EIT Food accelerates innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all. By joining Europe’s largest agrifood startup community you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded entrepreneurs solving global food system challenges with science and technology based innovations. EIT Food organises training programmes & events to help you launch, accelerate and scale up your business.
The Seedbed Incubator is a six month programme that aims to transform science and technology based innovations, that can help solve global food system challenges, into market-validated businesses.
All entrepreneurial teams and newly-formed startups accepted onto the Seedbed Incubator receive funding and access to EIT Food’s thriving ecosystem to facilitate market testing activities with potential customers or end-users. Each cohort team is supported by business coaches and sector experts to be ready a successful business launch.
Target groups
The programme is focused on three participant groups:
- Entrepreneurial academics
- Aspiring entrepreneurs
- Newly formed startups, typically younger than 12 months, with business proposition underpinned by science and technology that could transform the food system
Eligibility criteria
- Your business innovation must be underpinned by a science or technology with a prototype or lab proof of concept established. It must also fall under one of EIT Food’s key focus areas: Alternative proteins, Targeted nutrition, Digital traceability, Sustainable agriculture, Sustainable aquaculture, Circular systems.
- You can apply for the Seedbed Incubator as a project teamor as a registered company. A project team must consist of at least two individuals with complementary skills and experiences, and at least one member must be a citizen or resident of an EU member state, or Horizon Europe associated countries.
- Your project idea must be actively looking to bring to market an innovation underpinned by deep science, engineering and/or technology at a readiness level 4 (“technology validated in lab”) and customer readiness level below 4, with the basic business idea formulated that can be validated on the programme
Funding
Up to €6,000, in phased milestone payments, along with the opportunity to access follow-on EIT Food funding and support through EIT Food’s Impact Fund.
Assessment
Applications are assessed based on the understanding of the food system problem, its commercial solution, and your company’s fit with our ecosystem. Equally important is the potential impact of the innovation, its technology readiness, the business model, its USP, and the dynamics of the founding team.
More information about the program you can find HERE
Deadline for application: 28th of February 2022
Apply HERE or contact us for further information.
Our team is available for questions or need of support in selecting an appropriate program, application process, and general participation in EIT Food programs.
