StartLife has awarded €100,000 pre-seed funding to the Dutch agrifoodtech startup Hippotainer. Funded in collaboration with the Province of Gelderland and Oost NL, this financial boost will enable the Hippotainer to advance teir groundbreaking solution for sustainable food systems.
Developed at Wageningen University & Research, Hippotainer is set to transform local food production with its innovative hydroponic farms housed inside shipping containers. “Hippotainer exemplifies the innovative spirit of the Food Valley ecosystem,” said Loet Rummenie, Program Director at StartLife.
Empowering Local Growers with Mobile, Sustainable Food Production
By integrating advanced hydroponic technology into 40-foot containers, Hippotainer offers a fully controlled, efficient, and scalable solution for growing fresh produce anywhere in the world. The system allows for year-round, hyper-local production of crops like lettuce, herbs, and seedlings—reducing food miles, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring optimal growing conditions with minimal spoilage.
With a vision of making CEA technology accessible and practical, Hippotainer empowers local entrepreneurs with resilient farming tools, ensuring communities—even in challenging climates—can achieve sustainable access to nutritious food.
“We believe that smart innovations can empower growers and communities worldwide to enhance local food production, even more in areas where it seemed impossible before. Fresh food should be attainable for everyone,” said CEO Hippotainer Jort Maarseveen.
Fueling Early-Stage Innovation in Agrifoodtech
StartLife’s pre-seed funding is a key part of its mission to support startups tackling major challenges in the food and agriculture sectors. Designed to help early-stage startups in the Netherlands progress from concept development to securing seed-stage financing, the fund provides essential resources, expert mentorship, and access to StartLife’s global agrifood network.
The awarded funding will enable startups to accelerate product development, validate their business models, and attract additional investment. As key contributors to StartLife’s and Oost NL’s broader vision, these startups strengthen the Netherlands’ position as a global leader in agrifood innovation. With the support of the Province of Gelderland, this initiative reinforces both the Food Valley region and the Netherlands as hubs for groundbreaking agrifoodtech solutions.
