EIT Food announces €875,000 to accelerate commercialisation of agrifood products and services in Europe 

•       Four startups from across Europe chosen for prestigious programme to accelerate their commercial success  

•       The chosen startups include plant-based products made from seaweed and a bee-tracking precision pollination technology 

•       Applications are now open for funding in early 2026, targeted at mature startups with high potential to generate B2B/B2C sales for new or improved food innovations 

EIT Food, the world's largest food innovation community, has announced the winners of its Fast Track to Market Initiative, awarding a total of €874,503 in funding to mature agrifood startups and SMEs. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. 

The funding will support the four winners to accelerate their commercial success and enter new markets and expand in existing ones at speed. 

Applications are now open for the next Fast Track to Market cycle, which will provide up to €300,000 in funding for each winning project that can significantly accelerate a startup or SME's commercial success and create immediate impact by bringing its products or services to market. 

Adam M. Adamek, Director of Innovation at EIT Food, said: "Through the highly successful Fast Track to Market programme, EIT Food is propelling bold, fast-moving companies toward game-changing commercial success. We've already seen incredible impact, and now we're looking for the next wave of innovators ready to shake up the agrifood industry. Whether it's launching groundbreaking new products, scaling cutting-edge technologies, or developing transformative services and solutions, we want to hear from ambitious startups and SMEs. If you have a high-impact commercialisation project, join us in revolutionizing the food system, creating a healthier society and a more resilient planet along the way." 

The proposed solutions are expected to result in commercially viable products and services reaching the market, and work towards achieving EIT Food's three missions: healthier lives through food; a net zero food system; and a fully transparent, fair and resilient food system. 

The chosen startups from across Europe are: 

afreshed (Austria) – awarded €248,892 

afreshed is an Austrian food-tech company dedicated to reducing food waste and promoting sustainable consumption by connecting surplus, high-quality produce directly from farmers and retailers to consumers, empowering individuals to make eco-friendly choices that save resources and reduce their environmental footprint. 

Launching through the programme, afreshed will deliver a sustainable shopping and nutrition app that procures surplus food directly from retailers. 

Maximilian Welzenbach and Bernhard Bocksrucker, Co-Founders of afreshed, said: "We are excited to advance our concept further, especially focusing on integrating our digital product with our logistics services, marking a significant step in enhancing our operational capabilities and bringing our vision to life." 

AgriSound (UK) – awarded €155,674 

Agrisound is an agritech company specialising in developing smart listening technology and proprietary algorithms to optimise bee activity for improving crop yields and biodiversity across the globe. 

Through the programme, AgriSound will launch a new precision pollination service that tracks bee activity in real-time and supports targeted use of specific interventions to address deficit areas.  

Casey Woodward, CEO of AgriSound, said: "Funding will help us to bring precision pollination technologies to growers across Europe and demonstrate the value of optimising pollination on crop yields and quality. This will help us to meet our ambitious growth plans for 2026." 

BettaF!sh (Germany) – awarded €248,562 

BettaF!sh is a German foodtech company pioneering seaweed innovation, transforming this regenerative crop into nutrient-rich food solutions. 

Through the programme, BettaF!sh will introduce two new products: the BettaF!sh SAL-NOM Can and TU-NAH Mexican Salad Can, which offer delicious plant-based seafood options and expand the existing BettaF!sh portfolio. Additionally, BettaF!sh will launch the Ohmami Seaweed Extract, a clean-label umami enhancer designed for B2B applications in baked goods and plant-based meat. 

Deniz Ficicioglu, CEO of BettaF!sh, said: "We're looking forward to accelerating the launch of our latest seaweed innovations! After 18 months of development, we're ready to expand our seaweed platform into new categories and take the next step in sustainable food solutions." 

Hooked Foods (Sweden) – awarded €221,375 

Hooked Foods is a Swedish food-tech company dedicated to transforming the global food system by creating clean, high-protein, and affordable plant-based meat. 

Through the programme, Hooked Foods aims to introduce The Super Protein, a groundbreaking plant-based protein product that delivers unmatched nutritional value with 30-35g of protein per 100g. The Super Protein fits seamlessly into a variety of meals, including pasta, salads, stews, and wraps.  

Tom Johansson, Co-Founder and CEO of Hooked Foods, said: "We're incredibly excited to team up with EIT Food through their Fast Track to Market program! Their support is helping Hooked Foods take 'The Super Protein' from an ambitious idea to reality. Together, we're making innovative, healthy & sustainable protein delicious and accessible for everyone." 

The Fast Track to Market Initiative follows seven years of innovation funding calls from EIT Food. 

An innovative financing mechanism 

Winning startups and SMEs will benefit from EIT Food's Revenue-Based Financing (RBF), a founder-friendly success-sharing model that provides immediate funding with flexible repayments tied to future revenues. With no fixed repayments or equity loss, RBF allows businesses to scale at their own pace. Payments, based on a negotiated percentage of top-line revenues, start after project completion and continue for 1 to 5 years until a maximum threshold (award amount + 7.5% annual premium) is reached. Early repayments are penalty-free, letting companies clear their obligation at their own pace. 

The latest submission window, closing on 6 May 2025, offers a total of €2 million to support startups' commercial acceleration, with a maximum of €300,000 available for each project. EIT Food is interested in funding 8 to 10 projects across the agrifood value chain. To be considered, applicants must propose a project of up to 12 months in length that will demonstrably accelerate their startup or SME's commercial success and deliver an immediate market impact.  

Full details of the eligibility criteria and submission process can be found here. For more information, please contact: FastTrackCall@eitfood.eu.