Key Takeaways
- EIT Food Seedbed Incubator introduces 50 early-stage science-based ventures in its 2025 programme
- Participants are developing solutions in areas such as food affordability, novel food acceptance, and agri-tech adoption
- The programme offers equity-free funding, expert coaching, and market validation opportunities
- Strategic partners include Queen’s University Belfast, Aarhus University, and others across Europe
- Since its launch, the incubator has supported 200+ teams and facilitated over €33M in public and private funding
EIT Food Seedbed Incubator Launches 2025 Cohort to Address Pressing Agri-Food Challenges
EIT Food Seedbed Incubator, a European innovation programme co-funded by the European Union, has announced the onboarding of its 2025 cohort—a group of 50 science-driven research teams and startups working to develop commercially viable solutions for challenges in the food and agriculture sectors.
The programme supports early-stage entrepreneurs in validating market demand, refining their technologies, and preparing for product launch through a combination of expert coaching, equity-free financial support, and strategic partnerships. Key focus areas for this year’s participants include food affordability, agri-tech deployment, and novel food acceptance.
“In 2023, nearly 40% of Europeans reported skipping meals due to food costs, and 53% expressed concern about future food shortages. These numbers reflect how urgently we need practical, scalable solutions,” said Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation at EIT Food. “EIT Food Seedbed Incubator focuses on innovation at the earliest stage. By helping researchers and entrepreneurs test their ideas, connect with experts, and validate demand, we enable solutions that improve how food is produced, accessed, and trusted.”
Programme Offers Structured Support for Early-Stage Ventures
Participants in the 2025 cohort receive tailored support to identify real-world applications, engage with industry stakeholders, and develop sustainable business models. The programme is supported by institutions including Queen’s University Belfast, Aarhus University, Shakeup Factory, University of Warsaw, and others, providing a Europe-wide network of expertise and resources.
Since its inception, EIT Food Seedbed Incubator has:
- Supported 200+ early-stage teams
- Facilitated the formation of 35+ startups
- Helped participants raise €33M+ in combined public and private investment
Notable alumni include Useeble, which raised over €300,000 for pan-European pilots, and MicroLub, a university spinout that secured £3.5M to scale its plant-based food technology.
Spotlight on 10 Startups from the 2025 EIT Food Seedbed Incubator Cohort
Among the selected teams are ventures focused on cellular biomanufacturing, AI-driven fermentation, sustainable horticulture inputs, and carbon footprint monitoring:
- Hulk Bio (UK) – Developing human-identical milk bioactives for maternal and infant nutrition
- MBP BioTech (Portugal) – Repurposing aquatic biomass for bioactives in food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics
- V.G. Freyia Labs Ltd (Cyprus) – AI-powered analytics platform for fermentation process optimisation
- FourtyFour (Switzerland) – Direct Air Capture systems to supply CO₂ to greenhouses sustainably
- Grouse Fibre (UK) – Protein-based, peat-free growing media for commercial horticulture
- Sweetprot (Finland) – Developing ingredients to reduce sugar in processed foods
- ChainReactor (Portugal) – AI-optimised 3D-printed bioreactors for scalable bio-based production
- Eye Q Fresh (Ireland) – Freshness tracking tool to reduce waste in the supply chain
- Pathfinder (Ireland) – Portable testing system for regulated food analysis
- BrewAI (UK) – Platform to monitor and reduce energy use and emissions in food production
