Sustainable Food &
Agriculture Transition
Scale your startup and leverage your impact with the GEC scale-up journey
*Please note that we will select participants on a rolling basis, so we recommend not to wait until the end date to apply!
The challenges we face
CO2 emissions
GHG Emissions caused by human activity can be attributed to the way we produce, process and package food.
Health issues
Obesity, antibiotic resistance, degradation of air, water, and soil quality, malnutrition, and animal waste from industrial farming.
Regional food security
Breaking up of global food supply chains by moving to regional, self-sustainable solutions.
The solutions we seek
The GEC is seeking technology startups addressing the most pressing
sustainability challenges of the food and agriculture industry:
Smart & precision farming
New software or hardware-based solutions to create real value in production, increase resilience, and improve yield
Biotechnology in agriculture processes
- New biological solutions, processes and technologies (e.g. seed genetics, microbiome, fertiliser, regeneration, plastics)
Alternative protein applied technologies
Including ingredients & equipment to scale alternative protein solutions
Fermentation & cell-based protein solutions
New, advanced solutions for alternative protein sources with a superior value proposition
*Please note that we will select participants on a rolling basis, so we recommend not to wait until the end date to apply!
As a founder or startup team
You are driven to make a difference! Your goals: successfully scaling your technology startup for tremendous impact! You’re working hard to further develop your technology, gain traction with initial customers and convince investors of your fantastic business plan! Tasks are piling up and you may ask yourself:
- What are the relevant priorities to scale our business, team and technology?
- How can we secure sufficient investment to make a massive impact?
- How can we move from pilot projects to commercial agreements with our customers?
- Is our innovation sufficiently protected enough to scale up?
- What processes do we need to establish to enable exponential growth?
The GEC scale-up journey
The GEC supports founders of sustainability technology-focused startups (sustechs) through the scale-up process. Your scale-up journey starts in the GEC Catalyst to strengthen your foundations for scaling. Startups that successfully complete the GEC Catalyst may be eligible for the GEC Scaling Factory. The Factory programme consists of individualised in-kind services to advance your startup to the next level and become the sustech you strive to be. The whole GEC scale-up journey is worth up to €200,000 (grant and convertible loan investement as in-kind services). GEC Sustainability knowledge will be trained in both programmes.
Your benefits in a nutshell
- Receive up to € 200,000 to power your scale-up journey (grant and convertible loan investment as in-kind services).
- Sharpen your sustainability and impact story to build a true responsible business and improve your investment readiness.
- Join our lifelong, collaborative community of likeminded start-up founders & innovators.
- Connect with industry partners, investors, scientists, and experts globally.
- Get access to our partner lab facilities, co-working space, and event space in Meerbusch / Düsseldorf, Germany.
Catalyst Programme
become investor-ready
A grant to cover for a proven methodology integrating the best practices from the Silicon Valley to:
- Validate your business model
- Test your assumptions
- Develop an investment strategy
- Get ready for the GEC Factory investment
Format: Cohort-based, tailored 10 weeks, twice-weekly online sessions plus individual mentorship, two days kick-off in-person in Düsseldorf / Meerbusch and final investor pitching.
factory Programme
multiply your revenues
Investment (convertible loan) as in-kind services, such as:
- Technology scaling (incl. access to labs)
- Market & revenue development
- Operational efficiency & team development
- Investment preparation
- Individualised support from our venture developer in your industry
- Dedicated mentorship from industry experts
- Participation at investor events
- Access to the GEC event space and co-working space
sustainability Knowledge
build a responsible business
- Sustainability management system and roadmap
- ESG and impact reporting for investors
- Scaling your positive impacts
- Avoiding negative impacts
Format: Cohort-based plus Individualised, depending on your sustainability readiness level.
Become investor-ready and build your scaling foundation!
Scale your company and build a sustainable business!
A grant to cover for a proven methodology integrating the best practices from the Silicon Valley to:
- Validate your business model
- Test your assumptions
- Develop an investment strategy
- Get ready for the GEC Factory investment
Format: Cohort-based, tailored 10 weeks, twice-weekly online sessions plus individual mentorship, two days kick-off in-person in Düsseldorf / Meerbusch and final investor pitching.
Investment (convertible loan) as in-kind services, such as:
- Technology scaling (incl. access to labs)
- Market & revenue development
- Operational efficiency & team development
- Investment preparation
- Individualised support from our venture developer in your industry
- Dedicated mentorship from industry experts
- Participation at investor events
- Access to the GEC event space and co-working space
- Learn the basics on ESG and impact & define your impact purpose.
- Sustainability advisory to sharpen your sustainability story, set up a sustainability management system & roadmap, ESG reporting for investors (e.g. carbon footprint analysis, certifications).
Typical enrolment criteria:
- Team: 2-5 FTE
- Technology readiness level: 4-5
- Commercial stage: tested prototype, customer in discovery
- Funding stage: pre-seed / seed
Typical enrolment criteria:
- Team: 5-30 FTE
- Technology readiness level: 5–9
- Commercial stage: > 2 pilot projects
- Funding stage: seed / series A
Application process
September - October
We will consult on your application with a sector specific GEC expert committee (all under NDA). If we see a potential fit, you will be invited to pitch.
Mid of November
If we believe it’s a match, you will be invited to take part in the GEC scale-up journey! The Catalyst Cohort kick-off will be a 3-day event in mid of November.
What other startups say
Ready to scale for impact?
Become part of our evolving ecosystem for sustech startups and gain access to our services and sector-specific expertise to scale your impact.
Please note that we will select participants on a rolling basis, so we recommend not waiting until the end date to apply!
We didn’t answer all of your questions?
If you have any questions, please reach out to
Tim van der Linden
Venture Developer Sustainable Food & Agriculture
food@gec-scaleup.com
Application disclaimer
You qualify for the GEC programmes, if you have at least developed a first product or service (TRL 4-5 for GEC Catalyst), secured first (pre-)seed funding and your sustainable deep-tech solution and business model pass our sustainability assessment during the selection process. In 2023, there will be three openings for your applications. So if you’re not ready yet to apply now, please do so in October.
Note about the confidentiality of information that you submit: the Global Entrepreneurship Centre will treat your information with care for its own evaluation purposes. At this stage of the submission, no formal non-disclosure agreement (NDA) can be granted. Please therefore only share information that does not require any such NDA. In the further assessment phase, more detailed information may well be necessary to grant the award. Such information can then be subject to a specific contract. The GEC programmes are subject to EU de minimis regulation and German state aid.