Roadmap to Market

A hands-on, high-impact Sprint to accelerate your Agrifood Startup to Market Success.

What is it?

Many agrifood startups struggle to bridge the gap between technological validation and true market adoption.

The Roadmap to Market is designed for innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers in the agrifood sector working at TRL 4-7, with an incorporated startup or clear plans to incorporate one. Through a combination of online and in-person sessions, participants will understand their current market stage, co-create and refine their validation roadmap with input from industry experts, and gain practical insights through peer learning.

By the end of the program, participants will have a practical plan, a stronger network, and a clear path to market impact.

Get Involved

Applications

September 1 - October 18

Program

November 2026

Duration

2 online sessions (3h each) + 1 in-person (2.5h)

Language

English

Price

Free of charge

Format

Hybrid (Online & In-Person)

Why Participate?

‍• Assess & Strengthen Your Market Readiness
Use the Market Readiness Levels (MRL) framework to evaluate your current market stage, identify key gaps, and define actionable steps to move closer to validation and market fit.

‍• Design & Refine Your Validation Roadmap
Build a structured plan for your project’s next steps, mapping milestones, resources, and learning goals. Refine your roadmap through feedback and real-world insights from corporates, industry experts and peers.

‍• Co-Create with Industry & Peers
Engage in guided co-creation sessions with corporates and fellow founders. Exchange experiences, tackle shared challenges, and co-develop practical solutions to strengthen your path to market.

‍• Expand Your Network
Connect with fellow innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, industry experts and potential partners to explore collaboration opportunities and learn from successful startup-corporate partnerships.

‍• Unlock Future Opportunities
Gain visibility and entry points into upcoming BGI, EIT Food, and industry programmes or events that can support your next stage of growth.

BGI team energetically celebrating at an event, with everyone jumping and smiling in a display of joy and camaraderie

Who Should Apply?

Innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers in the agrifood sector working in TRL 4-7*, with an incorporated startup or clear plans to incorporate one.

*TRL 4-7 means Technology Readiness Levels progressing from early experimental proof-of-concept to a system or prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment.

Which Innovations are Eligible?

Your innovation can be related to any area within the agrifood sector. However, particular preference will be given to innovations aligned with one or more of the areas below:

1. Bioinputs
Natural inputs that boost plant growth, improve soil health and enhance resilience to abiotic stress (e.g. biostimulants, biofertilizers, etc.).

2. Fermentation
Microbial processes enabling the production of scalable, sustainable, bio-based ingredients and solutions.

3. Circular Economy and Byproduct Valorisation
Redesigning agrifood systems to minimise waste, optimise resource use and close biological and material loops, including the valorisation of agro-industrial byproducts to enhance soil health, develop high-value food and feed products, and improve overall system efficiency.

4. Digital & AI-Driven Agriculture and Food
TechDigital, data-driven and AI-powered solutions for precision farming, decision support, automation and improved resource efficiency, as well as innovative food technologies that improve food production, processing, formulation, safety, quality, nutrition, shelf life and consumer experience.

5. Protein Diversification
Innovative protein solutions, including plant-based, microbial, algae-, fungi-, insect-, cultivated- and other alternative protein sources that support more sustainable and resilient food systems.

6. Novel Foods
Development of next-generation foods and ingredients that improve nutrition, functionality, sustainability and consumer experience.

Contact us today!

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