Swiss Accelerators+ Round Table

Jan 17, 2022 | SFNV updates, Uncategorized

Swiss Accelerators+ Round Table

In December, we invited seven Swiss accelerators and startup support organisations to a Round Table event to discuss how we can work together to drive food tech innovation across Switzerland - and beyond.

Navigating the ecosystem
Accelerators are the lifeblood of any innovation ecosystem. They provide the next generation of innovators with the connections, funding and support they need to develop their ideas into viable, scaleable and impactful businesses. But with so much on offer, how can founders and startup teams figure out which platforms are the right fit for their business? And how can accelerators collaborate to ensure that promising startups receive the right support, at the right time, as they grow and scale?

Our round table event - attended by Nadine Lacroix Oggier, Cluster Manager at Cluster Food & Nutrition, Camille Bossel, Co-Founder and COO at FoodHack, Ingeborg Gasser-Kriss, Co-Director at the Founder Institute Food Ecosystems Accelerator, Katka Letzing, CEO and Co-Founder at Kickstart Innovation, Matthew Lashmar, Managing Director at Masschallenge, Lucas Grob, Innovation Manager at Swiss Food Research and Christine Gould, CEO at Thought for Food - was designed to explore these questions and consider how the Swiss Food and Nutrition Valley can help to maximize the reach and impact of these organizations' work in 2022.

What we heard
A round of introductions helped to identify synergies and potential areas for collaboration. Although each partner has a unique offer and approach, it soon became clear that many attendees also faced similar challenges and opportunities in their work.

Everyone agreed that Switzerland has a really strong offer for attracting international talent - from leading universities and research institutions to the sheer breadth of funding opportunities available. But there is also more we can do in terms of communicating our offer at a national level and ensuring that we retain talent as startups grow and scale.

Discussing and making actions in the office

Christina presented the idea of an "Ecosystem Navigator" - a platform that provides startups with a clear overview of the package of support that Switzerland can offer as a food nation. This would also mean that ecosystem actors are better placed to make the most of existing initiatives, like international startup tours.

The event drew to a close with a brainstorming session. Attendees were invited to share their thoughts on what an Ecosystem Navigator could look like in practice, identify needs and leads per organisation and vote on the key opportunities for collaboration in 2022.

What happens next?
The SFNV team has pulled together the learnings from the sesssion and we look forward to working with attendees to define the next steps. As a starting point, the SFNV team will be connecting with each of the participants to understand their key communication and project milestones for 2022 and consider how we can collaborate to strengthen their joint reach across their existing communities.

Do you work in an accelerator or startup promotion organisation and would you like to be involved in these discussions? Reach out to SFNV team.

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An interview with Yasemin Sharityar, Head of Impact Platforms

Dec 14, 2021 | Impact Platforms, Uncategorized

An interview with Yasemin Sharityar, Head of Impact Platforms

Over the last four months, SFNV has launched its first Impact Platform on Precision Nutrition. We caught up with Yasemin, Head of Impact Platforms SFNV, to find out more about what’s happened so far and hear about the four additional platforms we'll be launching in 2022.

What are the SFNV Impact Platforms, exactly?
Impact Platforms aim to unleash purpose driven innovation for better planetary and human health. We come together in different formats to collaboratively discuss and work on impactful ideas. It's about harnessing the power of the Swiss ecosystem, creating synergies and doing things that none of us can do on our own. In 2021, we’ve held a series of events on the topic of precision nutrition to scope out the first of our five Impact Platforms.

Which events have you held so far?
Our first event brought together all members with a shared interest in precision nutrition. This gave us the opportunity to discuss the fundamentals of the topic. It soon became clear that there's no established definition of “precision nutrition” or “personalized nutrition” (yet!) and that these terms are often used interchangeably. Our second event was an open invitation Round Table. We invited three expert speakers from Nestlé, Terra Lumina and LOEWI to share the work they're doing in this space. We then followed up with two Garage events.

What did you do in the SFNV Garages?
The SFNV Garages are where the real work happens! Supported by McKinsey & Company we organized two Garages. In Garage #1 members defined a broad, common vision for the Impact Platform and identified current challenges and gaps. Then, in Garage #2, we transformed these into opportunities. The session identified 15 concrete project ideas, ranging from a cohort study and digital apps to the creation of a nutrition registry. We were thrilled that more than 20 members from a diverse range of backgrounds got involved. There was so much energy in the (virtual) room! Everyone was eager to collaborate and find new ways of moving the needle on this important topic.

What are your plans for 2022?
In January, we’ll be holding a series of project kick-off meetings with members who have expressed an interest in leading, contributing to or supporting the identified projects. We’ll work together to define what success would look like, assess potential project impact and agree key milestones. When the projects have started to take form, we plan to invite all SFNV members to a pitch event to give project teams feedback and share the skills, knowledge and resources to make them a success.

Building on these learnings, we’ll also be launching four more Impact Platforms later in the year on Sustainable Proteins, Food Systems 4.0, Future of Farming and Sustainable Packaging and working alongside members to create collaborative innovation projects around these verticals.

How can SFNV members and the broader Swiss food ecosystem get involved?
You can find out more about the SFNV Impact Platforms here. We’ll be sending out e-invites to members-only events, but we’ll also be organising some sessions that are open to all ecosystem actors. Follow us on LinkedIn to get the latest updates. If you’re looking to develop a project in one of our areas of focus or have knowledge or expertise to share, please do get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.

Would you like to know more about the SFNV Impact Platforms?

Get in touch!

Yasemin Sharityar

Head of Impact Platforms
yasemin@sfnv.ch

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Agilery: your one-stop food manufacturer

Dec 9, 2021 | Member Highlight, Uncategorized

Agilery: your one-stop food manufacturer

The Agilery team wants to revolutionize food and beverage manufacturing. We sat down with co-founder Jonas Schneider to talk about collaborating to innovate - from vegan snacks to alcohol-free spirits.  

Describe your company in a single sentence.
Agilery aims to revolutionize food and beverage manufacturing and support innovation by enabling brands to access the co-manufacturers and suppliers they need to grow.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Two things. Being exposed to the most exciting new food products and concepts through the various clients we work with. And then seeing these new products hit supermarket shelves or hearing about their success just a few months down the line. It's really rewarding to know that we've played a part in supporting these teams to bring their ideas to life.

What are you and your team working on at the moment?
Almost every product you can think of! We currently have a portfolio of 15 new products, ranging from innovative drinks and vegan snacks to delicious sauces and even ice cream. We also want to be able to offer our support at a larger scale to create a more innovative and transparent food network. To achieve this, we're developing a new platform that we’d like to become the central database of the European food ecosystem!

Tell us about one of your open innovation success stories.
The startup Rebels 0.0% - another SFNV member - is actually one of our favorite success stories. It all started with an entrepreneur, Christof Tremp, who had a very clear vision: he wanted to create the first Swiss-made alcohol-free spirits. But that wasn't all. He wanted them to be a truly local drink and - of course - a step ahead of all the other products already on the market. We supported him to develop an entire product range and set up a tailor-made manufacturing solution, leveraging the best local processing technologies and flexible manufacturing options. Less than a year after creating their first batch, Rebels’ spirits are now IWSC award winners and stocked in a rapidly growing number of locations across Switzerland. We're proud to provide them with ongoing support as they grow. This project is a perfect example of what can be achieved when the right people and companies come together - and the huge potential of the Swiss ecosystem. 

Agilery bottles

What support could the SFNV community offer to help you achieve your goals?
We actually hope to be able to help the SFNV community - from entrepreneurs to leading food and beverage companies - with their operations. We can help SFNV members navigate the world of small-scale manufacturing and bring transparency to this complex sector. We've made it our mission to make sure that any product innovation with the right potential gets the support it needs to succeed!

How do you support the Swiss ecosystem in your work?
The world of food manufacturing lacks transparency and is way too old-school. It's difficult to navigate and doesn't give companies the flexibility they need to keep up with the current pace of innovation. We're therefore eager to support any initiative trying to tackle this issue. We can only innovate and achieve sustainability targets by working together. That’s why SFNV’s mission is essential.

Let us in on something we don't know about your company.
Our office is a former bakery and coffee roastery! In fact, the whole building, DasProvisorium, is home to countless food start-ups, food producers, caterers and entrepreneurs. It's a great place to find inspiration, collaborate and, of course, eat! 

Interested in finding out more? Jonas and the team would love to hear from you at hello@agilery.ch.

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Agilery Team at Christmas

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Accenture Joins SFNV in Mapping the Swiss FoodTech Ecosystem 2021

Jul 16, 2021 | Uncategorized

Accenture Joins SFNV in Mapping the Swiss FoodTech Ecosystem 2021

swiss foodtech ecosystem 2021

The report identifies that 286 key players and four major trends are driving and influencing the Swiss foodtech industry: sustainability, agriculture efficiency, and transparency of supply chains.

Read the full report

Today we see the beginning of a new era in the global food and nutrition sector. Significant shifts in consumer demand and behavior have been driving exponential growth across food production, processing, delivery and disposal and are unlocking frankly unprecedented opportunities for blue-sky innovation. Meanwhile Switzerland, leveraging an already formidable footing within the food industry, looks set to become one of the leaders in redefining and re-imagining food value chains.

This report is the result of a partnership between Accenture and the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley. Both partners joined forces to map the FoodTech ecosystem of Switzerland – striving to provide deeper insights into the current state and future possibilities.

We have conducted a detailed mapping of the Swiss landscape through the lens of innovative FoodTechs: identifying an impressive 280+ key players spanning large corporates, trailblazing startups, academia, venture capitalists, and governmental organizations, this report shines a spotlight on the Swiss food innovation sector.

Among other findings, you will discover :

  • Who the most influential Swiss FoodTech startups and ecosystem partners are and where they sit within the ecosystem of food innovation.
  • The emerging trends in food technology and priority areas for Swiss enterprises.
  • How Swiss actors are primed to become global shapers in technologies such as precision agriculture and sustainable protein sources.

 

This is the first version of the mapping, hence neither the map nor any listing in the whole report claims to be exhaustive. We will update the ecosystem map on a regular basis, which will increase its accuracy. Therefore, let’s co-create! Are you a part of the Swiss FoodTech ecosystem and missing on the map?

Please fill the form below to make sure you will be on the next version (quarterly update).

Add a company to the map

In partnership with Accenture

Matthias Hegele | LinkedIn
Managing Director
Accenture Strategy & Consulting Lead Switzerland 

Sebastian Guenther | LinkedIn
Innovation & Design Lead CH
Accenture Ventures Lead DACH

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Nestlé R&D Accelerator Calls for Foodtech Startups and Entrepreneurs to Collaborate With

Jul 7, 2021 | Uncategorized

Nestlé R&D Accelerator Calls for Foodtech Startups and Entrepreneurs to Collaborate With

Accelerator

The Nestlé R&D Accelerator opens its “nest” to accelerate dynamic food & beverage innovations that will delight consumers and enhance their lives.

Apply Now

The Nestlé R&D Accelerator offers a 6-month immersive entrepreneurial experience from “idea to shop”, empowering cross-functional teams to market their pioneering and disruptive solutions that embrace new science, technology and love of food.

The Accelerator brings startups, students, graduates, and Nestlé employees together for the fast-track development of a novel food & beverage solution. Whether the innovative idea is hooked in new science, leveraging new technologies, originated by early trends or is a white space opportunity, the Accelerator is the right place to turn an idea into reality in record time.

What does the Nestlé R&D Accelerator Offer?

The Accelerator provides access to co-development funds, infrastructure, expertise, coaching and mentorship from the largest food and beverage company in the world.

  • Access to Expertise
  • R&D Infrastructure
  • Funding

How does it work?

  1. Submit your innovation proposal to one of the open challenges or apply to join a venture team.
  2. The Accelerator selection committee evaluates your submission.
  3. The Accelerator informs you if you have been selected and prepares your enrolment.
  4. You become part of a venture team in one of our Accelerators for 6 months. 
  5. The Accelerator supports and coaches you, provides access to resources, expertise, and infrastructure.
  6. Accelerator members will be mentored “on the go” during the venture, enabling team decisions and success.
  7. Successful developments are brought to shopper and consumer merit by creating revenue with their value proposition.
  8. The test launch results may open up further opportunities after your 6-month adventure.

For more information:

Nestlé Research
Route du Jorat 57
Lausanne, Vaud 1000, CH

You can also contact them here or check out their FAQ.

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