News

FoodBytes! by Rabobank returns to London

26 Jun 2019

FoodBytes! by Rabobank – a global pitch competition and networking platform that connects innovative consumer food, foodtech and agtech startups with corporate leaders and investors – is returning to London on 6 and 7 November 2019, following what Rabobank says was the success of its 2018 debut.

On a mission to find the most cutting-edge startups pioneering the future of food and agriculture, FoodBytes! London 2019 will see fifteen early-stage startups compete live on the FoodBytes! stage at Victoria House.

Participants will, Rabobanks says, benefit from intensive mentorship sessions from industry experts, whilst connecting with leading corporates, investors and fellow startups to help scale their business.

FoodBytes! London will be the 17th FoodBytes! event to be held globally with the aim of showcasing the very best in food, foodtech and agtech game-changers creating sustainable alternatives to feed the world’s growing population, whilst minimising the carbon footprint of the food and agriculture industry. Since launching in 2015, more than 2,000 startups have applied from 90+ countries and more than 4,700 people have attended FoodBytes! in North America, Europe and Australia. 265 companies are part of the FoodBytes! alumni community, including Mimica, Biokind and Rootwave, who won the top prizes at FoodBytes! London 2018 and Toast Ale who recently took home the People’s Choice Award at FoodBytes! San Francisco 2019.

FoodBytes! London 2019 has an emphasis on food and agtech startups with a disruptive impact on the food industry and supply chain, including sustainable farming, packaging, traceability solutions, environmentally-friendly ingredients, food waste reduction and the latest sustainable consumer food startups. The criteria for successful applicants are focused on product innovation, market opportunity, traction and commercial viability – with a focus on sustainability and social impact. The full criteria can be found here.

Rob Wilson, Chief Toaster of highly acclaimed Toast Ale and FoodBytes! alumnus said: “FoodBytes! is an awesome opportunity to pitch your business idea, create new partnerships, network with industry professionals and receive mentoring support from world class experts in multiple fields – from legal advice to logistics. The experience for Toast has been superb and I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

Fifteen selected startups will participate in the two-day London programme, and become part of the FoodBytes! alumni community. Resources for participating startups include:

+ A full-day mentorship immersion led by industry experts on fundraising, branding, research trends, legal and go-to-market strategy

+ One-on-one conversations with mentors and direct feedback on products, technologies and pitches

+ Networking opportunities with corporate leaders, investors, influencers and peers

+ Ongoing support from Rabobank Food and Agriculture (F&A) experts

+ Access to Rabobank research reports for a minimum of one year

+ Access to the community of FoodBytes! alumni