What FoodBytes! does for natural entrepreneurs
FoodBytes! selects 45 startups annually for exposure to corporate leaders and investors, mentorship, one-on-one connections and a chance to pitch their businesses to FoodBytes! judges.
March 31, 2017
![Taali founder on FoodBytes! stage Taali founder on FoodBytes! stage](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/blt4ef33bd2c9ba0cb1/64d6b4d104c5643de5772b7a/foodbytes.png?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
Updated on July 24, 2020.
In this series New Hope Network covers the ins and outs of accelerators and incubators across the United States that provide mentorship, funds and resources to help grow natural businesses. FoodBytes! isn't a traditional accelerator or incubator. Anne Greven, head of food and ag innovation at Rabobank, shares how the evolving platform continues to drive industry collaboration to feed the world's growing population sustainably.
What: Rabobank’s FoodBytes!, an innovation platform for startups, large food and ag companies and investors that includes FoodBytes Pitch and FoodBytes Pilot.
When: FoodBytes! Pitch runs October to December annually; FoodBytes! Pilot 6- to 9-month engagements take place year-round.
Notable alumni: Miyoko’s Creamery, Know Brainer, Vive Organics.
When are FoodBytes! applications open, and when is the application deadline?
Applications for FoodBytes! Pitch 2021 are now closed.
FoodBytes! Pilot is open year-round to corporate partners.
What is the difference between the FoodBytes! Pitch and FoodBytes! Pilot programs?
FoodBytes! Pitch is a startup discovery program offering one-on-one connections with corporate leaders and investors, mentorship, a livestreamed pitch competition and lifetime access to the FoodBytes! alumni network for ongoing connections and support from Rabobank. The platform selects 45 startups annually, including 15 startups in each of three verticals: sustainable consumer food, food tech and agtech. After three weeks of digital programming, the judges select 15 finalists to participate in a pitch competition and award three winners a $10K cash prize to help them scale their businesses and impact in solving food system challenges.
FoodBytes! Pilot is a corporate innovation program where Rabobank serves as a "matchmaker" by pairing corporate partners with startups for customized pilot collaborations based on the organization’s unique goals and challenges. These collaborations can result in win-win outcomes, such as product co-development, commercial partnerships, licensing agreements, new customer relationships and investment.
What types of companies does FoodBytes! assist?
FoodBytes! Pitch is open to pioneering startups (typically seed and Series A stage) whose products and technologies address major food system challenges. FoodBytes! Pitch encourages applications from entrepreneurs who are positively impacting people, profit and the planet.