Experience innovation year after year. Startup Days: A journey through the years
Startup-Days 2025
The 2025 Startup Days took place on January 21 and 22 in Berlin, marking the seventh edition as part of Grüne Woche. Ten high-caliber startups presented their innovative ideas, ranging from technological innovations to sustainable business models. The winner was ValueGrain, which developed a technology to transform brewery spent grains into liquid flour—an impressive example of sustainable circular economy. Alongside the pitches, forward-looking discussions focused on artificial intelligence, financing solutions, and upcycling.
Our participating startups in 2025
AGAi
AGAi integrates cutting-edge AI technologies into an advanced ensemble system, delivering actionable insights and predictive analytics on soil health and soil-plant dynamics to empower farmers (...)
AI.Land
AI.Land stands for the change in agriculture - towards regenerative, sustainable methods. As a driver of innovation in the field of Smart AgTech, we develop holistic solutions in the areas of robotics (...)
Esencia Foods
Esencia Foods produces mycelial biomass for food companies that produce vegan meat and fish products. At its heart is the patent-pending solid-state fermentation platform. (...)
greenhub
A deep-tech start-up that deals with the use of artificial intelligence in greenhouses. An AI-based tool for crop forecasting in greenhouses (...)
Karevo
Karevo (Potato Revolution) has developed a retrofittable optical sorting system that automatically detects potato defects, making sorting work on farms much easier. Thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence (...)
Nosh.bio
Harnessing non-GMO fungi, at Nosh.bio we create tasty, affordable and clean-label solutions with high protein and fiber through our proprietary process.
Plances
Popularizing algae as a food. MySpirulina is trying to do this by enabling everyone to easily cultivate spirulina, a microalgae, at home and then consume it freshly harvested (...)
SAFIA
Over 25% of our food resources are contaminated with highly toxic mold toxins (mycotoxins) - a problem that is being exacerbated by climate change. (...)
Tunen Agronomy
Tunen Agronomy uses artificial intelligence to optimize the management of arable farms. With a strong focus on data collection, data management (...)
ValueGrain
The Hamburg-based FoodTech startup ValueGrain has developed a B2B technology that enables the conversion of fresh brewery spent grains - a by-product of the beer industry (...)
Startup-Days 2024
As part of the Startup Days, ten young companies pitched promising products and business ideas from the agricultural technology and food sectors. VANOZZA came out on top with vegan cheese. They develop and produce 2nd generation plant-based cheese alternatives that make it easy to cook vegan dishes and impressed the jury with this business idea, their presentation and, above all, their taste!
The Young Talent Award went to Hivesound with an AI-controlled monitoring system for beehives.
Our Startups 2024!
CinSOIL
CinSOIL offers a software service that uses satellite imagery to measure and monitor the carbon content in agricultural soils over the long term.
EntoSus
EntoSus specializes in the sustainable production of insect protein from crickets for pet food. The focus of EntoSus is on ecological and resource-conserving production.
E-Terry
E-Terry has developed an autonomous field robot that automates manual work in organic vegetable growing. The aim is to make organic farming practicable on a large scale using robotics and AI.
Harvest AI
A deep-tech start-up that deals with the use of artificial intelligence in greenhouses. An AI-based tool for crop forecasting in greenhouses.
Hivesound
HIVESOUND supports beekeepers by monitoring their bee colonies and providing recommendations for action through intelligent assistants.
Hülsenreich
Hülsenreich is a manufacturer and marketer of innovative chickpea snacks. The delicious products are based on crunchy roasted chickpeas.
MySpirulina
Popularizing algae as a food. MySpirulina is trying to do this by enabling everyone to easily cultivate spirulina, a microalgae, at home and then consume it freshly harvested.
Matchachin
Discover Guayusa energy tea, the energy drink and coffee alternative from the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. 100% FULL POWER, thanks to caffeine, L-theanine and theobromine!
Pflanzentheke
Pflanzentheke GmbH develops, produces and sells vertical farms for the local, soilless and climate-resilient cultivation of fruit and vegetables.
VANOZZA
VANOZZA is a foodtech start-up from Hamburg. They develop and produce 2nd generation plant-based cheese alternatives that make cooking vegan dishes easy.
Startup-Days 2023
At the Startup Days, a total of ten startups presented particularly promising business models from the agricultural and food sector. Seedalive was the winner. They impressed the jury with their rapid germination test for plant seeds. Using AI, it is possible to quickly, easily and reliably determine whether seeds are vital, ageing or already dead.
A special prize in the "Innovation" category went to Nunos from Cologne. The special prize in the "Sustainability" category went to "BettaF!sh" from Berlin.
These were the participating startups in 2023
Artenglück
With Artenglück, we carry out regional nature conservation measures in cooperation with agriculture and forestry and communicate these to companies as CSR projects.
BettaF!sh
BettaF!sh TU-NAH tastes like tuna, looks confusingly like it and is an all-rounder, just like the original from the can. The biggest difference?
Du bist hier der Chef
The initiative "Du bist hier der Chef!" creates transparency in the quality and price of food, supports farmers thanks to fair prices, promotes nature conservation, animal welfare and biodiversity.
feelfood
With its vegan, sugar-free and certified organic meals, the Cologne-based start-up feelfood offers the perfect solution when things have to go fast in everyday life.
Langes Gemüseglück
Every year we lose soil as much as an area half the size of Europe, while a huge amount of food is wasted. Langes Gemüseglück has developed a regional food waste recycling system that is used directly at the customer's site.
Neggst
Neggst is the world's first plant-based egg that tastes and looks like a chicken egg. It consists of vegan egg white, egg yolk and a shell. In addition to its appearance and taste, it is also in no way inferior to a chicken egg.
Nunos
Nunos transfers the C.R.O.P. process developed at DLR from space travel to agriculture: we scale up the natural and microbial soil processes of nitrification in modular plants.
SEAWATER Cubes
SEAWATER Cubes - New ways of fish farming.
We are a high-tech startup in plant engineering and founded SEAWATER Cubes after we discovered that Frankfurt Airport is the largest fish port in Germany.
Seedalive
Dead or seedalive? Rapid germination test for plant seeds.
The rapid germination test for plant seeds from seedalive can be used to quickly, easily and reliably determine whether seeds are vital, senescent or already dead using an AI.
VetVise
VetVise cares about the well-being of every animal through continuous monitoring and artificial intelligence. We help farmers achieve outstanding results through our breakthrough technology and animal knowledge.
Startup-Days 2021
In an exciting pitch, MARKTKOST was able to convince the jury with its concept. Entrepreneur Laura Maria Horn was able to score equally above average in all areas of her presentation and thus convinced the panel of experts. MARKTKOST shows that varied catering for employees is also possible in small companies without canteens - fresh meals without any packaging waste.
As a prize, MARKTKOST can look forward to 2 x 2 hours of mentor coaching by 3 jury members, an f3 presence and participation opportunities at Grüne Woche 2022!
These were the participating startups in 2021
Complete Organics
Fermented, non-pasteurized vegetables completely free of additives and full of probiotic life - for a healthier diet.
iComplai
iComplai is a B2B SaaS platform for food safety. It helps companies assess, monitor and predict food risks worldwide.
Kronos
Sustainable solutions for agriculture: Electrically powered, intelligent implements for efficient tillage, versatile and environmentally friendly. Up to 30% less traction, 20% less diesel consumption, +10% yields.
Marktkost
We offer the first tech-driven cafeteria alternative for companies with fewer employees, making it the most convenient way for employers to provide good, varied food in the workplace.
Sam Dimension
Sustainable crop protection through AI-assisted weed detection in aerial drone imagery. Up to 90% less herbicide use, lower costs, reduces herbicide-resistant weeds. Efficient field spraying and better planning for organic farming.
Too good to go
Using our app, restaurants can sell their overproduced goods at a reduced price instead of disposing of them. Since its launch, 53 million meals have already been saved in this way, saving around 100,000 tons of CO2e and conserving valuable resources.
Impressions of our Startup-Days
Startup-Days 2020
Winners of our Startup-Days 2020
‘Frachtpilot’ wins the Startup award, ‘Fairment’ takes second place and ‘Yumbau Dumplings’ third.
Dr. Sebastian Terlunen, CEO and founder of the company that markets ‘Frachtpilot’ software, described it as a “declaration of independence for farmers“. A nine-member panel of judges comprising retail representatives and food experts had voted this product the winner. The software makes it possible to fully digitise and automate direct marketing. The object is to give farmers more time doing their jobs rather than spending it in the office.
The startup Fairment has developed starter sets for making kombucha. The company’s online shop sells cultures for making kefir, yoghurt and kombucha, as well as ready-made products such as kimchi. Leon Benedens and Paul Seelhorst, who set up the company, hope the award will boost retail trade.
Yumbau, which took third place, produces dim sum dumplings in Germany according to a recipe from northern China. The recently founded company dispenses with glutamate, sugar, modified starch and preservatives. The dumplings, which can be prepared within minutes, are available in six flavours. Several sauces round off the product range.
19 companies from 52 entries made the final round of the Startup -Days. They exhibited their products over two days at the Professional Center in the Marshall Haus and held five-minute presentations pitching their corporate ideas to trade visitors and the judges. As well as being tested for three months by REWE Süd, the winners will receive coaching and can take part in the Food Safety Congress.
Startup-Days 2019
The jury has decided: Edible spoons, brain food and natural sugar are the winners of the Startup Days at Grüne Woche 2019
The jury at the second Startup Day of the International Grüne Woche had made their decisions: the winner was Spoontainable. This startup has developed sustainable, edible ice cream spoons made of cocoa fibre. They will replace plastic spoons and reduce waste, says Amelie Vermeer. Second place went to HansBrainfood, a food bar made exclusively from shelled hemp seeds and honey. According to the company’s founder Matthias Coufal, eating this snack helps to keep mentally fit. The bar contains Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin B, iron, magnesium and essential amino acids. Third prize went to DeCañaPanela natural sugar. This sugar cane product is 100 per cent organic, is grown in the Colombian highlands, and is marketed in non-refined form to keep all its vitamins and minerals, says Anna Elisabeth Segovia, the company’s founder and daughter of Colombian parents.
This was the second time that Grüne Woche had focused on new food companies at the Startup-Days. The aim was to bring new companies together with established food retail stakeholders and opinion-formers, enabling them to make contact with investors, project and sales partners.
50 companies had applied for the Startup Days at Grüne Woche, of whom 20 were chosen by for the final round. Over two days at the Professional Center they each delivered a five-minute pitch in front of a six-member jury made up of representatives of the retail trade, experts from the food industry and organisations promoting startups.
Review: Startup-Day 2018
Review 2018: The Winners
The winners of the first Startup Day at the International Green Week have been announced.
The first prize went to nearBees, a Munich-based website marketing honey products from local producers all over Germany. ’Find honey next door’ is their slogan which targets retailers and consumers alike.
The second prize went to Bickus from northern Hesse. This is the name under which several farms have formed a company processing meat from laying hens when they no longer lay eggs, rather than leaving them to the industry.
And lastly, the panel awarded third prize to Hiddenseer Kutterfisch, a canned fish company from Rügen, which apart from devoting itself to promoting local products also campaigns for gillnetting in the waters around the island.