With the second intake, 15 European agrifood start-ups join the EIT Food Community. The Rising Food Stars will benefit from access to the partners, the expert network, programmes, technological infrastructure and business creation support as well as potential customers and distribution channels, which will significantly accelerate their international growth.

EIT Food offers amble opportunities to agrifood start-ups & entrepreneurs in Europe. However, the most promising mature start-ups and early scale-ups in the agrifood ecosystems can also become part of EIT Food’s network in a long term collaboration, instead of only benefitting from it through one of the opportunities, by becoming a member of the RisingFoodStars.

Startups for the second intake were selected this summer. Among them are three start-ups from Switzerland:

SwissDeCode (Chavannes-de-Bogis VD) has developed a line of world’s first portable, completely self-administered on-site DNA tests for global supply chain operations. The unique test allows to confirm supply chain integrity in 30 minutes without lab delays. SwissDeCode technology, designed to detect targeted DNA in concentrations of 0.01%, is built on leading-edge research from the University of Geneva. The start-up has already launched a test for the detection of pork DNA a as well as a test to prevent food adulteration with vegetal ingredients and detect the presence of plant-derived allergens

Ambrosus (Zug / Lausanne) provides a holistic and flexible data model that enables the frictionless onboarding of all real-world supply chain entities (product, batch, box), the measurement of their attributes, and the tracking of related logistical events. Customers can use Ambrosus’ API to create unique digital identities for every item they want to track and analyze along the way. This identity and history will be stored permanently and immutably on the Ambrosus blockchain. With its offering, Ambrosus strives to overcome the current deficiencies and challenges of current global food supply chains.

Essento (Zurich) develops, produces and markets specialities from edible insects for the retail and catering trade. The products have been sold for over two years through the company's own web shop, online shops run by partners and Coop, one of Switzerland's largest retailers. The offer includes insect burgers, snacks and bars.

The RisingFoodStars Association elevates high potential agrifood start-ups and scale-ups to the next level in becoming the international gamechangers. This unique international innovation vehicle offers outstanding young companies access to knowledge, networks and the opportunity to actively engage in EIT Food’s activities. They are benefitting from access to the partners (corporates, universities, research institutes and other start-ups), the expert network, programmes, technological infrastructure and business creation support as well as potential customers and distribution channels, which will significantly accelerate their international growth.

On the other hand, as agile and swift partners, they can drive the innovations of the future within this large network. The collaborations between the RisingFoodStars and the other EIT Food partners provide an entrepreneurial and agile innovation culture which will bring complementary competences of start-ups lined up along the food supply chain and unprecedented value in terms of cutting-edge technologies and innovative business models.

(SK)