ProVeg Incubator seeks plant-based start-ups for investment
The Berlin-based alt-protein investment vehicle is run by food awareness organisation ProVeg International, which aims to halve global animal consumption by 2040.
Companies developing alternatives to animal-based products, ingredients and services anywhere in the world are eligible to apply.
Start-ups accepted to the incubator will receive support through the programme, including up to €200,000 in funding, one-on-one expert mentoring, and access to the organisation's networks of industry contacts.
Online programme
The upcoming programme is planned to start in September and will be hosted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although we miss meeting our founders in person, this is the safest option at present and it actually makes our programme even more accessible,” said Albrecht Wolfmeyer, head of the ProVeg Incubator.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we have received an increasing number of start-up applications from China, India, and Latin America, for example, and we’re delighted to be continuing to expand our global reach.”
Wolfmeyer said ProVeg was ‘especially excited’ by innovative approaches to develop and scale the production of plant-based and cultured meat alternatives and ‘all kinds of fermentation-based protein alternatives’.
He added that the incubator was open to receiving applications across ‘all categories’, including egg, seafood, chicken and other meat alternatives.
ProVeg is accepting applications on a ‘rolling basis’, with a final deadline of Sunday 18 July 2021.
Incubator alumni
ProVeg Incubator alumni include Better Nature, Vly Foods, Mondarella, Greenwise, Mushlabs, Formo, Plantcraft, Remilk, Hooked, Cellular Agriculture, Update Foods and the Nu Company.
Clémence Landeau, founder of Update Foods, said: “The ProVeg Incubator is the perfect place for food start-ups to scale.
“The accelerator programme provides a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and a supportive but challenging environment, with input from experienced mentors and sharp analysts.”
The ProVeg Incubator works with strategic partners Blue Horizon Ventures and M-Industry and several other investors and partners. They include the Association of Alternative Food Producers, Atlantic Food Labs, Beyond Advisors, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Good Seed Ventures, Katjesgreenfood, New Crop Capital, NX-Food, Purple Orange Ventures, Veg Capital, and VegInvest.
