Startup-Days: Fresh ideas for food and agriculture
The ten finalists of the Startup-Days at Grüne Woche have been announced. Their business ideas include healthy ginger bars, matcha to go, an e-tractor and smart sensors for the field.
Without innovation, there can be no progress: with its Startup-Days, Grüne Woche gives young companies the opportunity to present themselves to a knowledgeable audience. A jury of experts has selected ten finalists from numerous applications, who will present themselves at the trade fair on 20 and 21 January 2026 and pitch for the award as best startup. On 21 January 2026, the winning start-up will be announced on stage in Hall 3.2. Alois Rainer, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, will give a keynote speech on the importance of innovation for agriculture.
These are the ten finalists:
DynamoBot's AI-powered system enables farmers to target weeds efficiently. A specially developed robot collects data in the field, which is used as the basis for an individual planting strategy that promotes ecological diversity.
Eco:fibr extracts sustainable fibres from pineapple plants. These fibres are similar to wood pulp and can be used in the paper and packaging industry or to replace gypsum fibreboard. The patented extraction process enables waste materials to be recycled in a meaningful way in line with the principles of a circular economy, thereby conserving resources.
Ingwer Shoc presses ginger shots into tablet form. These healthy sweets, which are made from cocoa butter, look like chocolate. However, their flavour comes from vitamin-rich fruits such as acerola, lemon and ginger.
ONOX has developed an electric tractor in Isny im Allgäu. Low emissions and operating and maintenance costs make it a worthwhile alternative to diesel-powered agricultural machinery. It can be recharged with a replaceable battery.
MicroHarvest from Hamburg has developed a process for producing proteins for human consumption with the help of microorganisms. According to the company, fermentation is significantly faster and more efficient than other methods.
Miss Minerva's from Bielefeld produces ready-made soups based on a fermented soup powder. Whether tomato, pea or pumpkin, these tasty snacks contain no artificial flavours, preservatives, flavour enhancers, industrial sugar or palm oil. Instead, they are rich in fibre and protein.
MoreThanWell expands the vegan diet with a tasty meat substitute. With the help of a soy-free dry mix that is mixed with water and rapeseed oil, burger patties, meatballs and minced meat substitutes for Bolognese or casseroles can be made.
NutriSen from Straubing uses biosensors and satellite data to generate precise recommendations for the use of fertilisers in agriculture. A clear dashboard shows exactly which nutrients the plants need. This enables savings in CO2 and plant protection.
Prinzz fills vegan matcha lattes into green beverage cans, turning the popular green tea drink into an energy-boosting companion. The green tea and oat drink mix contains no added sugar. It tastes especially good when chilled and can be stored outside the refrigerator.
SkoneLabs uses sensors and AI to monitor the storage and production of fresh fruit. The measured parameters, such as gases released, temperature and humidity, are used to create an early warning system that prevents food waste.
Further information about Startup-Days can be found here on the Grüne Woche website.
The winners of the Startup-Days were also honoured at the 2025 Grüne Woche trade fair. Image: Messe Berlin