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EIT Food Accelerator Network: Fourteen finalists of the 2020 programme announced

The EIT Food Accelerator Network (EIT FAN) announced the selection of the fourteen finalists of its 2020 programme. The finalists are invited to compete for three financial prizes, consisting of EUR 100,000 each, at the EIT FAN finals in early November. The three winners will be revealed during the EIT Food Venture Summit on 18 November 2020.

29 Oct 2020

Held in Israel, Spain, Finland, Switzerland, Germany and the UK, the EIT FAN aims to make Europe the go-to innovation hub for the world’s most promising agrifood startups by sparking startup-corporate partnerships. The fourteen finalists were selected from a group of 60 agrifood technology startups participating in the 2020 EIT FAN programme. The finalists were selected by an experienced panel of investors, industry experts and entrepreneurs based on their positive impact on our food system as well as their economic viability. The selected finalists offer solutions to various challenges inherent in our food system today. More specifically, the selected startups are focusing on functional foods and health, alternative proteins, sustainable agriculture, and harnessing side streams. “The selected finalists clearly demonstrate that transforming our food system in a positive way and one that is economic viability are complementing each other and not contradicting” says Christoph Mandl the EIT Food Accelerator Manager.

Over a four-month acceleration period, these startups, selected from a record number of applications, have had access to tools, connections, mentors and expertise to help them succeed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was held mostly online. “We all miss social interactions and face to face conversations which you would normally find at our accelerator events. But at the same time, we experienced that delivering the programme online lead to more targeted interactions, thereby allowing startups to form close ties with relevant actors in the European and global agrifood space“ stated Christoph Mandl.

On announcing the 2020 EIT FAN finalists, Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation at EIT Food said: “Startups have faced an increased level of uncertainty and market volatility during COVID-19. At EIT Food, we believe that innovation holds the key to fixing our food system so that it is healthier and more sustainable for all. We are confident that not only the 14 finalists but all programme participants will continue to thrive and play an integral part in our efforts to build a high-impact entrepreneurial network that can support our recovery from this crisis”.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Christoph Mandl
Programme Manager Business Creation / EIT Food Accelerator Network
E: christoph.mandl@eitfood.eu

To learn more about the EIT Food Accelerator Network Finalists 2020 please download the full list below.

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