EIT Food has shared that it is opening applications for its 2024 entrepreneurship programmes which have been designed to launch, accelerate and scale impactful agrifood tech startups to solve global food system challenges and deliver new food innovations and businesses.

The applications are open until 19 February 2024 and the three programmes have been created to support the development of healthier, more sustainable and resilient European food systems. Entries can be submitted from the European unio and its associated countries.

As part of the programmes, successful startups will have access to training, mentoring and high-impact pilot projects. EIT Food has also said that seleced applicants will have access to the “world’s largest food innovation community, as well as the exposure, resources and tools needed to grow and succeed”.

What’s more, those startups that are successful in their application will have the opportunity to apply for EIT Food’s Impact Fund and receive investments of up to €500K.

“New ideas, innovations and technologies are essential if we are to transform the food system into one that produces healthy and sustainable food for all. Our Entrepreneurship Programmes empower and enable entrepreneurs to deliver agrifood solutions, connecting startups with finance, resources and support at the right time,” Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation at EIT Food.

“On a mission to address climate change through the lens of food, Bosque Foods, has been through the three entrepreneurship programmes from 2021 Seedbed Incubator, to 2022 EIT Food Accelerator Network to 2023 and is currently a RisingFoodStar member. Bosque Foods is a pioneering biomass fermentation company boasting a versatile mycelium-platform from which they create next-generation whole-muscle meat and fish alternatives.”

According to the food innovation giant, the Entrepreneurship programmes cater for “all stages of business growth”, including market validation of novel research and tech innovations (EIT Food Seedbed Incubator); tech validation and business acceleration (EIT Food Accelerator Network); and scaling up commercial capabilities (EIT Food RisingFoodStars).

Back in 2023, EIT Food Entrepreneurship Programmes reportedly received around 1000 applications from over 30 countries. The company also says it supported over 123 startups and since first launching in 2017, the Entrepreneurship programmes have amplified the impact of over 500 startups and 30 companies have received over 12m in direct investment from EIT Food’s impact fund.

EIT Food has confirmed that all applications to the programmes will be evaluated, and the selected startups will be announced in stages, with the first announcements in April 2024.