VII Edition
Programme Terms
Express your interest in the call
Apply
BFFood opens its call for applications to select projects that will participate in its VII Edition, in the incubation, acceleration, and consolidation phases.
Through this call, the following will be selected:
- A maximum of 14 projects for the incubation phase. These will have the opportunity to participate in the acceleration phase, for which a maximum of 10 projects will be selected.
- A maximum of 6 projects for the consolidation phase.
Who is this call for?
Candidate projects must:
- Belong to the food sector or be applicable to the food sector.
- Address one of the challenges established in the Call for Applications.
- Have an innovative character.
- Have a registered office or an operational center in the Autonomous Community of Galicia before participating in the acceleration and consolidation phases. This is not required for participation in the incubation phase.
Projects at different stages of development may apply to participate in BFFood:
- Pre-seed: projects with a business idea that aim to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) and formalize a company. They will be eligible for the incubation/acceleration phase.
- Seed: projects from already established companies that have a product idea and an MVP in development but have not yet generated sales. They will be eligible for the incubation/acceleration phase.
- Early stage: projects with a developed product or service, a defined business model, and existing sales. They will be eligible for the consolidation phase.
How to participate?
- Carefully read the terms and conditions document.
- Submit your application through the project submission form. You can complement it with a presentation about your business idea.
Schedule
The schedule and deadlines for the VII Edition are as follows:
| Step | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Call for applications opens (incubation/acceleration and consolidation) | 12/03/2025 |
| Call for applications closes (cut-off) for incubation | 30/04/2025 |
| Online interviews with the top 20 incubation projects | 23/05/2025 |
| Announcement of selected incubation projects | 26/05/2025 |
| Start of the incubation phase | 02/06/2025 |
| Call for applications closes (cut-off) for consolidation | 02/09/2025 |
| PitchDay (for the selection of projects in acceleration and consolidation) | 19/09/2025 |
| Start of acceleration and consolidation phases | 20/10/2025 |
| Completion of acceleration and consolidation phases | 19/06/2026 |
* This is an excerpt from the most frequently asked questions, referenced in the program rules, available at https://bffood.gal/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BFFOODBasesEN1741854744.pdf
To complete the application form for your project, you should have at hand:
Documents:
- A PDF presentation of the project, which can follow the structure of an investor deck (max. 4MB)
- CV of the team members who will participate
- Responsible declaration of participation. You can download and sign it.
Questions that (perhaps) require some preparation:
- Weaknesses / strengths
- Value Proposition / Business Model
- Investment Expectations / Needs
- Incubation: It is not necessary for the project to have a company incorporated in Galicia.
- Acceleration: It is mandatory for the project to have its registered office or centre of activity in Galicia before accessing this phase
- Consolidation: It is mandatory for the project to have its registered office or centre of activity in Galicia before entering this phase
This requirement is aligned with the program's objective of promoting the entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem in the Galician food sector.
All projects (in incubation, acceleration and consolidation) must have a 100% dedication to the project of at least two full-time people. In the case of projects from spin-outs and/or spin-offs, they may include part-time people as long as the sum of all the dedications is the equivalent of at least two people at 100% each, who must cover the profiles of manager, technical manager and commercial manager.
Much of the training and mentoring is online, but face-to-face participation in key activities is recommended to make the most of the program, such as networking events, training workshops, or some mentoring with companies.
| Stage | Programme | Grant (IGAPE) | Funding XESGALICIA | BFFood Technology vouchers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incubation | Free | - | - | - |
| Acceleration | Free | Up to 25.000€ | Up to 50.000€ | 5.000 - 10.000€ |
| Consolidation | Free | - | Up to 250.000€ | - |
IGAPE's funding consists of a non-refundable grant aimed at projects that enter the acceleration phase, of up to €25.000 per project, to cover expenses strictly necessary for the development of the project during the acceleration phase.
XesGalicia funding is awarded to projects that pass the investment analysis process carried out by XesGalicia. Other partners, investors or funders are required to contribute at least the same amount as XesGalicia. This funding is a key tool for startups looking to grow and scale their business, with options that combine participatory loans and equity entry.
- Access to capital without the need for immediate repayment (in the case of equity participation).
- More flexible conditions than a traditional bank loan.
- Strategic support for XesGalicia, facilitating access to other investors and growth opportunities
The technology vouchers are an additional funding mechanism available for projects in the acceleration phase of BFFood. Its objective is to facilitate access to technical and technological services for the development and improvement of the products or services of the participating projects.
Among the activities planned by BFFood is to promote networking between the projects and the different institutions, companies and other entities in the food sector.
Thus, the creation of bridges and communication channels that increase the visibility of entrepreneurial initiatives in the ecosystem, as well as with other relevant institutions, is favored.
In addition, Business Factory Food is the gateway to the food industry. Participation in the program can help your company/project to develop and give it greater visibility to be able to reach companies in the sector. BFFood is a tool where your project stays in contact with other projects related to the food sector in Galicia.
The BFFood accelerator offers the services and infrastructures necessary to facilitate the success of participating projects, whether they are in early development phases, or have already secured a pilot or a first sale.
You can see the catalogue here
BFFood has the participation of leading companies in the sector that contribute knowledge, dedication and resources, both to the dynamization of the accelerator and to the mentoring of the participating projects. You can see the leading companies here.
In the applications received, the team and the project will be mainly assessed.
- Incubation/acceleration: 60% team + 40% project
- Consolidation: 40% team + 60% project