These are the 15 beneficiary startups of the 6th Edition of BFFood

• The Galician food sector accelerator has just selected them from the 47 solutions to the challenges facing the food and beverage industry submitted to the call

• Of the selected projects, 5 are part of the consolidation program and 10 are part of the acceleration program, and all of them will have access to mentoring, training, and other resources designed for business development, as well as financial support from the Xunta de Galicia

Business Factory Food (BFFood), the vertical accelerator for the Galician food sector promoted by the Xunta de Galicia and driven by the Galician Food Cluster (Clusaga) and leading companies in the Galician food industry, has selected the 15 beneficiary projects for its 6th Edition. Of these, 5 will access the consolidation program and 10 the acceleration program. The vast majority of them come from Galician startups, but initiatives from the United Kingdom and Portugal, as well as Castilla y León and Murcia, are also present.

The beneficiary projects will receive comprehensive and specialized support, access to mentoring, training, coaching, technical services, infrastructure, and resources specifically designed for their area of development. The objective is to boost their innovative idea to address the challenges of the food sector.

In addition, each startup in the twelve-month consolidation program will have the opportunity to receive financial support through a participating loan from the Xunta via XesGalicia, which could include a capitalization option of up to a maximum of €250,000. In the case of the nine-month acceleration program, projects can access funding from the Galician Government through the Galician Innovation Agency, with €25,000 in non-repayable grants, and from XesGalicia, through a participating loan that could include a capitalization option of up to €50,000.

6th Edition of BFFood

After five editions, BFFood had accumulated 288 applications received and 61 projects boosted, both nationally and internationally. Now, in its 6th Edition, it adds 47 project proposals submitted to this call, and 15 new innovative entrepreneurial initiatives, which it will promote throughout 2024.

Likewise, a total of 22 leading companies in the Galician food sector are part of the Business Factory Food mentor team. Their role in the accelerator is to propose real challenges of the food industry that the beneficiary projects must address, participate in the Selection Committee, and support and accompany the chosen initiatives in their market entry, generating business opportunities for both parties.

Specifically, the mentoring companies for the projects selected in the 6th Edition of BFFood will be Bodegas Casa Montepío, Casa Grande de Xanceda, Cafés Candelas, CAPSA, CLUN, Congalsa, GADISA, Grupo Nueva Pescanova, Grupo Pereira, Leche Celta, and Quescrem. Alongside them, the entities Fundación Juana de Vega, AGACA, and ANFACO also participate as mentors in this edition of the accelerator.

Projects selected for the Acceleration program

AGROLINK: Will develop a range of services for agricultural producers through the complete digitalization of the field notebook and the optimization of shared machinery use, reducing production costs and generating a new marketplace for producers.

AMARELA LEAF WHEY: Aims to develop a new sustainable packaging solution for the dairy sector using paper created from food by-products that increases food shelf life and sustainability.

BENIU: Presents solutions for crop diagnosis and the application of phytosanitary treatments using drones.

REMOLONAS: This project develops new solutions to combat food waste through the creation of new distribution channels for production surpluses for their reintroduction into sales channels and reaching the consumer.

EMPROMAR: Through AI-based models and digital twin, it will implement a new prediction system for toxic episodes to optimize response times in the mussel industry and for its producers.

FRUIWA: Develops new sustainable and healthy fruit-based beverages for people with diabetes.

IMPACT UPCYCLED: This initiative develops products and ingredients from the revalorization of food industry by-products for the development of new high value-added products.

NTENTE: Provides a new communication solution between consumer and manufacturer, optimizing the shopping experience and maximizing brand visibility, as well as their location at different points of sale.

PASTORAL: Will develop a new AI-based management platform that will integrate advanced sensors in animals and allow the adoption of practices such as Managed Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG)

SIMBIOSIS ACUICOLA: Proposes the development of an algae cultivation solution to combat water eutrophication and obtain compounds of high commercial interest for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food sectors, among others.

Projects selected for the Consolidation program

ANFOOD: Development of a plug & play smart camera system based on AI to detect anomalies in the food production chain and maximize food safety guarantees and information processing speed.

GRADHOC: Multi-protocol AI platform for asset monitoring and management, optimization and automation of refrigeration facilities, and preventive and predictive analysis.

PERUSIÑAS: Development of cookies with local Galician raw materials of the highest quality and organoleptic properties, with 100% recyclable, reusable, and returnable packaging.

Petit Papao Bio: Development of a new range of healthy frozen infant products (4-36 months).

SALMOIRA: Project focused on the revalorization of seafood products that will develop new recipes and flavors in its R&D&I laboratory, industrializing them and valorizing by-products and discards from the fishing industry, while also recovering tradition.