death. That's only three, but normally brands don't make it to a "foodtech top deal" ranking as they tend to raise smaller amounts of money. In our analysis, we are only seeing the first wave of a much larger movement as we observe many exciting brands emerging (mostly in the US and in Europe). 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 Finally, another striking point is that 9 of these top 10 deals are located in the US and in Germany. It will be interesting to see how this evolves over the rest of the year. 🙋♂️ What would be your favourite startup among this top 10? Mine definitely is Oishii! #FoodTech #AgTech #investments

🏆 Know an AgriFoodTech company that stands out? Nominate them for the 2024 FoodTech 500 and help spotlight their innovation: https://lnkd.in/dj23FdzP The FoodTech 500 is more than just a list. Being listed in the FoodTech 500 means the company is recognized as a leader in the AgriFoodTech industry. The FoodTech 500 stands out for: 🏆 Reputation and Trust: The go-to ranking for AgriFoodTech excellence. 📊 Industry Benchmark: Our rankings set the standard for innovators driving industry change. 🌏 Global Impact: We celebrate and showcase pioneers and changemakers, reaching a wide audience across the world. Learn more about FoodTech 500: https://lnkd.in/eMP64QU PS: If you're a startup or scaleup founder, apply directly here: https://lnkd.in/euuZHgFe #ForwardFooding #FoodTech500

This is why you should consider FoodTech for your startup investments In an era overwhelmingly dominated by giants in the food and beverage sector, what makes startups stand out? Innovation is an obvious answer, but I'd also argue that connecting with the consumer on a personal level is an even greater factor. Take these examples: Butternut Box - built a £500m+ business by making personalised fresh dog food YFood - built a €400m+ ready-to-drink business for busy lifestyles Vivera - built a €300m+ business by offering plant-based alternatives to flexitarians The power of these emerging companies lies in their agility, direct consumer connection, and commitment to sustainability. They are shaping growth but also setting new standards for the industry. And they drove blockbuster exits for investors. #ConsumerTrends #FoodAndBeverage #Sustainability #FoodTech

Digital deposit-free reuse system: Refresh the Future

🤔 This year's FoodTech 500 is bigger than ever! We are now accepting applications for the 2024 FoodTech 500. And we're making this edition the biggest one yet! Still thinking, "What's in it for you/your company?" Here are just some of the benefits you can enjoy when you become a finalist: 🔸 Ecosystem Enabler: We’re enabling more opportunities for companies to address specific challenges by creating meaningful connections, strategic partnerships, and gaining access to our partner’s programs (e.g., hubs, incubators, accelerators, competitions, etc.). 🔸‘Industry Honorable Mentions’: To recognize AgriFoodTech’s best and brightest and their outstanding contributions and innovations, we’re launching the ‘Industry Honorable Mentions’ in various verticals, involving a selection of key Industry Players as part of the judging panel. 🔸Global Exposure: Leveraging media partners and regional hubs, startups that make the FoodTech 500 will receive significant exposure through various channels, including press releases, blog articles, and dedicated social media outreach. This is your chance to get noticed on a global scale. Ready to let the world know about your work? Send in your application before 31st July to fast-track your way to success: https://lnkd.in/eMP64QU But that's not all! Learn more about this year’s FoodTech 500 here: https://lnkd.in/eBziBnEH #ForwardFooding #FoodTech500

A big thank you to Imran Afzal for delivering the EIT Food Accelerator Network Corporate Readiness Workshop, sharing insights and hands-on tips for successful startup-corporate collaborations. The session clearly highlights how important it is for both our corporate partners and startups to work closely together towards a common goal to jointly drive impact and innovation. Companies of all kinds play a major role in creating a fairer and more sustainable world and solve the world’s most pressing challenges. For corporates, the benefits of supporting our startups and collaborating with them, in addition to contributing to the sustainability agenda, are access to innovative products, services and business models, access to new markets and new customers, more resilient supply chains, brand building and a better ability to attract new employees.   The workshop was designed to equip our startups with the tools, knowledge and skills to prepare them for pilot projects/ POCs with corporate partners and to get them pitch and market ready towards a full-scale commercialisation.  The top ten dos and don’ts are always the main talking point and the key highlight of the workshop. A big thank you goes to our 2024 cohort, to Marie Russier, our EIT Food colleagues Marie Brueser, Ewa Karolewska, Kamila Czerwinska and Juliet Bray, who have joined the workshop and to Imran Afzal for an engaging and educational session.  Melt&Marble, Kokomodo, New Wave Biotech, iComplai - Early Warning System for Food Supply Chain, The Good Pulse Company, Papkot® , Blue Ocean Closures , Pack2Earth, Happygum, FeJuice, CinSOIL and many more!   #Foodsystemtransfirmation #AgriFoodTechInnovation #StartupAcceleration #TechValidation

🇨🇭 Switzerland is not only home to several FoodTech 500 winners but also a vibrant hub for startups aiming to revolutionize the food industry. According to our FoodTech Data Navigator, Switzerland is home to 149 FoodTech and AgriFood startups. In terms of investments, the sector has attracted €677 million in funding since 2014. And the industry's CAGR for investments between 2018 and 2023 stands at an impressive 29.5%, outpacing the 24.8% average growth across the broader European ecosystem. Check out our deep dive into Swiss FoodTech ecosystem in our recent blog: https://lnkd.in/ewgVYBfK Brij Sahi, Matteo Panzavolta, Marcin Niedzielski, Carrol Plummer, Cristian Anastasiu, Daria Reisch, Urs Briner, Tobias Nordmann, Matteo Vanotti, Christian Bärtsch, Daniel Protz, Walfredo della Gherardesca, Denis Weinberg, Olga Dubey, Anian Schreiber, Renaud Enjalbert, Andrea Tassistro, Bruno Cheval, Ciro Borrelli, Marcel Arndt, Tobias Schubert, Dave Behrends, Steve Tanner, Manuel Klarmann, Georgios Savoglidis, Patrick Albrecht, Doris Erne, Naomi MacKenzie, Marison Ian, Mark Essam Zahran, Wheycation (Lokalgenuss AG), Yeastup #ForwardFooding #FoodTech500 #switzerland #foodtech #agrifood #innovation #sustainability

It’s fantastic to be able to shine a spotlight on the remarkable innovations that have already hit the market within the agrifoodtech sector! EIT Food unveils its list of 10 groundbreaking startups to watch in 2024. So, if you are a corporate looking for commercial partnerships, you know where to find technological solutions ready for market! These trailblazers include some of our incredible #RisingFoodStars, Revo Foods, Kern Tec, ekolive and BettaFish It’s businesses like these that are reshaping the future of our food systems with their commitment to sustainability, technology, and health. From tackling food loss and waste to creating ultra-realistic plant-based fish, each startup is contributing uniquely towards a more sustainable and efficient food ecosystem. We are delighted to celebrate their achievements and support their journey forward! For more details on these inspiring startups, check out EIT Food's full list here: https://lnkd.in/eRMEZkcR #AgrifoodTech #Innovation #Sustainability #corporatepartner #partnerships #foodsystems #changemakers

While these are a bit old news, announced a few weeks ago, we have just received the formal certificate recognising Eatable Adventures as one of the leading european startup-hubs by Financial Times and Statista; and we can't be happier. This is a team effort and we want to thank all our partners, mentors, clients, co-investors, LPs, and many individuals that externally support our activities on a daily basis. And very specially to over 100 Startups that pass through our incubation and acceleration programs programs each year; and the thousands of entrepreneurs and entrepreneur-to-be that attend our Hubs programs. Madrid Food Innovation Hub Eatex Food Innovation Hub Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub Spain Foodtech FoodSeed #agrifood #foodtech #agritech #agtech