EIT Food, the world's largest innovation community dedicated to transforming the food system, has announced the 2026 cohort of RisingFoodStars, its flagship programme, recognising scaleups that have demonstrated exceptional readiness for responsible growth and commercial scale. IT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
In 2026, RisingFoodStars will place dedicated emphasis on international expansion, supporting verified scaleups as they explore opportunities beyond Europe. This includes helping companies strengthen their market-entry approach, navigate regulatory pathways and build commercial partnerships in new and emerging markets.
The announcement comes as Europe increases its focus on helping innovative companies grow from startup to scaleup. According to EU policy material, between 2008 and 2021, nearly 30% of European unicorns relocated outside the EU, while only 8% of global scaleups are based in Europe. Against this backdrop, RisingFoodStars provides a sector-specific verification layer for agrifood scaleups, helping investors and corporates identify companies with the maturity, readiness and impact potential to scale in Europe and beyond.
Richard Zaltzman, CEO, EIT Food said: "Europe has the science, the talent and the entrepreneurial ambition. What we need now is the courage to move faster, scale bigger and work together more effectively. Europe won't close the scaleup gap through individual breakthroughs alone. We need stronger innovation ecosystems that connect researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry and policymakers, creating the conditions for ideas to move from the lab to the market and deliver real-world impact."
The RisingFoodStars Scaleup Verification Badge signals that a company has been reviewed against key indicators of scaleup maturity, including leadership, commercial model, operational readiness and growth potential
A trusted signal of scaleup readiness
As part of EIT Food's renewed Entrepreneurship Pathway, RisingFoodStars has evolved from a scaleup programme into a selective, verification-based recognition that signals a venture's readiness to scale responsibly and successfully.
Earned through independent assessment, the RisingFoodStars Scaleup Verification Badge signals that a company has been reviewed against key indicators of scaleup maturity, including leadership, commercial model, operational readiness and growth potential.
The recognition responds to growing demand from investors, corporates and ecosystem stakeholders for a credible way to identify scaleups that combine commercial potential with operational excellence and measurable impact.
Participants of the 2025 edition of the RisingFoodStars programme by EIT Food
Since its inception, RisingFoodStars has supported 178 scaleups, whose alumni have collectively raised more than €930 million, commercialised 43 innovations, achieved seven successful exits and created more than 1,233 jobs across Europe. Alumni include Redefine Meat, Mosa Meat, Verley, Infinite Roots and NoPalm Ingredients.
This year, 18 companies have earned the RisingFoodStars Scaleup Verification Badge following a rigorous assessment process designed to identify ventures with strong commercial traction, leadership capability, operational maturity, and the potential to deliver meaningful impact across the food system.
The selected companies represent some of the most innovative and ambitious ventures operating across Europe's agrifood ecosystem. Together, they demonstrate how entrepreneurship and innovation can help address some of the most pressing challenges facing food systems today, from climate resilience and resource efficiency to healthier diets and sustainable production.
Selected ventures gain access to knowledge, tools, network and visibility designed to accelerate their scaling and increase their chances of success.
Through RisingFoodStars, selected scaleups gain access to:
- Capital access: priority routes into EIT Food's funding mechanisms and investor network.
- Corporate partnerships: facilitated access to industry leaders across the agrifood value chain through the EIT Food ecosystem.
- Personalised growth support: dedicated coaching, mentorship and targeted commercial and investment-readiness support to help scaleups accelerate their growth.
- Market visibility: PR, event and founder visibility opportunities, supported by the RisingFoodStars recognition.
- International expansion support: dedicated support to help verified scaleups explore new markets, navigate market-entry challenges and build commercial partnerships beyond Europe.
The selected companies represent some of the most innovative and ambitious ventures operating across Europe's agrifood ecosystem
Accelerating the next generation of agrifood leaders
The companies recognised through RisingFoodStars join a growing community of scaleups that are helping shape the future of food through science, technology and entrepreneurship.
By creating stronger connections between innovators, corporates, investors and research organisations, EIT Food helps high-potential ventures access the expertise, partnerships and opportunities needed to accelerate growth and increase their impact.
The recognition helps investors and corporates identify ventures that have demonstrated commercial maturity and readiness to scale, enabling more effective collaboration between startups and established industry players.
Read more about the cohort HERE.
