2026 is shaping up to be a turning point for Food BioTech.
Technologies once seen as speculative are moving into commercial reality: producing protein from air, turning microbes into nutrient factories, cultivating animal cells in bioreactors, designing functional foods with precision AI, upcycling side streams into high-value ingredients.
What mattered most a few years ago was whether these approaches could work at all. That question is largely settled.
The harder question now is which of them can scale reliably, compete on cost, and integrate into existing food systems.
Global food systems are under strain from climate volatility, supply chain fragility, and rising input costs. Resilience, efficiency, and predictability are no longer nice-to-haves.
As the sector matures, capital, talent, and attention are narrowing. The next chapter of Food BioTech will be written by the companies that can deliver scale, price parity, and dependable performance in the real world.
Next up: To spotlight potential winners and trailblazers, we’re teaming up with Nestlé Research to launch the 2026 FoodTech World Cup to showcase the world’s best Food BioTech startups built to win the next decade of food sovereignty.
In today’s edition:
🔦 350 Food BioTech Startups to Watch
What started as a semi-viral post turned into a deep dive into startups and scaleups working at the intersection of Food and BioTech.
After a few hours of research, mapping, and signal-spotting, we’ve built a go-to list of 350 startups and scaleups redefining how food is made, improved, and scaled.
We’ve scanned the globe for you as the list identifies standout teams pushing boundaries across novel ingredients, nutrition, circularity, biomanufacturing and next-gen protein.
Head this way to discover 350 of the most promising talents shaping the future of Food BioTech.
Food BioTech has moved from experimentation to industrial reality.
This sector is no longer defined by speculative science or future-facing hype. It’s increasingly shaped by execution: cost curves, regulatory approvals, infrastructure build-out, supply reliability, and real consumer demand.
The builders who will succeed are the ones focused on manufacturing, margins, partnerships, and proof > promises.
We caught up with 20 bold Founders and CEOs to hear their honest takes, with: Shiru, Planetary, Bifidice, Ironic BioTech, Brevel, Fermtech, Abydos Bioscience, Kokomodo, Cauldron Ferm, DE3PBIO, NanoInGreen, The Protein Distillery, Immobazyme, Typcal, Savor, NanoInGreen, Seprify, Luyef Technologies, Leaft Foods and MicroHarvest.
🏆 Take Part in the FoodTech World Cup
Back by popular demand, we’re teaming up once again with Nestlé Research to run the 2026 FoodTech World Cup.
This year’s edition spotlights the most promising talents in Food BioTech for the future of the Food System.
We’re on the hunt for founders building the next big breakthroughs in:
Functional and bioactive ingredients for nutrition and taste
Next-gen proteins for scalable alternatives to animal-based foods
Food BioTech platforms that make the foundations of future foods
Gut health and microbiome for improved nutrition, health and quality
Circular and climate-positive BioTech that upcycles food for a circular system
Think your startup has what it takes to impress Nestlé, leading corporates, and top investors in FoodTech?
Apply today for the chance to be shortlisted as one of the Semi-Finalists, Finalists or crowned the winner.
🔦 Food Sovereignty Day at HackSummit
Snapshot of early-confirmed attendees
Join us on 23rd April for a full day dedicated to Food Sovereignty, exploring crop stability, regenerative practices, ingredient supply, metabolic health, and the connections between food, longevity, and social well-being.
Founders already confirmed to join us on stage, include
🌵Paul Mahacek, Co-Founder and CEO of AtmoCooling - transforming coastal deserts into thriving hubs of agriculture, clean energy, and climate resilience, using patented large scale evaporative cooling, seawater, and solar energy.
🚜 Tom Hubregsten, Founder and CEO of Voltrac - Creator of THOR, the next-generation automated electric tractor, designed for agriculture and frontline logistics and built for hard work and harsher conditions.
🏆 Ending the day with pitches and celebrations at the FoodTech World Cup Final.
Plus join us from 22nd April to connect with industrial investors and Founders as we unlock infrastructure and industrial capacity as a strategic power.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Lausanne.
Laura at Hack
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