Where brilliant co-founders team up and create impactful agrifood startups.
2025
2026
Seedbed 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.
Seedbed TeamUp is a 6-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.
Who should apply
You've got a technology that can transform the food system.
Apply for TeamUp as Tech Co-founder if you:
Have an impactful agrifood technology that tackles one of EIT Food's Missions;
Want to bring your innovative solution to the market but struggle to commercialise 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.
You’ve got the skills and experience to build a successful agrifood startup.
Apply for TeamUp as Business Co-founder 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 Missions;
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.
TeamUp Timeline
May 2026
Application
Apply as a technologist, early-stage startup OR as a business professional. Tell us about your experience and motivation to join the programme. Applications will be opened until 1st June.
June - July, 2026
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.
August - October, 2026
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.
November 2026
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).
EIT Food's Missions
EIT Food operates through a Mission-led approach, which puts improving outcomes for people and planet at the starting point for our work
The recruitment for TeamUp 2026 is now closed. You can pre-register for our programme to be among the first to receive updates and upcoming activities.
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