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Our services | Venture support | Food Chain Accelerator 2024
Food Chain Accelerator 2024
FOOD CHAIN ACCELERATOR IS BACK – Running a startup or scale-up that is working on a more sustainable food system? Apply for our Food Chain Accelerator! In 12 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 17 October, 2024.
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. This accelerator is designed for driven entrepreneurs working on the Protein Transition, Fighting Food Waste, Regenerative Agriculture & Biodiversity, Short- & Fair Chains and Inclusion.
WHAT YOU GET
TRAINING
- A kick-off event and 5 full-day training sessions, including workshops on marketing, pitching, valuation and impact measurement
- A field trip, including workshops and hands-on training
- A How to Pitch to Buyers session, learning to pitch your business to future buyers
- 1-on-1 mentorship by an experienced (food)entrepreneur such as Niels Groenewoud, Enver Loke, Valentina Suligoj, Daniela Simbula and Erik Bomas.
- 1-on-1 legal advice from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
- 2 pitch practice sessions guided by experienced trainers
- And multiple other valuable sessions, such as fireside chats and socratic business talks.
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
- Join the Impact Hub Global – Impact Makers Community, to connect with a network of over 320.000 impactmakers worldwide
- 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 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. (Fee excludes 21% VAT)
FAQ
General
On Jan 30, 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 part of the cost of running our programme. Our partners Rabobank Foundation and City of Amsterdam cover the bulk of the cost.
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 five themes:
01. Fighting food waste
02. Short and/or fair value chains
03. Biodiversity & regenerative agriculture
04. Inclusion
05. Protein transition
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 2024), 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 October 4, 2024.
Yes, your company should be registered in the Netherlands.
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 4-month programme, there are 12 full-day learning events. Expect an energizing kick off and closing event, and join us on a fun 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. 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.
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 trainers such as Hayat Chedid, Joris Lohman, Sheila Schenkel, 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, Carolina Riffi Ollite, Valentina Suligojen, Bert Naber, Daniela Simbula, Enver Loke, Leontine Gast, and more. Additionally, the De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek will provide legal expertise.
Practical
The kickoff is on 17 October 2024 and Demo Day is on 30 January 2025. 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
24 September
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
SELECTION INTERVIEWS
24 September
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT
1 October
17 October
Masterclass: Transitioning Theory KICK-OFF
17 October
Masterclass: Transitioning Theory
FIELD TRIP
24 October
Boerderij de Eenzaamheid Masterclass: Branding
7 & 21 Nov, 12 Dec, 16 Jan, 10 & 17 Feb
Financials, Impact Measurement, Team Canvas, Leadership, & more TRAINING DAYS (9:30-17:00 CET)
7 & 21 Nov, 12 Dec, 16 Jan, 10 & 17 Feb
Financials, Impact Measurement, Team Canvas, Leadership, & more
WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS DAYS
25 Oct, 14 Nov, 5 Dec, 9 & 23 Jan
Mentor check-ins, 1:1 legal advice, pitch training, financials, impact measurement
30 January, 2025
DEMO DAY
30 January, 2025
Partners
