Seedbed Alumni Investment 2025

Purpose

EIT Food is offering up to €50,000 in lump sum funding to Seedbed programme alumni to support innovation, commercialisation, and fundraising activities aligned with Horizon Europe priorities.

Funding & Deliverables

• Total funding per venture: €50,000 as a lump sum (paid up front)
• Linked Deliverables:
• Deliverable 1 – Communication & Dissemination Plan
• Value: €5,000 (10%)
• Deliverable 2 – Innovation Activities (product development, commercialization, fundraising)
• Value: €45,000 (90%)

Eligible activities for funding use include R&D and product development, Commercial pilot projects and market research, Fundraising activities (pitch development, business planning) and Team costs, consultancy, travel, tools/software

❗ If deliverables are not achieved, deductions will apply proportionally.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a graduate of the EIT Food Seedbed Programme
• Have a registered legal entity in the EU or a Horizon Europe-associated country (before the application period)
• Be a small enterprise (per EU Recommendation 2003/361)
• Receive a recommendation from an EIT Food Seedbed coach
• Own or control their core IP (if applicable)
• Submit a funding roadmap (12–24 months)
• Submit application and pitch deck in English

Exclusions:

Ventures are not eligible if they’ve received a SAFE or equity investment from EIT Food, are involved in other 2025 EIT schemes like RisingFoodStars, or are purely commercial or consulting businesses.

Application & Evaluation Process

• Applications via: https://www.myeitfood.eu/s/log...
• Evaluation by external reviewers on:
• Excellence (30%)
• Impact (35%)
• Implementation Quality (35%)

Required Documents & Legal Agreements

If selected, ventures must sign:

• Subgrant Agreement
• SAFE Agreement (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)
• EIT Food may convert its investment into equity at a future qualified funding event
• This ensures financial sustainability and return potential for EIT Food
• Submit: PIC, declaration of size, financial forms

Monitoring & Reporting

• Periodic check-ins and final reporting
• Monitoring may include KPIs, evidence of implementation, and documentation of use of funds
• EIT Food reserves the right to withdraw or restructure funding if major underperformance occurs

Support Contact

For questions, contact: callsupport-entrepreneurship@eitfood.eu