Are  you the next big name in food tech?

Get in front of top investors, industry giants, and decision-makers who can take your startup to the next level. 

400

Challengers

6

Tracks

60

Finalists

1

Winner

Food Tech Challengers 2024 highligths

New Proteins
Novel proteins & ingredients
Enhancing well-being via nutrition
Wellbeing via nutrition
Food transparency, safety & security
Food transparency, safety & security
Fighting food waste battle
Turning waste into wealth
Digital from farm to fork
AI & digital agrifood systems
Regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture

Epic pitch battle for agri-food tech startups

Food Tech Challengers is a global stage for startups and entrepreneurs transforming the food industry. It’s where bold founders gather to showcase technologies that create a more sustainable, efficient, and scalable food system.

Startups gain exclusive access to 1000+ top investors, industry leaders, and global partners – unlocking new opportunities at the Food Tech Congress.

The competition culminates in an exciting grand finale. Startups pitch their innovative solutions to a panel of esteemed judges, competing for recognition, investment, and a chance to make a lasting impact on the agrifood sector.

How does it work?

A panel of industry-leading experts from top corporations, venture capital firms, ecosystem builders, and media partners will handpick the top 10 companies from each of the six competition tracks.

These 60 standout startups will earn the exclusive chance to pitch live at Food Tech Congress on November 4-5, 2025 in Barcelona. As Europe’s premier food tech event, the platform offers unmatched media exposure and valuable networking opportunities with key players in the industry.

One company will be crowned the ultimate winner of the Food Tech Challengers, marking a significant milestone in their journey to revolutionise the agrifood sector.

Timeline

1

Application
deadline

Sep 3, 2025

2

Top 60
announced

Sep 17, 2025

3

Top 60
pitches

Nov 4 – 5, 2025 @
Food Tech Congress

4

Top 6 pitches & Winner
announced

Nov 4 – 5, 2025 @
Food Tech Congress

Timeline

1

Application
deadline

Sep 3, 2025

2

Top 60
announced

Sep 17, 2025

3

Top 60
pitches

Nov 4 – 5, 2025 @ Food Tech Congress

4

Top 6 pitches & Winner
announced

Nov 4 – 5, 2025 @ Food Tech Congress

Why 400+ startups apply each year

Exclusive access to key industry players

As a finalist, you’ll gain exclusive access to over 1000+ top investors, industry leaders, and global partners at Food Tech Congress in Barcelona. This is your opportunity to skip the endless email chains and meet decision-makers face-to-face.

Big opportunities for funding and partnerships

Present your solutions to a distinguished jury of top venture capitalists and corporate representatives. This is your golden opportunity to secure funding, build long-term partnerships, and boost your startup’s credibility – setting the stage for future industry breakthroughs.

Insights
Global exposure at Food Tech Congress

Whether you’re seeking funding, strategic partnerships, or industry insights, this is where you connect with the right people. At Food Tech Congress, you’ll share your solutions with industry’s key players, leading corporations, and top media outlets, gaining exposure you won’t get anywhere else.

Startup applications are open

Each of the 60 finalist companies (10 per each track) are granted 1 complimentary ticket to Food Tech Congress 2025. It’s an event that you don’t want to miss!

Winners of 2024

Ultimate
Challenger

Koolboks provides a reliable and alternative long-term storage technique due to the superior insulation and ice battery technology employed in the design. It can function as a refrigerator or as a freezer, depending on the preference of the user.

TOP 6 Challengers

Perfat and their technology allows food producers to incorporate a healthier fat in applications where solid fats are needed. Low on saturated fats, fewer calories, loads of gut friendly dietary fiber, their solution is built on local plant oil-based sustainability.

EXOSOMM is a biotech-foodtech company, inspired by the virtues of mother milk and its unique health properties. It develops a variety of nutritional solutions based on natural milk derived exosomes.

inoqo is an innovative SaaS platform designed to help grocery retailers assess and manage the impact of their thousands of products across various dimensions in a scalable way.

Koolboks provides a reliable and alternative long-term storage technique due to the superior insulation and ice battery technology employed in the design. It can function as a refrigerator or as a freezer, depending on the preference of the user.

RootWave kills weeds using electricity to give better weed control at a lower cost than chemical herbicides whilst protecting health and helping nature restore its soils, water and biodiversity.

Meet the jury of 2024

Gil Horsky

Gil Horsky

Founding Partner @ FLORA Ventures

Marta Laorden

Marta Laorden

VC Director @ McWin Capital Partners

Alexandre Bastos

Alexandre Bastos

Head of front end innovation @ Givaudan

Anne Marie Butler

Anne Marie Butler

Global Director of Strategy and Innovation @ Edlong Flavor Solutions

Sneha Srikrishnan

Sneha Srikrishnan

Senior Director, Business Development @ Ginkgo Bioworks

Rachel Resek

Rachel Resek

Principal @ Cargill Ventures

Jelena Erker

Jelena Erker

Associate Director @ EBRD

Xin MA

Xin MA

Managing Director @ Capagro

Nityen Lal

Nityen Lal

Managing Director @ Icos Capital

Giancarlo Addario

Giancarlo Addario

Principal @ Five Seasons Ventures

Nadine Geiser

Nadine Geiser

Principal @ World Fund

Piotr Grabowski

Piotr Grabowski

Co-Founder @ Foodtech.ac

Andrew D. Ive

Andrew D Ive

General Managing Partner @ Big Idea Ventures

David Brandes

David Brandes

CEO & Co-Founder @ Planetary group

Bart Van Hooland

Bart Van Hooland

Managing Partner @ Thia Ventures

Inbar Maymon-Pomeranchik

Inbar Maymon-Pomeranchik

Co-Founder & CEO @ AgChimedes

Michela Petronio

Michela Petronio

Blufuture Steercom @ Barilla

Dr. Roger Wyse

Dr. Roger Wyse

Venture Capitalist, Founder & Managing Partner @ Spruce Capital Partners

Mathilde Do Chi

Mathilde Do Chi

CEO / Principal Consultant @ Vegan Food Law

Mika Kukkurainen

Mika Kukkurainen

Partner & Founder @ Nordic Foodtech VC

Patricia Larráyoz Lorea

Patricia Larráyoz Lorea

Innovation Hub Manager @ Eatex Food Innovation Hub

Arik Kaufman

Arik Kaufman

CEO & Co-Founder @ Steakholder foods

Marika King

Marika King

Head of PINC @ PINC, Paulig venture arm

Markus Linder

Markus Linder

Founder @ Triple Impact Ventures

Shari Rana

Shari Rana

Investment Director @ Nordic Alpha Partners

Myriam Rouis

Myriam Rouis

Investment Services / EIC Fund @ European Investment Bank

James Wilde

James Wilde

Partner @ ATK

Peter Kruger

Peter Kruger

Chairman @ Agrifood-Tech Italia

Kim Odhner

Kim Odhner

Managing Partner Europe and Asia @ Unovis Asset Management

Zbigniew Lewicki

Zbigniew Lewicki

Chief RDQ Officer @ Nomad Foods

Adam Adamek

Adam Adamek

Chief Impact Officer @ EIT Food

Martin Davalos

Martin Davalos

Partner @ McWin Capital Partners

Robert Dupree

Robert Dupree

General Partner @ Alwyn Capital

Diana Rucinschi

Diana Rucinschi

Investment advisor @ European Innovation Council (EIC)

Peter Dorfner

Peter Dorfner

Principal @ Green Generation Fund

Marcos Botta

Marcos Botta

Co-founder & CIO/COO @ ucrop.it

Julia Martin

Julia Martin

Cellular Agriculture Lead @ ProVeg International

Katharina Burdorf

Katharina Burdorf

Team Lead Product Management / PhD Candidate @ Hydrosol GmbH & Co. KG / University of Vechta

Antonio Iannone

Antonio Iannone

Foodtech Professional @ TheFoodCons

Francesca Pedri

Francesca Pedri

Sustainability Project Lead, Investments & Advisory @ GERBER-RAUTH

Eugene Wang

Eugene Wang

Co-Founder & CEO @ Sophie's BioNutrients

Robert Walker

Robert Walker

European Growth Officer @ Alltech

Helen Lin

Helen Lin

Partner @ At One Ventures

Conan Condon

Conan Condon

Head of Agri Analytics @ Alltech

Harley Green

Harley Green

Investment Manager @ Volta Circle

Christian Gonzalez

Christian Gonzalez

Investor @ Planet A Ventures

Pawel Szczepaniak

Pawel Szczepaniak

Head Of Digital @ McWin Capital Partners

Arnout Dijkhuizen

Arnout Dijkhuizen

Investment Principal @ Astanor Ventures

Jérôme Raudin

Jérôme Raudin

Global Platform Director Modern Proteins @ Symrise AG

Andres Anton

Andres Anton

Founder and Co-host @ Tomorrows' Bites

Tilmann Petersen

Tilmann Petersen

Investment Manager @ High-Tech Gründerfonds

Jonny Mauland

Jonny Mauland

Tech Sustainability Lead @ Accenture Nordics

Brian P. Sylvester

Brian P. Sylvester

Partner @ Perkins Coie

Mridul Pareek

Mridul Pareek

Associate @ ECBF VC

Nadim El Khazen

Nadim El Khazen

Partner @ Peakbridge VC

Peter Schmetz

Peter Schmetz

Investment Principal @ Vorwerk Ventures

Gabriela Alcat de Lima

Gabriela Alcat de Lima

Project Manager @ Spanish Food and Drink Federation (FIAB)

Magdalena Olczak

Magdalena Olczak - Nowicka

Podcast host @ Poland.VC Founderzy

Alex Shandrovsky

Alex Shandrovsky

Vegconomist Guest Contributor and Podcast Host @ Vegconomist

Bar Rubin

Bar Rubin

Investment Associate @ Rabo Investments

Elena Gascón Villacampa

Elena Gascón Villacampa

Project Coordinator @ Eatex Food Innovation Hub | CNTA

Uwe Schröder

Uwe Schröder

Head of Cefetra Ecosystem Services @ Cefetra

Grzegorz Kozieja

Grzegorz Kozieja

Department Director of International Agri and Food Hub @ BNP Paribas

Charles Pontvianne

Charles Pontvianne

Head of Corporate Finance @ Planetary Group

Brought to you by

Food Tech Challengers is brought to you by Futurae Media, a global event organiser fostering innovation across multiple industries like Energy and Mobility, Food and Agriculture, Healthcare, and Urban Tech.

Other initiatives for startups

Contact us

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest event updates and more in your inbox or simply contact us.

SubscribeContact Us