Cover picture: Startup & Partner Grand Winner 2025 – click to unfold
Massimo Selmo, Board Member of MassChallenge Switzerland; Giulia Malizia, Scientist II, Taste & Wellbeing Apply, at Givaudan; Gary Schuler and Jim Weaver, Co-Founders of GTF Technologies; and Matt Lashmar, Managing Director of MassChallenge Switzerland.
💚 A Catalyst for Real-World Impact
Each year, this challenge connects late-stage startups with corporate decision-makers ready to act. All startups contribute directly to sustainability and are already engaged in follow-up conversations with corporate partners and potential investors. These connections drive real-world pilots, co-development, and commercial conversations — the kind of traction that transforms potential into scalable impact.
In the past six years, the Challenge has attracted over 2,300 applicants, with 390+ startups connected to partners and more than half progressing to detailed follow‑ups.
🚀 The Journey
Last week, the 6th edition of the Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge wrapped up an incredible journey of innovation and collaboration. From 570 applicants, to 87 semi-finalists, and 53 finalists entered deep follow-up discussions with industry leaders — the Challenge continues to be a powerful catalyst for real change in the agrifood ecosystem.
This late-stage competition accelerates bold solutions at the intersection of sustainability and innovation — helping high-impact startups fast-track partnerships, visibility, and market traction.
After months of collaborative discussions, Demo Days, and detailed evaluations, we proudly celebrated 7 outstanding Winners, who pitched live on Tuesday, June 10th, in Lausanne in front of 20+ leading corporates and investors.
🏆 The 7 Winning Startups
🌿 Allium Bio – Unlocking new protein sources from underutilised plants to create sustainable food ingredients.
🧪 Cosaic – Developing natural, functional ingredients using precision fermentation to enhance nutrition and shelf life.
⚡ GTF Technologies – Avancing scalable solutions for upcycled food waste, showcasing the power of startup-corporate collaboration.
🛰️ Level Nine – Applying AI and remote sensing to help food producers monitor environmental impact and boost transparency. (Couldn’t come compete that day)
🍽️ LIVOO – Formerly IMPACT Upcycled Foods, turning food industry byproducts into nutritious, sustainable ingredients that fight waste and improve food circularity.
🧫 MOA FoodTech – Blending biotech and AI to convert agri-food waste into high-value protein for food and feed.
🧬 Phyx44 Labs – Creating precision fermentation alternatives to animal proteins, enabling a more ethical and sustainable food system.
🌟 Alumni Finalists
For the first time, we also invited five outstanding alumni to compete for a dedicated Alumni Winner title — giving them the opportunity to present their latest solutions, reconnect with corporate partners, and meet new investors. Shoutout to our incredible alumni finalists — AtlasVR, Gaia Tech, Myriad Optics, Riverkin, and Cotierra — who continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in food and agtech.
🤝 A Platform for Collaboration
The Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge is more than a pitch competition — it’s a matchmaking platform that has generated 50+ collaborative conversations per year. Corporate partners and startups engage in meaningful co-development discussions, building bridges between needs and solutions.
Thank you to all participants, partners, and jurors for your outstanding engagement this year. Let’s keep driving change — together.
The Jury
Timothy Wallace – Head, Corporate Scouting & Assessment, Novonesis
Christina Senn-Jakobsen – CEO, Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley
Luca Zerbini — Co-founder, Una Terra VC
Massimo Selmo — Board Member, MassChallenge Switzerland
Cara Tobin — Venture Partner and Impact Investor, Clean Energy Ventures
🎖 And the Grand Winners Are…
- 🥇 Startup & Partner Grand Winner: GTF Technologies and Givauvan — awarded for their high-impact combination of players and powerful joint pitch, showcasing real progress toward sustainable ingredient innovation.
- 🥇 Startup Grand Winner: LIVOO — recognised for their outstanding solution driving circularity in food production through upcycled ingredients for corporate partners.
- 🥇 Alumni Winner: Cotierra — celebrated for their continued innovation in regenerative agriculture and traction with corporate partners since their participation in the 2023 Accelerator, with a breakthrough biochar technology for soil and climate impact.
About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing
Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game-changing innovations in food and beverage. This is Givaudan. Human by nature. Learn more about how we are shaping the future of food at www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing.
Looking Ahead
🔎 Investors interested in connecting with this year’s winning startups?
We’d be happy to facilitate introductions — contact Nicolas Meneses, our Sustainable Food Vertical Lead.
🌱 Corporate partners looking to join the next edition of the Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge?
Get in touch with Nicolas Meneses, our Sustainable Food Vertical Lead, to explore how you can take part in our 2026 programme.
🚀 Startups’ applications will reopen in September. For more, check the programme page or contact us at switzerland@masschallenge.org.