25 August 2026
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Our services | Venture support | Food Chain Accelerator 2026
Food Chain Accelerator 2026-2027
Are you leading a startup or scale-up working toward a more sustainable and resilient food system? Then this is your invitation to join the 7th edition of Impact Hub Amsterdam’s Food Chain Accelerator — the growth program for entrepreneurs driving the future of food.
Full program details below ↓
In 11 days (spread out over 6 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. Impact Hub’s Food Chain Accelerator is designed to structure and sharpen your strategy in 6 months so that you become ready for your next phase of growth, together with investors, partners and clients.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 COHORT ARE NOW OPEN.
Program details
Training & Support
11 days including:
- a kick-off event and Demo day as well as 8 full-day training sessions, including workshops on impact measurement, strategic long-term roadmapping, investment-readiness, strategic partnerships, creating high impact teams and authentic negotiation
- 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.
- Pitch practice sessions guided by experienced trainers
- Strategic partnership support, including introductions to potential partners within our network.
- And multiple other valuable sessions, such as inspiring conversations with experienced entrepreneurs.
- Expert trainers such as: Enver Loke, Sheila Schenkel, Thera van Heuveln, Bastiaan de Wit, Orfirah Hellstone, Sabine Beuk, Jeroen Wilms and Hayat Chedid
Networking opportunities
- Peer-to-peer learning within a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs within the food industry
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Demo Day: Pitch to Impact Hub’s network of impact investors and strategic partners
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Fireside chats with Food Chain Accelerator alumni and program partners
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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 Rabo Foundation.
Program timeline
Application deadline
25 August 2026
3 September 2026
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET 30 minutes intake interviews. You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
Selection interviews
3 September 2026
5:00 - 10:00 PM CET 30 minutes intake interviews. You will be allocated a more specific time slot in due course.
Selection announcement
14 September 2026
24 September 2026
Welcome to the Program and Impact Hub! Time to get to know each other and set program goals. KICK-OFF
24 September 2026
Welcome to the Program and Impact Hub! Time to get to know each other and set program goals.
Vision & Strategy
30 September 2026
What will the coming years of your business look like?
21 October 2026
make sure your financial model is sound and ready for growth Finance training part 1 (+Excursion)
21 October 2026
make sure your financial model is sound and ready for growth
Impact Measurement
28 October 2026
Deep deep into how to measure & communicate your positive impact.
11 November 2026
Gain new perspectives on leading in a way that is authentic and sustainable. Personal Leadership
11 November 2026
Gain new perspectives on leading in a way that is authentic and sustainable.
Pitch Training + Strategic Partnerships
25 November 2026
Time to sharpen your pitch! And
what makes a good partnership & where do potential partnerships lie for your organization?
9 December 2026
from budgeting to growth planning let's connect your financials to funding opportunities. Deep dive of the legal journey of being an entrepreneur. Finance + Legal
9 December 2026
from budgeting to growth planning let's connect your financials to funding opportunities. Deep dive of the legal journey of being an entrepreneur.
Team + Mentor pitch practice
6 January 2027
How to build high impact Teams!
Time to pitch and get feedback from our associated mentors.
20 January 2027
How to connect with customers, refine your value proposition, & close deals. And negotiation skills Sales + Negotiation
20 January 2027
How to connect with customers, refine your value proposition, & close deals. And negotiation skills
Due Diligence + Investor role play
3 Februari 2027
Are you ready to answer investors questions? Do you know what kind of questions to expect? What do you need to share with them?
beginning of March 2027
Time to Pitch to our Ecosystem of Investors and strategic partners. Demo Day
beginning of March 2027
Time to Pitch to our Ecosystem of Investors and strategic partners.
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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If covering the fee feels challenging, please get in touch with us — we’re here to explore flexible options so that finances aren’t a barrier to joining.
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 2026 Food Chain Accelerator now!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.
Enjoy some impressions from previous editions!
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 is still to be decided. In previous years 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 joined the panel.
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
07. Health
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 6-month programme, there are 11 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 above.
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.
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 (Arla foods), Carolina Riffi Ollite (intellectual property attorney), Valentina Suligojen (ex Tony’s Chocolonely), Bert Naber (De Frisdrank Fabriek), Daniela Simbula (Danone), Enver Loke, Leontine Gast, and more. Additionally, the Zebra Legal will provide legal expertise.
Practical
The kickoff is on September 23, 2026 and the Demo Day in March 2027. For all other program dates, please see the timeline above. Participants are expected to be present at all sessions.
Yes! As a business expense, course fees are 100% tax-deductible.
Program partners
