About this opportunity
The MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge is a match making contest rather than a cohort programme. Startups and scaleups with proven food, agriculture or packaging technology are put in front of a group of global food corporations, and the ones that fit are introduced to the people inside those companies who can start a collaboration. The stated goal is to get your idea exposed to global food corporations and gain the chance of a pilot or investment, with the right partner found for you to scale up.
The 2027 edition is run by MassChallenge Switzerland with partners Bühler Group, Givaudan, Mars, Louis Dreyfus Company and SIG. They are looking for solutions in five areas: sustainable food and feed, covering disruptive proteins, fats and ingredients, human health and nutrition, animal feed and pet health and nutrition, and consumer packaged goods; agri tech, covering regenerative agriculture and precision farming; sustainable supply chain and manufacturing, covering supply chain optimisation, decarbonisation of manufacturing, circular economy, traceability and food safety and preservation technologies; sustainable packaging and materials, covering bio based chemicals, new materials and molecules; and side streams valorisation, turning wheat, soy, corn and potato side streams into valuable assets upcycled into the agri tech and food industry, packaging, construction, personal care and perfumery. Every startup that has a fit with the partners in these fields is connected and invited to a one to one call or DemoDay.
For a Nigerian or African founder the appeal is the door it opens rather than any cash prize. If you are shortlisted, MassChallenge introduces you to senior research and development leads, open innovation managers, sustainability executives and business unit heads at the partner companies, and the first meeting is followed by a detailed sharing of information, most likely covered by a Non Disclosure Agreement, then the creation of a joint pilot to test the scaling potential. From there a startup can become a supplier to the corporation, a partner in some form of venture, or receive investment, and every step is at the discretion of both sides with no obligation to proceed. Each partner then selects one startup to pitch their joint collaboration idea at the MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge Day in June 2027, a physical event in Switzerland attended by all the corporate partners, where the startup presents to the whole group and gains more connections. Selected startups receive 1,000 CHF to contribute towards travel to that event.
The Challenge is free to enter and MassChallenge takes no equity, and the company does not even have to be incorporated to apply. What the panel weighs is readiness rather than geography: your product or idea must be at prototype stage or have a working proof of concept backed by data, which the page defines as Technical Readiness Level 5 where the technology has been validated in a relevant environment, and you should be funded somewhere between seed and series C plus. Applications are open now and the closing date printed on the Challenge page is 25 November. Screening and the discussions that follow are carried out online, so the physical commitment is one day in Switzerland for the Final in June, and because the partner corporations are headquartered in Europe you need to be able to travel to Europe for discussions. The format is proven at scale, with over 3,500 startups applying in the Challenge's first seven years and more than 570 connected to partners for discussions, over half of whom went on to a detailed follow up conversation.
What you receive
- A direct pathway to multi national corporations, with an introduction to senior research and development, open innovation managers, sustainability executives and business unit heads if you are shortlisted
- The ability to scale your technology with a partner, moving from first meeting to information sharing under a Non Disclosure Agreement and then a joint pilot
- The chance to become a supplier to a corporation, a partner in a venture, or to receive investment
- An invitation to the MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge Day in June 2027 in Switzerland, where each partner presents one shortlisted startup to all the corporate partners
- 1,000 CHF towards travel to the Challenge Day for selected startups
- Publicity through press releases from MassChallenge and some of the corporate partners
- No entry fee and no equity taken
Who can apply
- Startups and scaleups from any geography
- A product or idea at prototype stage, or with a working proof of concept backed by data, meaning Technical Readiness Level 5 where the technology has been validated in a relevant environment
- Funded from seed to series C plus, with some sales and traction acceptable as validation that the product is needed
- A strategic fit with at least one of the partner corporations, which you indicate in the application form
- Ideas that are impactful in reducing the carbon footprint and emissions of the food value chain, viable in demonstrating traction among consumers, manufacturers and their supply base including farmers, and scalable at the agricultural, manufacturing, distribution or disposal stage
- Able to travel to Europe for discussions, since the partner corporations are headquartered in Europe and physical collaboration would be mostly in Europe
- Able to attend one day in Switzerland for the Final in June 2027
Who should not apply
- Companies that are too early stage, meaning without a prototype or a working proof of concept backed by data, are directed instead to the Sustainable Food Track of the four month early stage Acceleration Program, which opens applications in January
Documents to prepare
- Company and contact details for the applying startup or organisation
- Completed application form answers, including which specific partner corporations are a strategic fit for your solution and which of the priority areas you work in
- A pitch deck, since by applying you agree to share your contact details, application form and deck with the partners
- Evidence of your technical readiness, traction and proof of concept data, since answers cannot be saved and the form is submitted in one sitting
How to apply
- Read the eligibility criteria and the list of priority areas on the Challenge page at https://apply.masschallenge.org/en-us/mcch-sustainable-food-challenge-2027
- Open the application form at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8992033/Application-to-MassChallenge-Sustainable-Food-Solutions-Challenge-2027
- Complete the form in one sitting, because answers cannot be saved once you start
- Note the specific partner corporations that are a strategic fit for your solution, and the detailed area your work falls under
- Submit before the 25 November deadline
- For questions, write to switzerland@masschallenge.org
Selection process
- Relevant applicants are presented to the partner corporations
- Selected startups are invited to meet with research and development, open innovation, sustainability executives and business unit heads for further discussion and to evaluate the potential for collaboration
- The programme expects these discussions to result in proof of concepts, partnerships and investments for several of the startups
- Each partner then selects one startup to pitch their joint collaboration idea at the MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge Day in June 2027, a physical event in Switzerland attended by all the corporate partners
- Partners and startups then work together to scale the startups' ideas through the partners' businesses
- The selection process is carried out online
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27 for Young Green Founders
A global programme from the International Trade Centre's Ye! Community that gives young founders under 35 a ten week bootcamp, an accelerator with equity free seed funding of up to $100,000 USD for land restoration, coaching from business experts and a $10,000 USD award prize.
Questions applicants ask
What are the eligibility criteria?
To have a product or idea at the prototype stage and be ready to scale up, alongside the wider criteria set out in the eligibility section of the Challenge page.
Do I need to incorporate in Switzerland?
No. Your company does not even have to be incorporated.
Will I have to come to Switzerland?
Yes, you will need to come to Switzerland for one day for the Final in June. The programme allocates $1,000 to startups outside of Europe.
Is the programme free?
Yes. There is no fee and no equity is taken.
How much time does it take?
The duration varies based on the connections established with the corporates. You may take part in multiple demo days, deck reviews and eventually one to one calls and meetings.
What if I think I am too early stage?
The Sustainable Food Track, part of the four month early stage Acceleration Program, is designed for that stage. Applications for it open in January.
Important disclaimer
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