RootCamp

🤔 Packaging can improve food safety and reduce waste - sounds crazy, right? Not if we’re talking about Oscillum! This startup, participating in the Desafía FoodTech Germany program, is changing the game with their innovative active and intelligent technologies. Their solutions extend the shelf life of fresh foods and provide real-time monitoring of food quality and safety.

➡ Learn more about Oscillum and their technology in our blog. Link in bio.

👋 Happy to tell more about yet another startup participating in the Desafia Germany program.

Have you ever wondered how the industry could turn its waste into a valuable resource, and how this could transform the way we feed animals ?

We had the pleasure of talking to Bioprocesia - a in the Desafía Foodtech program.

➡ Visit our blog to learn more about Bioprocesia and their initiative. Link in bio!

📢 RootCamp is thrilled to announce the Bioeconomy Deep Dive series, funded by and commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
Diminishing resources, climate variability, and evolving customer demands create transformational pressure toward bioeconomy. This dynamic leads to a level of change that cannot be managed through bilateral interaction, as it affects various stakeholders in the value chain. New ways of communication, collaborative engagement, and the implementation of startup innovations are key.

🌿 With our Bioeconomy Deep Dives format, we will use the upcoming two years to identify transformational hurdles, pinpoint opportunities, and assess inefficiencies. At innovation gaps, startup solutions are matched with stakeholders, paving the way for the transformation toward a competitive bioeconomy.

In our first prototype, we successfully mapped the value chain with many stakeholders, identified innovation gaps, and proposed solutions for starch valorization and functionalization. Many thanks to all contributors!
Coming soon: Industrial h**p! 🌱

Libre Foods from the program transforms the food system to be more sustainable for the future by creating innovative products made from fungi. Using fermentation technology, they are developing a range of fungi-based ingredients that satisfy consumers‘ needs for taste, , and affordability. Want to learn more about Libre Foods?

➡ Read the interview on our blog. Link in bio. 🍄‍🟫

Our vision is to be the prime ecosystem for in . Today, we are one step closer to achieving this goal. 🚀 Following the successes of and RootCamp, we are thrilled to officially announce the opening of our third location: ExciteLab in ! 🎉

is a joint venture with (TUD|excite) and TUDAG TU Dresden Aktiengesellschaft. The goal with ExciteLab is to establish an internationally recognized program for with focus on key technologies such as , , , , and .

Supporters include leading industry companies such as VON ARDENNE, , Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen, ZEISS Digital Innovation, , white ip and .

With the addition of ExciteLab, RootCamp strengthens its mission to support emerging startups and drive technological advancements. We are excited to expand our impact and continue building a strong ecosystem across Europe.

📢 Startup selection for Batch #6 has begun with over 300 new applications from 72 different countries! We not only met our objectives but also exceeded our expectations!
Among the applications we have received, there are themes such as , , and .
We are very excited to have received so many applications and are eager to dive into these innovative ideas.

Stay tuned!

RootCamp at HHL SpinLab Investors Day 💥

We had a great time at this year’s HHL SpinLab Investors Day, organized by our founding partner SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator. The RootCamp team Gaia Amatteis and our eco:fibr GmbH, Proofminder, NoMaze, E-TERRY engaged with over 200 guests from the VC sector and partner companies. The day featured over 30 speakers through panels, fireside chats, and master classes.

🎤 One of our highlights were the reversed by emerging , which highlighted underinvested sectors like , , and the . Despite longer cycles, these sectors hold potential for long-term returns and significant environmental and societal benefits.

Una Terra, presented by Yves Frey for example, is the first early-growth fund focused on the circular economy transition. This fund invests in asset-light, Series A+ companies in 🇪🇺, enhancing and transitioning existing infrastructures to circular models.

The day concluded with a dinner. 🍽️ Thanks to our table captain Manuel Heckmann (Greencode Ventures),Tetje Dietrich,Patrick Wolfram, Kay Plat, Merit Ulmer-Kasak, Ambrus Vancso for the great wrap up and the our jury Dr. Isabella Fandrych (Nucleus Capital), Nina Litman-Roventa (Green Generation Fund) and Luis Sperr (kopa ventures (formerly Wi Venture)) of the Agtech & Bioeconomy pitches.

📷 Fabian Thüroff

🌟 June is another exciting month for RootCamp as we gear up to attend some key industry events! Here’s where you can find us:

European Industrial H**p Association (EIHA) Annual Conference in Prague. EIHA represents h**p industry stakeholders globally, focusing on EU and international policies. Join us for key updates, networking, and collaboration. You can meet Annkathrin Wahbi there.
vc Family Day in Berlin: A must-attend for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators. Get insights from industry leaders and HTGF portfolio founders. Meet Dr. Philipp Rittershaus and let’s connect!

in : A key event for the sustainable food industry with an expo, conferences, matchmaking, and startup pitches. Get in touch with Gaia Amatteis there.

Growth Alliance Networking Summit (GANS24): Hosted by Rentenbank and TechQuartier. Explore the future of agriculture and food with pioneers from various sectors. Dr. Philipp Rittershaus and Annkathrin Wahbi will be attending.

See you there! 🌱

The Food Tech Congress 2024 addressed the role and potential as key enabler for driving sustainable transformation of the value-chains.

Dr. Philipp Rittershaus and Gereon von Ilten catched the train to , diving deep into the network of innovation providers, drivers and scouts.

Here our key topics:

- (obviously 😉 ;-)) Traditional food systems need collaborative effort to extend limits of ecosystems (as we do in Italy at the Smarterra project) and include players along value chains. Support is needed to foster innovation from academic tech-transfer over startup creation towards scaling by industrial cooperations.
Great discussion and many thanks Jelena Erker Patricia Larráyoz Bosco Emparanza García transforming traditional food systems from linear - to circular.

- ⅓ of our food ends up as waste!
Increasing shelf life using technology and smart packaging will be also on the forefront of reducing waste in years to come. Danny Hacohen Evigence, Solveiga Pakštaitė Mimica and Brendan Rice Senoptica Technologies explained how their innovative technologies could tackle this problem.
But how can we turn the huge amount of unused waste streams into worth? This was one of the many interesting topics which was intensely covered during this year’s Food Tech Congress. A variety of solutions were presented by Dr. Lara Ramdin 🇬🇧 Upcycled Foods, Inc. (UP, Inc.), Carlos Cabrera Greencovery and Olga Dubey AgroSustain SA, aiming to tackle this pressing problem.

Cooperation & Partnerships - this is key for corporate innovation in Food Tech as discussed by Tilmann Petersen, benoît goldschmidt, Andrew D Ive and Michaela Petronio. Examples range from internal innovation budgets, open innovation departments, opportunistic corporate venturing in case of long term strategic fit or externalization via dedicated Early-stage venture funds.

Along with amazing networking opportunities and a very smooth organization (they even organized a morning run - thanks Paulius Mikalauskas), we are looking forward to next years addition of Food Tech Congress.

Last week, Gaia Amatteis attended F&A Next, one of Europe’s leading AgFoodTech conferences.
The event was filled with inspiring talks, innovative tours, and valuable networking opportunities. Here are some key takeaways:

🎤 Insightful Talk on AI in Food Innovation
A standout session was “Exploring New Horizons in Food through AI,” featuring Roland van der Vorst, Head of Innovation & CEO of Rabo Carbon Bank at Rabobank, and Ioannis N. Athanasiadis, Professor of AI and Data Science at Wageningen University & Research. Their discussion on the transformative potential of AI in food production was thought-provoking and enlightening.
This trend is shaping the future of our food systems in exciting ways.

⭐ One of the highlights were the tours of:
-DSM-Firmenich’s Culture House pilot facility. This facility is at the forefront of dairy innovation, demonstrating cutting-edge discoveries that have the potential to transform the sector.
-Oneplanet Research Centre, which is a cooperation between Wageningen University and Research, Radboud University, Radboudumc, and imec.The centre’s work spans health, nutrition and precision agriculture, demonstrating how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive significant advances.

New AgTech and Bioeconomy Startups wanted!

After our 5th Demo Day we are ready for a new round. Rootcamp seeks promising keen to join one of Europe’s top startup hubs. Benefit from our tailored program for early and late-stage startups. Receive funding of up to €50,000 💸and the opportunity to pilot your solution with our corporate partners e.g. and .deutschland. Additionally, we provide various matchmaking opportunities with , such as our annual Investors Day or Investors Dinner. The program is 100% free, so you can focus on what matters most—building your business.

The application phase ends on May 30th. Apply with the link in our bio.

Join us for “Sustainable Innovation in Urban Mining: Bridging the Gaps Between & ,” a compelling webinar that delves into the transformative world of . Discover the main challenges of the industry, innovative strategies and collaborative efforts between startups and established corporates. Learn more about cutting-edge solutions and explore the vast potential for partnerships in pushing the boundaries of environmental .

📅 The webinar takes place online on 24th May 2024, 10-11 AM CEST. Register with the link in our bio.

❓ Got any questions about our program? Now it´s the time to ask!

Join our upcoming webinar ‚Ask Me Anything‘ (AMA) where we will cover topics like application process, benefits for , and many more.
Gaia Amatteis, our program manager, and Dr. Philipp Rittershaus, who handles corporate innovation and startup coaching, will be there to answer your queries.

⏰ Date: May 17th, 2024
Time: 10.00-11.00 AM CET

Link in bio to register!

Calling all in the and fields! The application deadline for RootCamp Batch #6 is now open. 🚀

At RootCamp, our mission is to nurture the growth and success of startups like yours.

Check out what some of our recent participants from Batch #5 have to say about their RootCamp experience.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to push your startup towards success. Submit your application before it’s too late!

📅Application deadline: May 30th, 2024. Apply with the link in our bio!

🌱 In 2020, fueled by a passion for both agriculture and environmental conservation, Felix Schulze-Varnholt and Lara Boye founded Artenglueck. What started as a project to highlight farmers' dedication to sustainability quickly evolved into a thriving . Discover more about their journey and impactful approach in our interview with the Artenglück team on our blog. Link in bio!

Last Chance to Join RootCamp's Batch #5 Accelerator Program! 🚀

RootCamp's Batch #5 accelerator program is now accepting applications, but the clock is ticking! The deadline to finish your application is to tonight!

If you've already started the application, make sure to complete it to be considered for this life-changing experience.

📅 Application Deadline: Tonight at 11:59 PM CEST
🔗 Apply Now: Via the link in our bio.

♻️ CALL FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY STARTUPS: the bio-based

Circular economy startups, we are looking for you! 
Our application deadline is approaching (August 1st) and we are especially looking for solutions in this area.

The circular economy approach is driving profound changes in our world, particularly in bio-based industries. As an innovation hub and startup accelerator, we champion those who are working to redefine the and through innovative circular solutions based on existing (waste) material flows.

Check out some of the most outstanding startups in the bio-based circular economy below! Are you a startup in a related field?

Grassa | Unlocking The Full Potential Of Grass (Netherlands, 2018): With a unique process, Grassa transforms grass into a variety of high-value products, showcasing the full potential of nature's resources.

Poás Bioenergy (US, 2022): Poas Bioenergy's decentral biowaste system produces both biochar and bioenergy, demonstrating the power of waste as a resource.

NUNOS (Germany): A spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), nunos is making a significant impact with their manure recycling solution, turning it into a directly available fertilizer for plants.

GROAM (Switzerland): Groam is creating value from agricultural biomass waste streams by transforming them into biodegradable foamed materials, such as plant plugs or packaging material.

Fabumin (Israel, 2020): Fabumin is revolutionizing the food industry with an egg replacement made from aquafaba, a byproduct from the legume industry.

We invite startups in the bio-based circular economy to apply for our acceleration program. Join the pioneers in redefining a sustainable future for the bioeconomy. Together, let's catalyze change in the world of waste, and beyond. 🌍

Interested in diving even deeper? Check out our Blog articles [Both links in the comments]

Do you want to accelerate your startup? Apply now by 1st of August ▶️ [Link in bio.]

🌱 Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture for Our Future

, encompassing , , , and beyond, are at the forefront of sustainable agriculture. As a leading innovation hub and startup accelerator, we want to support the transition for sustainable agtech startups replacing conventional & often chemical approaches!

We introduce you to some of the most innovative startups on the scene and give you an overview of the topic! Are you working in similar fields as the outstanding startups below? Apply now via our link in the comments!

Let's meet some dynamic startups leading the sustainable agtech way:

🔬 Elytron (Argentina): Founded in 2020, Elytron is navigating the new terrain of biopesticides, providing a digital research platform that's transforming the industry.

🌿 West Coast Ag Products (United States): Since 2018, they've been revolutionizing the bioeconomy with their diverse range of biostimulants, insecticides, and fungicides.

🐞 PheroSyn (United Kingdom): Pioneering the use of pheromones for pest control since 2020, PheroSyn is carving an interesting niche in the biological sector.

🧪 SOLASTA Bio (United Kingdom): This 2020-founded startup is developing a groundbreaking bioinsecticide based on peptides.

🍀 greEnCAP (Germany): Innovating since 2021, GreEnCap's use of micro-encapsulated natural ingredients as a fungicide substitute is turning heads.

We invite startups specializing in biologicals to apply for our acceleration program by the 1st of August. Join the frontrunners in shaping a sustainable future for agriculture. Together, we can nurture a greener world. 🌎

Do you want to be accelerated? Apply now by 1st of August ▶️ (Link in Nil.)

📢The application phase for RootCamp batch #5 is now open.

WHY APPLY?
👉Up to €50k in form of grant and project-money
👉Hybrid program and designed according to your needs
👉Amazing potential for pilot projects with global players
👉100 % free program, zero equity or shares!
👉Free co-working space, coaching, mentoring, tailor-made workshops with a digital learning platform featuring high-quality content with renowned experts

WHO SHOULD APPLY?
👉Agrifood tech and bioeconomy startups
👉Startups looking for a program to scale faster and get access to a specialized network of mentors, investors and corporate partners
👉International startups (the location of your startup does not have to be moved to Hannover)
👉Companies in the Seed to Series A stage, meaning companies that are past ideation and are at least in the pre-minimum viable product, prototype in beta, or product in market growth stage.

Hit the link in our bio to apply.

Get to know Poás Bioenergy, the starup who is pioneering with sustainable energy and soil regeneration, from ! In our latest interview with Sofía Camarero you will get to know how Poás Bioenergy has developed a groundbreaking that converts agricultural waste into valuable resources. Want to know more? 👉Hit the link in our bio to get to the RootCamp blog!

🌱ROOTCAMP BATCH #4: AGTECH STARTUPS DRIVING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS 🌱

In our latest blog article, we introduce the seven highly promising startups of the new batch of RootCamp Innovation Hub! These international startups have breakthrough solutions in circular economy, biodiversity, and alternative proteins.

Stay tuned for more about our new batch! 🙌

World´s industry turns bio?
We are not there yet but it was clear dynamic at HANNOVER MESSE, worlds largest industry trade fair. More space was dedicated to solutions for resource-efficient, climate-neutral, resilient manufacturing and also solutions.

RootCamp was all in and these were our highlights:
⭐ RootCamp booth - Our team has a booth at the event, where we showcased our programs. Thanks to Digital Hub Initiative for the organization!
⭐ Startup MeetUp - Networking event by startup.niedersachsen and hannoverimpuls GmbH - more than 350 people were there to network!
⭐Bioeconomy goes industrial - RootCamp as Innovation Center for Bioeconomy and AgTech sees a clear trend in the biologization of the industry at a larger scale. This means that more and more companies are transferring the biological principles from natural systems to technical materials, structures and processes. This includes intelligent recycling of materials, engineering of biologically transformed products and processes, bio-intelligent assistance systems for workers, bio-based materials replacing fossil-based ones. Many projects were presented at the Messe.

We're proud to have been a part of such an incredible event, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for the industry.
Thank you to everyone who visited us at our booth - it was great to connect with so many like-minded professionals!

🎉As an innovation hub dedicated to driving & innovation in , RootCamp is thrilled to hear that the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Lower Saxony will continue funding ten startup centers across the state until 2025. The availability of 2.31 million euros shows the state's commitment to strengthening its startup scene and supporting innovative founders.

💸🍾Startup centers like RootCamp play a vital role in providing coaching and free spaces to , and we're proud to be a part of this initiative. We're excited to receive positive funding decisions from the Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen – NBank alongside , Digital Accelerator as we continue to drive technological in the region.

Special thanks to Ralf Borchers for supporting us!

🧑‍💻Check our blog for more details about the . Link in bio.

This week a .group brand visited RootCamp. They are an innovation partner in and are active in many industries also relevant for RootCamp such as Food & Beverages, Feed, Mining and Materials, Energy and Automation. We enjoyed the exchange and are looking forward to finding synergies in our ecosystems. 💪

Attention all startup ! Want to make the most of 2023 and with the industry's top players? Check our latest blog article on 10 agtech events you should not miss this year. Get the inside scoop on the must-attend events that will give you the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow your business.

, we had the amazing opportunity to meet with key players shaping the in the DACH region at an intensive networking event in📍Frankfurt. Together we discussed the future priorities of the AgriFood value chain, the need for innovation infrastructure, and how we can organize events and exchanges to align our efforts. We're proud to be part of this strong ecosystem and look forward to collaborating to create meaningful impact. A big thank you to EIT Food, and for hosting this event!

In an industry where traditional solutions have fallen short, Biorefic is leading the charge with its innovative approach. Discover on the RootCamp how the startup Biorefic is turning waste into valuable resources, reducing carbon emissions, and creating a more future. 🌍Check out the article now, link in bio.

🌱The Green Week is is an important international trade fair held annually in Berlin, Germany and we could not miss it!

Yesterday Philipp Rittershaus was in Berlin and had a panel discussion organized by the on the topic: "From the Idea to the Field - Promotion in D quo vadis?"

Gaia Amatteis attended the Agricultural Politics Breakfast of . The topic was: "Sustainable, resilient, innovative - How to update agriculture?".

It is good to see many actors in this field coming together and discussing the future of .

1,700 exhibitors from 55 different countries, 14 halls, 250,000 sqm, 3 days packed with inspiring guests, talks, exciting pitches and a lot of .
EUROTIER 2022 It's wrap! :muscle: It was an absolute pleasure to part of the leading international trade fair for professional animal farming and management. Thanks for everyone who stopped at our booth and taking part of the daily lunch startup pitches.

The next events for 2023 are already being planned. Stay tuned and don't forget: the application phase for the next RootCamp is open.

➡️Check out our website and learn how we scale your faster.

Last day today for us at 🐮

We had amazing days so far with the daily lunchtime pitches and a lot of great . Didn't make it yet to our booth? Hurry and find our booth in hall 26, B27. Looking forward meeting and lovers.

💥Our application phase for batch #4 is now OPEN - perfect time to get to know us in person, and we can answer all your questions about our accelerator program.

➡️Find the link to apply in our bio.