Foodtech start-up incubator kicks off in Verona

The first announcement of the Foodtech incubator, the programme dedicated to transforming the best university research first into spin-offs and then into enterprises of the future, is now underway. It was launched by the Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub, born from the collaboration between Eatable Adventures - one of the leading Foodtech accelerators - and a group of institutional and industrial partners in the Verona area, including the Cariverona Foundation, UniCredit, the Municipality of Verona, Veronafiere, Confindustria Verona and the University of Verona.

The aim of the programme is to bridge the gap between research and the agri-food sector, creating favourable conditions for the development of new technology companies in a sector that in Italy will reach EUR 75 billion in 2024 and which today faces crucial challenges: from the digitalisation of agriculture to climate change, from the evolution of eating habits to the urgent need for a new balance between human health and the planet.

After consolidating its model in Verona and the Triveneto region, Foodtech incubator now broadens its horizons and launches a nationwide incubator. The call for entries is open and will select up to 10 high-potential ideas. After selection, the process will officially start in November and end in February 2026, when the solutions developed will be presented to an audience of investors, large companies and institutions of national importance. Emerging projects will be able to apply in five key innovation areas: innovative agriculture; next-gen ingredients and products; circular economy and upcycling; biotech and new production processes; and deep tech for the food supply chain.

The course then includes a hybrid and intensive programme combining training, mentorship and workshops, through a direct confrontation with companies and investors. It opens with an initial bootcamp, dedicated to defining the foundations of the project and aligning the work on the key pillars; this will be followed by a calendar of online group sessions, to share knowledge, tools and best practices. The aim is to transform projects in the early stages into structured start-ups, ready to enter acceleration paths and open up to investors and partners.