FoodBytes! backs startups

Rabobank, a premier global food and agribusiness bank, is bringing FoodBytes!, its food and agriculture pitch-competition-meets-networking-event, to London for the first time on Thursday 13 September. The event will see 20  startups pitch to an audience of hundreds of investors, industry leading corporates and other startups, in a bid to further innovation in food and agriculture.

First launched in San Francisco in 2015 as part of Rabobank’s Banking for Food (B4F) strategy, FoodBytes! provides a platform for entrepreneurs to access mentorship and connections to grow their businesses. The B4F strategy is part of the bank’s ‘Growing a Better World Together’ mission, which aims to feed the world sustainably by 2050 by addressing global food waste and loss, sustainable agriculture and stability of the food chain and nutrition. Since its inception, FoodBytes! has attracted over 3,500 attendees and received over 1,400 applications from 35 countries. More than 210 companies make up the FoodBytes! alumni community, including Europe-based startups Impact Vision, Koupe and Novolyze.

The two-day event begins with a mentorship workshop on Wednesday 12 September for selected startups led by experts on fundraising, PR, branding, consumer trends, legal and go-to-market strategy.

Lisa Sohanpal, Founder of Nom Noms World Food and member of FoodBytes! alumni said: “The opportunities coming my way as a result of participating in FoodBytes! are continuous and endless.”

FoodBytes! London is supported by presenting sponsor ADM – a  specialty ingredients provider to food and beverage companies. Supporting sponsor British dairy company Dairy Crest manufactures market-leading food brands including Cathedral City cheddar, as well as specialised ingredients for use in the infant formula, human nutrition and animal feed markets. Community partner organisations include Food + Tech Connect, HAX, The Kitchen, Dishy Media, Shake Up Factory, YFood, Food Evolutions, Future Food Institute, RebelBio and Thought for Food.

Pitch applications for FoodBytes! London are now open. Startups across Europe that demonstrate product innovation, commercial viability, traction and a focus on sustainability are encouraged to apply here before Sunday 1 July at 11:59PM GMT.