EIT Food, a food innovation community supported by the EU’s European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), has announced the winners of its Fast Track to Market Initiative.
A total of €874,503 will be awarded to four mature agrifood startups and SMEs. The funding will help the companies accelerate their commercial success, enter new markets, and expand in existing ones.
The winners are:
- BettaF!sh (Germany) — A foodtech company turning seaweed into nutrient-rich food solutions. The startup has been awarded €248,562, which will be used to introduce two new products: the BettaF!sh SAL-NOM Can and TU-NAH Mexican Salad Can. 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.
- Hooked Foods (Sweden) — A company creating clean, high-protein, and affordable plant-based meat. Using the €221,375 it has received, Hooked aims to introduce The Super Protein, a product that delivers 30-35g of protein per 100g. The Super Protein can be used in a variety of meals, including pasta, salads, stews, and wraps.
- afreshed (Austria) — A company connecting consumers with surplus, high-quality produce from farmers and retailers. Afreshed has been awarded €248,892, which it will use to deliver a sustainable shopping and nutrition app that procures surplus food directly from retailers.
- AgriSound (UK) — An agritech company developing smart listening technology and proprietary algorithms to optimise bee activity, improving crop yields and biodiversity. With the help of the €155,674 it has received 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.
The winners will benefit from EIT Food’s Revenue-Based Financing (RBF), a success-sharing model that provides immediate funding with flexible repayments tied to future revenues. There are no fixed repayments or equity losses, allowing businesses to scale at their own pace. Payments 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.
“Incredible impact”
Applications are now open for the next Fast Track to Market cycle, which will provide up to €300,000 in funding for each winner. Projects must significantly accelerate a startup or SME’s commercial success and create immediate impact by bringing its products or services to market.
Applicants are expected to work towards EIT Food’s three missions: healthier lives through food, a net-zero food system, and a fully transparent, fair, and resilient food system. EIT Food is interested in funding 8 to 10 projects of up to 12 months in length across the agrifood value chain, with a total of €2 million available. The submission window closes on May 6.
“Through the highly successful Fast Track to Market programme, EIT Food is propelling bold, fast-moving companies toward game-changing commercial success,” said Adam M. Adamek, Director of Innovation at EIT Food. “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.”
