Earlier this month, more than 300 founders, investors, corporates, mentors, and partners gathered at the World Food Center in Ede to celebrate 15 years of StartLife and Demo Day of StartLife 13th ‘Accelerate’ cohort. The energy was high, the pitches were bold, and the conversations set the tone for what is next in AgriFoodTech.

It felt like a reunion and a launchpad at once. Throughout the day, ideas met expertise, and expertise met opportunity. The result was a stream of meaningful connections that will keep growing long after the lights went down.

Why this Day Mattered

Anniversaries are more than milestones. They are mirrors. This one reflects fifteen years of founders who built, learned, and moved forward, supported by mentors, partners, and investors who turned expertise into action. It also shows a pipeline of solutions that move the needle for growers, food producers, retailers, and consumers.

We are celebrating the persistence behind progress. Prototypes became pilots, pilots became products, and now those products scale. The future of food is built by people who show up, share what works, and keep raising the bar. That is exactly what this day was about.

Accelerating Innovation Together

During Demo Day we announced four new partnerships with EIT Food, Evonik, Suntory, and Invest International. Together, we will help founders reach new markets, activate testing grounds and facilities, and open routes to customers and capital.

These collaborations expand our ability to accelerate innovation at both national and international levels. With 40+ partners now in our corner, StartLife is even better positioned to help startups validate faster, raise smarter, and scale with confidence.

From Stage to Next Steps

Eleven startups from the StartLife Accelerate 2025 program took the stage with clear challenges and bold innovations: Prevo Biotech, Ironic Biotech, SymbioMatch, Lilliput Technologies, Aardaia, KaYama Foods, NIUM, Happy Plant Protein, Hippotainer, Smart Farm Robotix, and TerraChange Solar.

The conversations did not stop at the podium. One-on-ones, hallway chats, breakout, and focused feedback sessions kept the momentum going. The result was a clear set of next steps and a pipeline of qualified introductions.

Investing in Impact

We were proud to announce SeaCrete as the latest recipient of StartLife pre-seed funding, securing €100K to advance a bio-inspired solution for restoring marine ecosystems and protecting our oceans. The announcement marked a major milestone: Fons de Zeeuw, Director International at Oost NL, revealed that StartLife has now reached €10M in total pre-seed funding invested in agrifoodtech startups to date.

This pre-seed capital is largely backed by the Province of Gelderland and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, with support from the Province of Overijssel. Their commitment strengthens both the regional and national economy, while helping shape solutions to global challenges in food and agriculture. Funding is only part of the story. What matters is what it unlocks: faster validation, smarter fundraising, and stronger pathways to pilots. SeaCrete’s next chapter is a reminder that when the right partners rally behind a powerful idea, progress follows.

Together We Build What is Next

Days like this are made possible by the people who show up and contribute. Our jury, mentors, and partners brought sharp questions, honest feedback, and real opportunities. Your support turned conversations into next steps and raised the bar for what we can build together.

A special moment came when our Program partners presented a Plant Ecosystem terrarium as a living symbol of the thriving community we have built together. Thank you, Conny Bergsma from zebra.legal, for arranging this thoughtful gesture on behalf of all Program partners. It now stands as a reminder of what grows when people collaborate with purpose.

Innovation in Action

Our catering innovators made the future delicious. revyve, Chokbites, and Time-travelling Milkman brought thoughtful, sustainable tastes to the day, proving that culinary experience and sustainability can thrive together.

Beyond the venue, Cano-ela and Corvus Drones opened their doors for Startup Tours, giving attendees an up-close view of technology in action. On-site demos and focused conversations provided practical insight and opportunities ahead

Looking Ahead

The signal from Ede was clear: impact is real, and collaboration multiplies it. We’ll deepen our roots in the Netherlands with Wageningen University & Research and regional partners, creating faster access to expertise, testing facilities, and tailored startup support. At the same time, we’ll widen our reach across Europe and beyond, building collaborations that connect global clusters and unlock scale.

Ecosystems are never built alone. With our founders, mentors, investors, and more than forty industry and research partners, we’ll reimagine what’s possible and help shape a sustainable, regenerative, and resilient food system. Our sincere thanks to the Municipality of Ede, the Province of Gelderland, and to all partners and contributors who helped make this milestone event a success. Let’s keep shaping the future of agrifoodtech together.

15 Years of Shaping a Sustainable Food System

To mark our anniversary, we published a special Magazine, capturing founder stories, partner perspectives, and lessons from a decade and a half of building with purpose. Explore the highlights, the data behind our impact, and what comes next for StartLife and our ecosystem.

Read Online or Download the PDF

Replay The Show 

If you couldn’t follow live, don’t worry. You can now watch the recording of the pitches and Q&A sessions below: