25 August 2025
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Our services | Venture support | Food Chain Accelerator 2025
Food Chain Accelerator 2025-2026
Are you leading a startup or scale-up working toward a more sustainable food system? Then this is your invitation to join the 6th edition of Impact Hub Amsterdam’s Food Chain Accelerator — the growth program for entrepreneurs driving the future of food.
Full program details below ↓
In 10 days (spread out over 4 months) filled with strategy sessions, expert-led trainings, and one-on-one coaching, you’ll refine your business model, sharpen your marketing, strengthen your organization, and get investment-ready — all while growing your impact.
Program details
Training & Support
- 10 days including: a kick-off event and 5 full-day training sessions, including workshops on go-to-market, strategic long-term roadmapping, investment-readiness, creating high impact teams
- A field trip, including workshops and hands-on training
- 1-on-1 mentorship by experienced (food) entrepreneurs such as Niels Groenewoud, Enver Loke, Valentina Suligoj, Daniela Simbula and Erik Bomas.
- 1-on-1 legal advice
- Pitch practice sessions guided by experienced trainers, including a how to pitch to buyers session.
- Strategic partnership support, including introductions to potential partners within our network
- And multiple other valuable sessions, such as inspiring conversations with experienced entrepreneurs
Networking opportunities
- Peer-to-peer learning within a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs
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Demo Day: Pitch to Impact Hub’s network of impact investors and partners
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Q&A sessions with Food Chain Accelerator alumni
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Access to the Impact Hub Global – Impact Makers Community (320,000+ members)
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Connections to a diverse network of impact investors, potential clients, and strategic partners, including: Brave New Food, The DOEN Foundation and Food Hub
Program timeline
Application deadline
25 August 2025
4 September 2025
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
Selection interviews
4 September 2025
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
Selection announcement
12 September 2025
24 September 2025
KICK-OFF
24 September 2025
Vision & Strategy
1 October 2025
15 October 2025
Financials, Impact Measurement, Team Canvas, Leadership, Strategy, Partnerships & more... Impact Measurement
15 October 2025
Financials, Impact Measurement, Team Canvas, Leadership, Strategy, Partnerships & more...
Partnerships (+Excursion)
29 October 2025
Mentor check-ins, 1:1 legal advice, pitch training, financials, impact measurement
12 November 2025
Pitch Event at Impact Hub Amsterdam Pitch training
12 November 2025
Pitch Event at Impact Hub Amsterdam
Finance & Legal
26 November 2025
3 December 2025
Sales & Mentor Pitch Practice
3 December 2025
Leadership
10 December 2025
7 January 2026
Teams
7 January 2026
Due Diligence/Pitch practice
21 January 2026
28 January 2026
Investor Role Play
28 January 2026
Optional Strategy Revision
11 February 2026
4 March 2026
Demo Day
4 March 2026
Expect the following results
By the end of the accelerator, you’ll have:
- A validated, investment-ready business plan
- A clear strategy for your next development phase, including financing needs
- Strengthened partnerships within your value chain
- An enhanced impact narrative and improved pitching skills
- Insight into your role in the food transition and methods to measure your impact
- Experience pitching to a network of impact investors and strategic partners
Participation fee
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EUR €1,900
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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)
Ready to scale your food venture?
If you’re building a startup or scale-up that’s tackling the future of food: this is your chance to take things to the next level. Join a powerful network of changemakers, sharpen your business strategy, and get investment-ready with hands-on support from industry experts. Apply for the 2025 Food Chain Accelerator now!
Questions? Sign up for the Q&A
Have a look at answers to frequently asked questions below, or join our own Emily Rendel for a Q&A session on all the ins-and-outs regarding the Food Chain Accelerator.
During this Q&A session we will go into:
- More details on the program contents
- Meet alumni of previous editions
- Get connected to other food entrepreneurs
- In general; ask us everything that’s on your mind!
Meet the alumni
Get inspired by the trailblazing food entrepreneurs who’ve already gone through the Food Chain Accelerator. From circular packaging to regenerative farming, our alumni are transforming the food system — and continue to grow with the support of our community.
Frequently asked questions
General
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 program. 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.
Every year, we curate a panel of expert partners from our ecosystem to help select the next generation of food change makers.
This year’s selection committee brings together a diverse and experienced group of investors, ecosystem builders, public sector leaders, and industry experts from Gemeente Amsterdam, Stichting DOEN, ROM InWest, Green Protein Alliance, Flevocampus, The Bold New Company, Fair Capital Impact Fund, Oedipus Brewing, Rabobank Foundation and Impact Hub.
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 & novel ingredients
06. AgriTech
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 (August 25, 2025), 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 12, 2025.
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 program. You can also schedule a free call with one of our scouts to see which programs fulfill your needs!
Yes! During this 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 program, 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 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 10 full-day learning events. Amongst others, expect an energizing kick off, closing event, and 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 years of experience working with startups.
T.B.A.
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 24 September 2025 and the Demo Day in 2026. For all other program 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.
Program partners
