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Our services | Venture support | Food Chain Accelerator 2022
Food Chain Accelerator
Running a startup or scale-up that is working on a more sustainable food system? Apply for our Food Chain Accelerator! In 13 days of training and strategy sessions at Impact Hub, you will work on your strategy, marketing, organisation and investment needs – and leave with a validated strategy for your next growth phase. Scroll down for more info & FAQs or apply right away! Applications are open until 15 September and the programme starts on 14 October, 2022.
For this accelerator, we will select 10-12 innovative startups & SMEs that share our ambition to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable food system. The driven entrepreneurs we are looking for are working on sustainable proteins, short and fair chains, regenerative agriculture and biodiversity, fighting food waste, or access to affordable, healthy & sustainable food. This accelerator is part of our Food Ecosystem >
WHAT YOU GET
TRAINING
- A kick-off event and 5 full-day training sessions, including workshops on marketing, pitching, valuation and impact measurement
- 2-day field trip, including workshops on transition theory and investment ready framework
- A How to Pitch to Buyers session, learning to pitch your business to future buyers
- 1-on-1 mentorship by an experienced (food)entrepreneur
- 1-on-1 legal advice from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
- 2 pitch practice sessions with experienced experts
NETWORK
- Peer-to-peer learning in a small group of like-minded entrepreneurs
- A Demo Day for Impact Hub’s impact investor & partner network
- Q&A chats with Food Chain Accelerator alumni
- Impact Hub membership access to a global network of over 24.500 impactmakers and monthly community events
- Access to a diverse network of impact investors, potential clients and strategic partners such as Brave New Food, DOEN Foundation, Food Hub and many others.
THE RESULT
- Your company is ready for investment, growth, and impact
- A strategy for the next development phase, next steps, financing needs, and a validated and investment-ready business plan
- New and strengthened partnerships in your value chain, such as suppliers and launching customers
- An improved impact narrative and presentation & pitching skills
- Insight into your role in the food transition and measuring your impact
- The experience of pitching your company and needs to our wide network of impact investors and strategic partners
PARTICIPATION FEE
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EUR 1,695
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The fee is excluding 21% VAT. The programme value exceeds EUR 25,000 per company. Thanks to the support of our partners, we can offer participants a reduced fee. The fee covers the entire programme, including catering and field trip lodging, for up to two participants per company. We ask there always be one familiar face per company, but you are free to bring a (different) associate to each session.
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FAQ
General
On March 9, you will pitch your business to an audience of investors and strategic partners. For example DOEN Foundation, ifund, PYMWYMIC, NX Food, Brave New Food, angel investors, banks, and more.
No, we charge a participant fee to cover the cost of running our programme.
Your business is your business. We just want to help you grow it. Our mentors, trainers, and team members will share from their experience and provide you with tools and examples. It’s up to you to decide on the strategy of growing your business.
Over 50% of alumni secure investment within 6 months after finishing the programme. For over 80% of alumni, the accelerator has helped them find new partners or buyers.
You’ll also become part of our alumni network, with access to member and alumni-only events. And we’ll always help you make connections and enable you to pitch your company or products at our events or our partners.
Application
This accelerator is for owners/(co-)founders of startups & scale-ups working on one of these four themes:
01. protein transition
02. short and/or fair value chains, biodiversity & regenerative agriculture
03. fighting food waste
04. access to healthy & sustainable food
In addition, your business is generating revenue, has shown product-market fit, and employs a team of at least 2, including the founder(s).
After the application deadline (September 15), we will review and conduct an in-depth interview with a shortlist of companies. We will let you know whether you have been selected to participate no later than September 27.
No, your company does not have to be registered in the Netherlands. However, we’d like to see the ambition of expanding/operating in the Netherlands. We will also organize most training days at our location in Amsterdam.
No, we only select companies that have shown product-market fit, are generating revenue, and have a team of at least 2, including the founder(s).
If you’re (still) working on the product-market fit, we recommend the Food Pioneers incubator programme. You can also schedule a free call with one of our scouts to see which programs fulfill your needs!
Yes! In the accelerator, you will strengthen your business model, meet valuable potential partners and clients, and increase your impact.
If you’re transforming your startup into a scale-up and are looking to work on your growth strategy in a group of like-minded impact entrepreneurs that want to change our food system for the better, definitely apply!
Programme content
During the programme, you will benefit from different food sector-specific workshops and introductions to our many food-sector partners and experts.
Also, you will become part of our Sustainable Food Ecosystem, which accelerates the transition to a sustainable food system by sharing knowledge, connecting parties, and facilitating collaboration.
Throughout the 5-month programme, there are eight full-day and two half-day learning events. In addition, we host a kick off and closing event and go on a fun two-day excursion. And don’t forget the additional time you need to prepare and implement changes to your business. For dates, see the timeline section below.
All training days are part theory and part practical work. A day could start with one of our experienced experts sharing their lessons and tips & tricks. We try to keep this short & sweet, so you can get to work implementing your learnings in your own strategy and consulting with your peers. COVID and the weather permitting, we will have a nice lunch together in between and end the day discussing your new insights over a beer in our courtyard. If not, we make sure to arrange for a well-organized online alternative.
Trainers
We work with a selection of seasoned trainers. Each of our trainers is specialized in one of the programme topics and has over 8 years of experience working with startups. In this edition we work with Hayat Chedid, Joris Lohman, Jeroen Slappendel, Hanna Zwietering, Michelle Chakkalackal, Sheila Schenkel, Berend Braam, Jeroen Wilms and Peter Fechter.
Partners & Mentors
Throughout the program you’ll be guided on a personal level by experienced (food)entrepreneurs in a mentorship programme such as Niels Groenewoud, Olubunmi Okolosi, Leontine Gast, Bart Fischer, Isaac Arevalo Perel, Bert Naber and Maartje Nellissen. Additionally, The Boston Consulting Group provides strategic support and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek provides legal expertise.
Practical
The kickoff is on 14 October 2022 and Demo Day is on 9 March 2023. For all other programme dates, please see the timeline below. Participants are expected to be present at all sessions.
Yes! As a business expense, course fees are 100% tax-deductible.
Timeline
EARLY-BIRD-BONUS
1 September
Apply before 1 September for a chance to win an extra 1-on-1 Impact Measurement session with Narrate!
SELECTION INTERVIEWS
26 September
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
29 September
SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT
29 September
KICK-OFF
14 October
20 & 21 October
FIELD TRIP
20 & 21 October
TRAINING DAYS (10-4 CET)
10, 11 & 18 November
2 December
13 & 27 January
10 & 17 February
2 December
13 & 27 January
10 & 17 February
10 & 17 February
WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS DAYS
10 & 17 February
DEMO DAY DRY RUN
24 February
9 March
DEMO DAY
9 March
Partners
