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Our services | Join an accelerator program | Food Chain Accelerator 2021

Food Chain Accelerator

Running a startup or scale-up that is working on a more sustainable food system? Apply for our Impact the Food Chain Accelerator! In 13 days of training and strategy sessions at Impact Hub The Netherlands, you’ll get your company ready for investment, growth, and more impact. Scroll down for more info & FAQs or apply right away! The programme starts on 7 October 2021.

Is your startup or scale-up working on sustainable proteins, short and/or fair chains & biodiversity, fighting food waste, or access to healthy & sustainable food? For this accelerator, we will select 8-10 innovative startups & SMEs (MKB’ers) that work on a more sustainable food system.

WHAT YOU GET

  • 13 days of training and strategy sessions at Impact Hub The Netherlands spread over 5 months
  • A Demo Day for impact investors, various other networking events, and excursions
  • 1-on-1 mentorship by an experienced entrepreneur
  • Peer-to-peer learning: all programme participants bring a relevant network and valuable experience to the table
  • Access to a diverse network of impact investors, strategic partners such as Food Hub and Brave New Food, and potential clients
  • Impact Hub membership with discounts and access to a global network of over 17,000 impactmakers

THE RESULT

  • Your enterprise is ready for investment, growth, and impact
  • A strategy for the next development phase, next steps, financing requirements, and a validated and investment-ready business plan
  • New and strengthened partnerships in your value chain, such as suppliers and launching customers
  • Improved narrative, presentation, and pitching skills
  • Insight into your role in the food transition and measuring your impact
  • The opportunity to pitch your company and potential investment needs to our wide network of impact investors

COMMITMENT FEE

€1,695

Fees are excluding 21% VAT. The fee covers up to two participants per company. To be able to get familiar with one another as a group, however, it is important that one person can attend most of the sessions.

Click here for all 2019 alumni
Click here for all 2020 alumni

FAQ

General

On March 5, 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.

Furthermore, you’ll become part of our alumni network! We will invite you to Impact Hub’s general and alumni-only events. And we’ll always be willing to help you make connections and enable you to pitch your company or products at our events or our partners’.

We accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and economy. We are part of the Impact Hub network of 17,000+ entrepreneurs and innovators in 102+ locations worldwide. Impact Hub Amsterdam connects pioneers, leaders, and innovators to organisations, investors, and the public sector. We are a collaboration and innovation enabler, because the complex issues our society is facing cannot be solved alone.

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 employ a team of at least 2, including the founder(s).

After the application deadline, 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 1 October 2021.

No, your company does not have to be registered in the Netherlands. We will, however, organise most training days at our location in Amsterdam. If you need a Startup Visa, check out our Startup Visa page.

No, we only select private companies that have shown product-market fit, are generating revenue, and have a team of at least 2, including the founder(s).

Do check out our incubator or set up a free call with one of our scouts to see which programme can fulfil 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 four full-day learning events. In addition, there are 8-12 accountability group meetings (usually around 2-4 hours per month) and then there’s the additional time you need to 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-organised online alternative. 

We work with a selection of seasoned trainers. Each of our trainers is specialised in one of the programme topics and has over 8 years of experience working with startups. You can meet some of the trainers already here.

All of our mentors are successful entrepreneurs or experienced experts. We match you with the mentor that best fits the specific needs of your company.
For this edition our mentors are Hayat Chedid, Kathleen Oerlemans, Ruben Smit, Hanna ZwieteringMark Kulsdom, Jesse ‘t Lam, Michelle Chakkalackal, Petra Benes, Sheila Schenkel, Jeroen Wilms, and Peter Fechter.

Practical

The kickoff is on 7 October and Demo Day is on 24 March. For all other programme dates, please see the black timeline below. Participants are expected to be present at all sessions.

 

Yes, with a maximum of three payments and after having an agreement on the terms. Please contact us to tell us about your situation.

Yes! As a business expense, course fees are 100% tax-deductible.

We have taken all measures necessary to be able to safely host the plenary sessions of the programme in our large space in Amsterdam.

We comply with all current COVID regulations, including the 1.5m distance, the mandatory use of face masks in indoor public areas, and an ample supply of hand and surface disinfectants.

Timeline

Application deadline
9 September
21 September (evening)
Selection interviews
21 September (evening)
Selection announcement
23 September
7 October
Kick-off
7 October
Excursion
14 & 15 October
28 & 29 October
18, 19 & 26 November
20 & 21 January
Training Days
28 & 29 October
18, 19 & 26 November
20 & 21 January
Dinner
25 November
10 December (Aft.)
12 February
Pitch practice
10 December (Aft.)
12 February
Demo Day Dry Run
25 February
24 March
Demo Day
24 March