The Galician food industry seeks innovative entrepreneurship solutions for the 5th Edition of BFFood

• Promoted by the Xunta de Galicia and managed by the Galician Food Cluster, this vertical accelerator for the food sector will select up to 16 innovative projects

• Entrepreneurs, new companies, spin-offs, and startups can submit their applications until December 20 at 2:00 PM through the BFFood website

• Leading companies in the Galician food industry will mentor the selected projects

Business Factory Food (BFFood), the vertical accelerator for the Galician food sector promoted by the Xunta de Galicia and managed by the Galician Food Cluster (Clusaga), is opening the project submission period for its 5th Edition. The selection process will close on December 20 at 2:00 PM.

From the proposals submitted to this call, a total of 16 innovative entrepreneurship projects, both national and international, will be selected to respond to the challenges of the Galician food industry.

Throughout its three editions, BFFood has promoted a total of 47 projects from the 255 applications received from both Spain and outside the European continent. In this new edition, it will choose up to ten initiatives for its 9-month acceleration program and up to six for its 12-month consolidation program.

Two modalities

Startups, entities, and companies with an innovative idea aligned with any of the challenges the food sector seeks to solve through the accelerator can submit their applications to one of the two available modalities. The acceleration modality consists of a comprehensive support program focused on entrepreneurial initiatives in their initial phase that are developing a minimum viable product or service and outlining a business model. The consolidation modality is a comprehensive support program focused on established companies with a defined product or service.

For both modalities specialized in the food sector, BFFood offers coaching programs, specialized training, access to scientific-technical infrastructure and advanced services, mentoring from sector leaders, direct financing, and access to investment, as well as a networking network within the food innovation ecosystem.

Proposed challenges

BFFood seeks to promote and consolidate innovative projects that respond to the main challenges posed by companies in the food sector: digitalization and automation; traceability, quality, and food safety; logistics; sustainability; development of new products; and process and marketing innovation. An open challenge is also proposed for any project applicable to the industry that involves the introduction of some type of innovation or improvement.

Mentoring and financial support

The projects selected in the fifth edition of BFFood will receive financial support from the Xunta de Galicia. Specifically, projects in the acceleration program can access a non-repayable grant of €25,000 from Gain, as well as apply for a participating loan of up to a maximum of €50,000 through XesGalicia. Projects in the consolidation program may apply for a participating loan that could include a capitalization option of up to a maximum of €250,000 from XesGalicia.

Each selected project will have specific mentoring from one or more of BFFood’s driving food companies. These companies will be responsible for leading their evolution and guiding them in their development, facilitating the alignment of the value proposition with the resolution of the challenge. In this fifth edition, the BFFood mentoring companies are Bodegas Martín Códax, Cafés Candelas, Calvo, Clavo Food Factory, CEAMSA, Congalsa, CLUN, Gadis, Galacteum, Kiwi Atlántico, ALS Laber, DS Smith, Grupo Lence, Grupo Pereira, Larsa, Nueva Pescanova, Quescrem, Torre de Núñez, Viña Costeira, Vegalsa, Casa Grande de Xanceda, and Hijos de Rivera.

BFFood is managed by a consortium led by Clusaga, which also includes the participation of the University of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Vigo, the University of A Coruña, AGACA, ANFACO CECOPESCA, and FEUGA in its technical committee.

BFFood 5th Edition Infoday

To present this 5th Edition, showcase the benefits of participating in BFFood, and resolve all doubts regarding the support programs offered by the accelerator and the participation process, Clusaga and FEUGA are organizing the BFFood 5th Edition Infoday on November 4 at 10:00 AM. The event, which will take place in Santiago de Compostela, will serve to recap the achievements of past editions, facilitate networking, and address innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future challenges of the food sector from different perspectives.