FoodBytes! is a discovery platform, which champions cross-industry collaboration between startups and investors. Starting this year, it will move beyond its annual pitch competition and expand to a continuous scouting model, with fifteen startups selected to participate in programming every quarter.
Within the new model, agtech and food tech will now become the primary focus, while CPG startups will be encouraged to apply and participate if they have a defensible underlying technology or a novel supply chain innovation. The platform will also introduce a Beta digital hub that aims to continuously connect vetted startups with investors and corporate members, in an effort to drive solution-based collaboration to improve future food systems.
"FoodBytes! has become a formidable force within a rapidly evolving food system," said Anne Greven, Global Head of F&A Innovation and FoodBytes! at Rabobank, in the press release. "As we continue to face new challenges from increased demand for food, changing consumer preference, and the need for sustainable food production, it only makes sense to refocus the way we operate in an effort to be even more effective in connecting food industry leaders and investors with deployable, impactful solutions for triple-bottom-line business growth."
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For the first quarter of 2022, FoodBytes! will be scouting startups around the theme of “meeting new consumer demand,” specifically within five categories: diversified ingredients, traceability and sustainability metrics, nutrition and immunity within functional foods, novel packaging, and consumer wearables as nutritional guides.Startups looking to get involved in the community can visitwww.foodbytesworld.com/applyto learn more. Corporate or investors can emailcaroline.keeley@rabobank.comto start a conversation.
