EIT Food is working with a consortium of global partners as a co-host of the Food Systems Pavilion at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) to discuss the opportunities that sustainable food systems provide in the fight against climate change.
We guide and accelerate food innovation to transform the food system. We focus on inclusive systems innovation, which enables all people and places to participate and benefit.
We are attracting, developing and empowering bright minds to lead the transformation of the food system into an innovative sector that produces healthy and sustainable food, and is trusted by society.
Startups play a fundamental role in transforming the food system. EIT Food supports innovative impactful agrifood entrepreneurs and startups to deliver new food innovations and businesses across Europe.
We believe that we are all responsible for, and connected to, the food that we eat, so we all need to work together to improve it. Our activities are designed to engage with people so that they can become agents of change in the food…
EIT Food is a network of organisations that are complementary, demonstrate excellence in their domain and show commitment to the objectives of EIT Food.
Where brilliant co-founders team up and create impactful agrifood startups.
TeamUp matches leading technologists with entrepreneurial business professionals and supports them on their journey to co-create truly impactful agrifood ventures.
In Southern and Eastern Europe, there is a worrying gap between the number of innovative agrifood technologies developed at universities and the number of such technologies reaching the market. Our research shows that impactful startups with strong teams are better placed to commercialise promising agrifood solutions and transform our food system.
TeamUp is a 7-month programme that finds and matches up brilliant innovators with compatible and complementary profiles. TeamUp provides important tools and support to build your startup including expert guidance, world-class training, mentorship, networking and funding. These new teams will be nurtured to create strong co-founder relationships with aligned purpose and values.
Applications for the 2022 TeamUp edition are closed.
Who should apply
You’ve got the skills and experience to build a successful agrifood startup.
Apply for TeamUp if you:
Have entrepreneurship development experience in areas like business, operations, marketing, strategy and want to apply your skills to bring an impactful agrifood solution to market;
Are passionate about innovation and technology in the agrifood sector;
Want to partner up with brilliant technologists and become a co-founder or team member of an innovative agrifood startup;
Care about making a positive impact in one of EIT Food's Focus Areas.
You've got a technology that can transform the food system.
Apply for TeamUp if you:
Have an impactful agrifood technology that tackles one of EIT Food's Focus Areas;
Want to bring your innovative solution to the market but struggle to commercialize it;
Are passionate about entrepreneurship and want to develop and grow an impactful agrifood startup;
Want to partner up with the right co-founder who would lead the business side of developing a startup.
Applications for Tech Founders for the 2022 TeamUp edition are closed.
The programme hopes to attract open-minded and committed people who are great problem solvers and team players. Diversity brings fresh perspectives so we’re looking for co-founders with different genders, ages, backgrounds and ethnicity who both have a passion for agrifood and building impactful startups that can improve our food system.
Programme overview
Application
Apply as a technologist, early-stage startup OR as a business professional. Tell us about your experience and motivation to join the programme.
Matchmaking
Meet diverse and experienced innovators who can help you build an impactful agrifood business. EIT Food will facilitate the matchmaking process to ensure you’ll team up with the person who matches your vision and values.
Exploration
In your new team, create, test and validate the value proposition and business model of your agrifood solution. During this 3-month phase, get EIT Food training, coaching and expert support as well as a €2,000 stipend per team. Explore how you and your new co-founder work together.
Graduation
At the end of the programme, the teams will present their learnings and pitch their future plans to the expert panel. The panel will choose the most promising teams to receive funding from EIT Food (up to €40,000).
In 2022, the TeamUp programme will run fully online.
A detailed description of the application process, selection criteria as well as detailed programme content and schedule is available in a Terms & Conditions document. Please make sure to read the Terms and Conditions before applying for the programme.
Programme benefits
TeamUp provides important tools and support to build your startup including expert guidance, world-class training, mentorship, networking and funding.
Don't hesitate to read the summary of the 2021 TeamUp edition and check the testimonials of programme alumni.
With the mission to drive change in the agrifood industry, TeamUp will support solutions in the following focus areas: Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Aquaculture, Alternative Proteins, Circular Food Systems, Digital Traceability and Targeted Nutrition.
TeamUp is open for the applicants who meet the following eligibility criteria:
You are a citizen of one of the following RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) countries: EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain; Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine or EU Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain);
You have an innovative agrifood technology/solution or experience in business development/entrepreneurship;
You have received less than €60,000 in funding from EIT Food in 2022;
You have submitted a complete application in English and have a proficient level of English to participate in the TeamUp programme fully (approximately C1 level);
You are not currently participating in EIT FAN (Food Accelerator Network) or EIT Food RisingFoodStars programme.
Please make sure to read the TeamUp Terms and Conditions before applying for the programme.
The agri-food industry has a variety of exciting jobs on offer throughout the food value chain. This video series aims to inspire young audiences to consider a career within the agri-food sector.
