RisingFoodStars
THE 2026 COHORT
Discover the 18 groundbreaking RisingFoodStars verified scalups, transforming food and agritech across Europe
18 SCALEUPS | 8 COUNTRIES
RisingFoodStars acts as Europe’s verification badge for agrifood scaleups, and a market signal that a company is ready to scale, not just pitch.
Next generation
proteins
Functional ingredients
Circularity and side stream valorisation
Digital and sustainable/regenerative agriculture
We're looking forward to continue to support you in your scaling journey
Earned, not granted, the RisingFoodStars verification badge tells investors and corporates that a scaleup has been independently stress-tested on leadership, commercial model and growth readiness.
“The challenge for Europe is no longer discovery. It’s scale. Throughout the day, one message kept resurfacing. Europe has the science, the talent and the entrepreneurial ambition. What we need now is the courage to move faster, scale bigger and work together more effectively.”
Whatever stage you are at on your agrifood tech venture and journey- launch, accelerate or scale up - our three hands-on, equity-free programmes give the best chance for you to become a food system gamechanger and succeed.
Our agrifood tech entrepreneurship powerhouse connects thousands of startups to more than 200 leading corporations, universities, research centres, and investors, with the full support and resources of the European Union.
EIT Food Entrepreneurship supports innovative, researchers, entrepreneurs, and impactful AgriFoodTech startups, every step of the way - from business propositions, market validation, business acceleration, tech validation to commercial upscaling.
“It is our job to identify and support impactful agrifoodtech startups, so that they can tackle the biggest challenges within the European food system, transform it and develop their capacity as founders. Through our EIT Food Entrepreneurship programmes we create connections right across the food ecosystem, empowering entrepreneurs to develop new ideas and innovations, helping them to launch accelerate and scale. ”
Accelerating the Growth of Europe’s Most Promising Agrifood Scaleups
We are thrilled to introduce the 9th cohort of the RisingFoodStars (RFS) programme.
This year, 18 outstanding AgriFoodTech startups were selected following strict selection criteria inspired by the OECD
definition of a true scale-up, and underwent 3 rigorous and independent expert evaluation rounds.
The RisingFoodStars 2026 cohort includes 18 cutting-edge scaleups operating across four transformation areas:
To feed a growing population sustainably, this group of RisingFoodStars is developing technologies that help agriculture become more productive, resilient and sustainable through AI, digital tools, crop resilience, disease monitoring and more.
These scaleups are focused on reimagining animal protein production by creating sustainable meat and dairy alternatives that replicate the taste, texture and nutritional profile, all aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of protein production while meeting growing consumer demand.
These scaleups focus on enabling the next generation of food products through innovative ingredients. They create sustainable replacements that help food manufacturers improve nutrition, functionality and sustainability without compromising taste or texture.
These companies are helping build a circular food system by upcycling undervalued side streams and waste materials into valuable food ingredients, proteins and sustainable packaging. Their technologies improve resource efficiency and reduce waste.
As part of EIT Food's renewed Entrepreneurship Pathway, RisingFoodStars has evolved from a scaleup programme into a selective, verification-based recognition that signals a venture's readiness to scale responsibly and successfully.
Earned through independent assessment, the RisingFoodStars Scaleup Verification Badge signals that a company has been reviewed against key indicators of scaleup maturity, including leadership, commercial model, operational readiness and growth potential.
The recognition responds to growing demand from investors, corporates and ecosystem stakeholders for a credible way to identify scaleups that combine commercial potential with operational excellence and measurable impact.
Refreshed brand
Signals maturity and commercial/investment readiness
More selective cohort
Tighter selection criteria focus support on the best-fit companies
Free participation
Merit-led access and paid sprints as optional add-ons added
More offering on tailored sprints
Tailored support matched to growth and scaling needs
Invitation-only entry
Focused on alumni and specifically referred companies in the EIT Food network
RisingFoodStars introduces structured corporate open innovation challenges. Via this corporate collaboration model we want to ensure startups don't just build the future of food—they integrate into it.
Curated, face-to-face sessions focus strictly on Proofs of Concept (PoCs), commercial pilots, and co-development. A rigorous matching process ensures time is spent only where there is a genuine intent to scale.
Industry leaders pitch their real-world, high-priority business requirements directly to our startups. Ventures stop guessing what the market needs and start responding to defined commercial demands.
Personalised
growth support
For scaleups, the badge functions as a market signal: it shortens due diligence for investors, opens doors with corporate partners, and tells the market a company has been independently verified.
Supported since inception
Created across Europe
Commercialised innovations
Satisfaction rate
Priority routes into EIT Food’s funding mechanisms and a network of 50+ investors
Capital access
Direct, facilitated access to 160+ industry leaders across the agrifood value chain, part of the EIT food ecosystem
Corporate partnerships
A dedicated yearly coach, mentorship, and targeted commercial/investment-readiness workshops, providing them with the skills to accelerate their scaling
Market visibility
PR and event priority through EIT Food, founder spotlights, and a recognition badge scaleups can carry into every pitch
What's new in 2026:International expansion support
Dedicated on-demand sprints to help verified scaleups scale beyond Europe and de-risk entering new markets: Brazil, Canada, Japan, Singapore and UAE/Saudi
Over
Raised collectively by alumni
Successful exits
narjis.chakir@eitfood.eu
Know more about
On-Demand Sprints
REGISTER HERE
Paid growth services tailored to your most pressing challenges
Recognising that companies at different stages require different types of support, these sprints offer EIT Food Alumni focused expertise, structured learning, and actionable guidance tailored to particular growth objectives.
The portfolio includes Thematic Sprints, that help companies strengthen key capabilities in areas such as go-to-market strategy, investment readiness, and marketing & communications, and International Expansion Sprints, which support companies exploring opportunities in selected international markets through market immersion, local ecosystem engagement, and expert-led guidance. Each sprint combines intensive learning with ongoing support, typically including:
While On-Demand Sprints are available to the broader EIT Food Entrepreneurship alumni community, RisingFoodStars members benefit from discounted participation fees, providing more accessible access to specialised expertise, international networks, and growth-focused support.
A hybrid 3-month program with tailored support
In-person intense bootcamp or full immersion week for international expansion
Access to best practice tools, templates, and frameworks
Peer learning opportunities with other founders
Structured follow-up support to facilitate implementation
Access to experienced industry experts and practitioners
By focusing on specific commercial and growth challenges, On-Demand Sprints provide founders with targeted support that complements the wider EIT Food entrepreneurship offering and helps translate strategic objectives into concrete actions and outcomes.
These companies turned RisingFoodStars recognition into landmark funding rounds and global retail and CPG partnerships.
