gate-Startup wisefood wins EIT Food Accelerator Network Award

Agri Marketplace, based in Portugal, is a global digital platform that directly connects farmers and agro-industrial customers. Jet-Eat, from Israel, offers proprietary technology software and formulations that print fresh meat. Wisefood is a German-based company that has created the world’s first edible straw made of apple pomace to offer a more sustainable and ecological alternative.

The ten finalists were selected from a group of 41 agrifood technology startups involved in the 2018 EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN) Programme. Over a four-month acceleration period, these startups have had access to tools, connections, mentors and expertise to help them succeed.

MassChallenge Switzerland, part of MassChallenge’s global network of zero-equity startup accelerators, partnered with EIT FAN and introduced a food tech track in its 2018 cohort. Held in Switzerland, Germany and Israel, the EIT FAN aims to make Europe the go-to innovation hub for the world’s most promising agrifood startups.

Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation for EIT Food, commented: “Many congratulations to our winners from our EIT Food Accelerator Network Programme. The ideas of these startups is to help tackle global food challenges and address the gap between innovation and the realisation of genuine business opportunities. It has been a pleasure collaborating with the 41 agrifood startups over the last months and seeing first-hand the disruptive ideas they are working on.”

Thierry Duvanel, Managing Director of MassChallenge Switzerland stated: “Today’s EIT Food Venture Summit is not only about celebrating these great projects, but also about bridging the gap between early ventures and established players in food technologies and agriculture. Through the EIT Food Accelerator Network with MassChallenge we have created this unique pan-European startup program and we are thrilled with the way it has evolved and its future prospects.“

About EIT Food:

EIT Food is Europe’s leading food innovation initiative, with the aim to create a sustainable and future-proof food sector.
The initiative is made up of a consortium of key industry players, start-ups, research centres and universities from across Europe. It is one of six Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) established by the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.