Next Bite: Founders Day | More than 250 entrepreneurs gather in Bilbao to shape the future of agrifood
A day of collaboration, inspiration, and strategic insight to accelerate innovation in the agrifood sector across Europe.
On 19 June, Bilbao became the meeting point for some of the most dynamic voices in Europe’s agrifood innovation ecosystem. The Next Bite: Founders Day 2025, hosted by EIT Food South, brought together more than 250 entrepreneurs, corporates, investors and experts to explore how collaboration, cutting-edge research and bold ideas can drive real transformation in the food system.
The event format was designed to replicate the journey of a startup within EIT Food — from preparation and launch, through acceleration, to scaling up — offering participants a clear view of the stages involved in building a successful venture.
Held at the iconic Iberdrola Tower, the event offered a packed agenda of talks, startup showcases and networking sessions, providing participants with valuable insights into the current landscape of sustainable food innovation and what it takes to succeed.
Welcoming Remarks and Public Support for Agrifood Innovation
The day opened with welcomes from Begoña Pérez-Villarreal, Director at EIT Food South, Amaia Barredo, Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister at Basque Government and Joseba Mariezkurrena, Entrepreneurship and Business Competitiveness General Director at Bizkaia Provincial Council-Bizkaiko Foru Aldundia, who all emphasised the vital public support for pioneering agrifood startups in the region.
"We support and guide entrepreneurs to transform the agrifood system — a meeting point where talent, knowledge, and experience come together."
Voices Driving Change: A Look Back at the Key Sessions
The second session of the day featured an insightful round table discussion on the challenges and opportunities involved in transforming deeptech innovations into successful startups. Moderated by Juan I. Zaffora, Regional Programme Manager at EIT Food, the panel brought together experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders, such as, Jesús Juarez Molina, President at Nostrum Simul, Emre Yemisken, Co-Founder at Tetis Biotechnology Ltd, Josep Casas, Co-Founder at Naturitas, Real Ventures and Food For Joe and Zac Austin, CEO at Pacifico Biolabs. They all agreed that building a successful deeptech startup means talking to as many customers as possible, choosing the right co-founder, and clearly defining what makes you different.
Following this insightful conversation, attention shifted to a strategic vision for growth Europe “EIT Governing Board Vision for a Competitive Europe: Scaling Impact in Southern Europe”. Richard Zaltzman, CEO at EIT Food, introduced the talk, which was led by Heinrich Arnold, Board member - European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and several other organisations. The session highlighted the importance of European collaboration towards innovation and entrepreneurship and scaling impact to maintain Europe’s competitive edge in sustainable food innovation.
Followed by keynote speech, delivered by Matthieu Vincent, CEO of Digital Food Lab, addressed the current state of FoodTech in 2025 and explored whether there are still untapped opportunities within the sector. Matthieu provided an in-depth analysis of emerging trends, technological advancements, and market dynamics, emphasising how European innovation continues to reshape the agrifood landscape.
Following the earlier sessions, the day continued with a round table on Only Shooting Stars Break the Mold. Moderated by gender mainstreaming expert Addy Polet, the discussion featured inspiring entrepreneurs Alba Rocafort, Co-founder of FABBRIC and Supernovas Alumni, Françoise de Valera, Co-founder at Pack2Earth and FAN Alumni, and Natalia Gálvez, CMO and co-founder of GrodiTech and Women TechEU Cohort Winner. They shared candid insights and challenges faced by women founders in the agrifood sector, highlighting the importance of visibility and support networks, while working towards your own vision and mision
Next, the Early Stage Investment panel brought together key investors Almudena Trigo, Founding Partner and Chairwoman at Beable, Marta Laorden, Investor at McWin, Davide Bassani, Funding Partner at Maia Ventures, and Matteo Leonardi, Investment Management at Grey Silo Ventures, with Amparo San José, Head of Network and Business Development at EIT Food, moderating. They delved into what investors look for at the seed stage and how startups can best prepare to secure funding.
Ander Muñoz, Director of Strategic Initiatives at BEAZ, introduced Bizkaia as a vibrant startup ecosystem, emphasising the region’s growing role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
In a fireside chat, Jason Hill, Strategy Lead at Vertical Innovations, explored How to Connect with Corporates, offering practical advice on building successful partnerships between startups and established companies. "When approaching a corporate, it’s important to be clear about your ideas, know exactly what you want to stand for – and communicate it with confidence and calm".
The afternoon featured a round table on the Functional Food Revolution: How Startups &
Corporates Are Shaping the Future of Nutrition, moderated by Belen Moscoso, Corporate Venturing Manager at EIT Food, with contributions from Francisco Álvarez, Innovation Manager at Hijos de Rivera and Eric Puro, CEO at KÄÄPÄ Biotech. They all shared their vision about relationships between corporates and entrepreneurs in the sector of foodtech. The discussion also concluded with some advice on new product development, highlighting the importance of being both tasty and attractive to the final consumer.
From Idea to Impact: Startup Success Stories That Made It to Market
Three success stories illustrated the journey from innovation to market impact. Jean Pierre Lannou, CEO and co-Founder at Gundo and Ainara Llona, Innovation and R&D&I Funding Senior Manager at Eroski, shared their experience on their collaboration. With Gundo, Eroski is exploring the HORECA market. Gundo has helped them reach 2,000 customers in Vitoria, generating €1M turnover, and opened opportunities for healthy purchasing concepts in this sector. Working with Eroski has allowed Gundo to expand their reach and target new markets. Jean Pierre highlighted that participating in Straight2Market has been crucial for Gundo, as it has allowed them to open new opportunities and expand their business.
Also Carlos Bergera, Partner and CEO at Zetrack, talked about his company’s growth and vision. He shared his experience in Test Farms programme, which gave them the opportunity to test the tractor prototype. They are now entering the second phase of the business to accelerate their growth.
Final Reflections: Science, Inspiration, and a Shared Vision for the Future of Agrifood
The event closed on an inspiring keynote by Eneko Axpe, physicist and author, who captivated the audience with insights from gastrophysics, blending science and food innovation in fascinating ways.
For me, gastrophysics was the perfect bridge from physics to food innovation—understanding how food behaves, creating new products and techniques, and exploring AI’s role in the industry.
Begoña Pérez Villarreal, Director of EIT Food South, concluded the event by highlighting the collective responsibility to foster and support a thriving agrifood ecosystem. Emphasising the importance of public-private collaboration, she reiterated EIT Food’s ongoing commitment to empowering startups, connecting key players across the value chain, and accelerating the shift towards a more sustainable, healthy, and resilient food system.
