Where else can a seed of a bold idea find a financier, a market and global exposure all under one roof. For two days, Wageningen becomes just that. In May, StartLife celebrates its 10th F&A Next summit. With 850+ startups, investors and innovation leaders, it has grown into one of Europe’s most influential events in the agrifoodtech calendar. Here’s the story and secret ingredients of its success.
Hard to believe it all started in 2015 with a simple idea: connect promising agrifood startups with impact-driven investors. Fast forward to today, and F&A Next has grown into a global community that’s shaping the future of food.
So what keeps StartLife organizing this summit? And why does the global agrifood crowd return to Wageningen year after year? Ahead of our 10th edition, we asked the StartLife team and few F&A Next regulars what makes F&A Next stand out.
The People and Partnerships Behind the Magic
What makes F&A Next special? For Bram van Beek, our Head of Marcom and F&A Next’ Event Director since 2022, it all starts with the organizations and people behind it: Wageningen University & Research, Rabobank, Anterra Capital, Foodvalley NL, and StartLife – each a leader in its domain. “That foundation draws in top-tier investors, credible innovators, and future customers,” said Bram.
But it’s not just big names on a flyer. Each of these partners brings in different perspectives, connections and puts in a lot of time and resources to make it happen. All people involved, both directly and indirectly, truly roll up their sleeves to build something that truly matters for the sector.
“Like they say, teamwork makes the dream work. And at F&A Next, that’s not just a slogan. It’s how we pull off something this big, year after year,“ said Bram.
A Golden Ticket for Agrifoodtech Startups
The F&A Next summit is built for startups. If you’re a startup in agrifoodtech, F&A Next is basically your golden ticket. It’s packed with leading VCs, CVCs, and corporate innovation heads, who are actively scouting, connecting, and investing.
Loet Rummenie, StartLife’s Program Director, believes this is one of the key assets of F&A Next. “F&A Next attracts one of the largest pools of leading agrifood investors in one place. If you are raising funds today, or soon, this is the place to be.”
“It’s not just about raising funds. It’s about reconnecting with investors who offer great feedback, insights and support.” Juliana Romero Guzmán, Cano-ela
Jean Boudillon, our Program Manager, agrees: “F&A Next is where bold ideas get challenged, stress-tested, and improved. It’s a real marketplace for honest, high-value feedback.”
Some founders come looking for clients or strategic partners. As one startup put it: “I met almost every strategic partner on my wishlist in just two days.” Access like that is rare. The impact? Huge.
What’s In It for Investors
Samuel Rapolu our Investor Partnership Manager points out that every investor he speak to says the same: ‘We’ll be at F&A Next in May.’ “Investors know that F&A Next is where you meet the right people in agrifoodtech: founders, corporates, co-investors. And because of who’s behind the event, the quality’s always top-notch.”
And it is not only for deal flow (though there is plenty of that). Samuel observes that F&A Next also gives investors an inside scoop from corporates on what the industry really needs. “The engagement with industry leaders helps them spot stronger investment opportunities and allow them to connect their portfolio startups to corporates when there’s a clear match,” he said.
“As a leading firm committed to focused on agrifoodtech investment, we’re proud to partner with top players in the industry StartLife and F&A Next in backing the trailblazers building a more sustainable, resilient food system” Arnout Dijkhuizen, Astanor Ventures
Arnout Dijkhuizen, Investment Principal at Astanor Ventures, sees F&A Next as Europe’s foremost summit for agrifoodtech innovation. “It unites specialized capital, pioneering startups, and world-class experts under one roof to tackle a challenging funding landscape and forge revolutionary solutions for a more secure, sustainable food future.”
Why Corporates Keep Coming Back to the F&A Next Summit
For corporates, F&A Next isn’t just about scouting for innovation, it’s about positioning themselves in the middle of the agrifood conversation. Bernadette Sztojka, our Corporate Partnership Manager, share that the number reason for corporates to attend is networking.
“F&A Next is chance for corporates to plug into emerging trends, explore strategic collaborations, and see what’s coming before the rest of the market catches on. Also the involvement of WUR, arguably the world’s top agrifood university, is of course a major draw. Together with our partners, we are able to deliver a program that is often also appraised for its independent, high-quality content and network.”, Bernadette explains.
“F&A Next truly feels like a family reunion of Europe’s agrifoodtech innovators.” Wolfgang Heinzl, PHW Gruppe.
“For corporates, this summit is an unmissable chance to discover fresh technologies, forge new high value partnerships, and keep a pulse on the industry’s future. The event’s unique blend of in-depth presentations—from AI to robotics—and spontaneous conversations often leads to the most unexpected breakthroughs. In an increasingly complex market, F&A Next stands out as a critical space real progress starts ,” said Wolfgang Heinzl , Director Business Development at PHW Gruppe.
A Reflection of StartLife’s Mission
At StartLife, we’re building more than an accelerator. We’re building a global community driven by purpose, curiosity, and the belief that innovation can shape a sustainable food future. F&A Next is where that mission comes to life. It’s not just our biggest network event of the year; it’s a living reflection of what we stand for. A space where next-gen innovations get real traction, value chain collaborations are born, and startups gain the momentum they need to grow.
We’re here to turn agrifood’s biggest challenges into bold opportunities. And we’re doing it…together.
Whether you’re a founder with a breakthrough, a corporate seeking your next partner, or an investor looking for the next big shift, this is where you need to be. See you at F&A Next
