Participants
Transforming consumer needs into products and technologies for retailers
The RIS Straight to Market (S2M) programme offers innovators a unique opportunity to take their food products from concept to market. Participants will have the chance to validate their product ideas, refine their offerings, and prepare for a successful launch.
With a strong focus on nutrition, sustainability, and retail engagement, the programme promotes meaningful collaborations between startups and European retailers. Participants benefit from financial support, expert mentoring, and the opportunity to test their solutions in real-world market environments.
A key component of the programme is the active involvement of EIT Food alumni students, who will participate in tailored learning experiences, applied innovation challenges, and direct interaction with agrifood startups and retailers. Through this, students gain unique insights into food innovation and commercialisation processes, contributing to and learning from real innovation pathways.
Two key opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs (MVP)
1. Do you have an innovative product ready to test with consumers?
If your startup is ready to put your product in front of real consumers, this is your chance. Validate, refine, and optimize your offering based on direct feedback from your target audience.
2. Eager to validate your technology or service with a retailer?
Showcase your technology or service to renowned retailers. Selected projects will have the change to run a PoC (Proof of Concept) with retailers.
Offer for startups/entrepeneurs
STARTUPS & ENTREPRENEURS
- Product Testing and Commercialization
- Product Testing with Consumers: Validate your product with real consumers to refine it before launch.
- Commercialization with Retailers: Boost your startup with €30,000 to refine products or Proof of Concept (PoC).
- MVP Validation: Test your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with consumers and receive €30,000 to refine it.
- Retail-Focused Technology: Implement new technologies in retail with €15,000 support for retailers.
- Technology focused on:
Reduction in Food Waste and Loss: Technologies to reduce food waste and loss across retail activities. - Circular Solutions for Food Systems: Sustainable solutions addressing food system challenges.
- Resilient Supply Chain: AI and digital tools to build robust and adaptive supply chains.
- Technology focused on:
Offer for students
STUDENTS
- Skills Development: Learn how to be retail-ready through tailored workshops.
- Networking opportunities: Become part of the EIT Food community
- Future possibility of joining EIT Food entrepreneurship programmes
Call Guidelines 2025
You can check the published call guidelines for 2025 cohort: Call Guidelines 2025
Project lead
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