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New Business Development Manager at Mondragon Business Development Centre, Spain
Amaia Egia
Host
Analisa Winther
EIT Food South Director
Begoña Pérez-Villareal
Founder and CEO at Fauna Smart Technologies
Dragana Vukasinovic
Director at ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund
Eric Buckens
Senior Investment Associate at ECBF
Eugen Kaprov
Vice-chairman of the board Food 4 Sustainability and CEO BGI
Gonçalo Amorim
Senior Investment Associate at Telos Impact
Guillaume Boury
CEO and Co-founder at Phytolon
Halim Jubran
Venture Manager at Doehler Ventures
Jean-Gabriel Tarnaud
Founder at Sweden Foodtech
Johan Jörgensen
Project Manager at Matís
Justine Vanhalst
Co-Founder and CEO of MicroHarvest
Katelijne Bekers
AgriFood Lithuania Director and Lithuania Cluster Network Managing Director
Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė
Program Director at StartLife, the Netherlands
Loet Rammelsberg
Innovation Programme Manager at EIT Food
Lorena Savani
Founding Partner at Green Generation Fund
Manon Littek
Business Creation Manager at EIT Food CLC Central (Munich)
Marie Ammann
Head of Innovation at Shake’Up Factory, France
Marie Breysse
Corporate Venture Manager at EIT Food CLC Central (Munich)
Marie Brueser
Lead Impact Funds Initiative at European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA)
Martijn Blom
Co-creation Manager at VTT and EIT FAN Helsinki HUB Lead
Mirva Lampinen
CEO and founder at Green Spot Technologies
Ninna Granucci
Founder and chairman of Agrifood-tech Italia
Peter Krüger
European Affairs Manager, Wagralim Food Cluster, Belgium
Philippe Vanrie
New Business & Proposals Manager at Agri-EPI Centre
Rebecca Lewis
CEO at Revo Foods
Robin Simsa
Co-founder and CTO at Kern Tec
Sebastian Jeschko
Founder and CEO, Edible Planet Ventures
Sharon Cittone
Knowledge Transfer Manager (AgriFood) at Innovate UK KTN
Simon Baty
Innovation Manager at Bayer Crop Science
Simon Maechling
Innovation Advisor at Aarhus University
Stella Spanou
Principal Associate at PeakBridge (FoodSparks®)
Thomas van den Boezem
Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures for the Food and Ag domain
Tijl Hoefnagels
Amaia Egia
New Business Development Manager at Mondragon Business Development Centre, Spain
Bio:
Degree and Master in Business Management. She works as New Business Development Manager at MONDRAGON Business Development Centre, leading the MONDRAGON AGRIFOODTECH project. With previous experience as CEO at LEARTIKER, an RTO specialized in Food Technology and Polymers Technology, and as international project manager in several companies
Amaia Egia
New Business Development Manager at Mondragon Business Development Centre, Spain
Bio:
Degree and Master in Business Management. She works as New Business Development Manager at MONDRAGON Business Development Centre, leading the MONDRAGON AGRIFOODTECH project. With previous experience as CEO at LEARTIKER, an RTO specialized in Food Technology and Polymers Technology, and as international project manager in several companies.
Analisa Winther
Host
Bio:
Analisa Winther is an ecosystem developer within the food system focused on forging innovation through collaboration and affecting change through storytelling. In her consulting practice, Analisa works as a venture scout sourcing deals and putting together ecosystem partnerships for VCs and CVCs. Part of her matchmaking work includes coaching founders on their vision, values, and pitch to prepare them for investment. Analisa is a frequent speaker and facilitator as well as the Host of the Nordic FoodTech Podcast, which spotlights individuals and organizations building a better future through food.
Analisa Winther
Host
Bio:
Analisa Winther is an ecosystem developer within the food system focused on forging innovation through collaboration and affecting change through storytelling. In her consulting practice, Analisa works as a venture scout sourcing deals and putting together ecosystem partnerships for VCs and CVCs. Part of her matchmaking work includes coaching founders on their vision, values, and pitch to prepare them for investment. Analisa is a frequent speaker and facilitator as well as the Host of the Nordic FoodTech Podcast, which spotlights individuals and organizations building a better future through food.
Begoña Pérez-Villareal
EIT Food South Director
Bio:
as EIT Food South Director, she enjoys driving innovation, boosting the entrepreneurial spirit, and engaging stakeholders from the Mediterranean area to develop products and services that contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable circular bioeconomy. Trained as a Pharmacist specialized in food microbiology and in Business Management of Food companies, she has worked for 25 years with food SMEs in innovation related to food safety, product development, traceability, authenticity, and sustainability of food systems.
Begoña Pérez-Villareal
EIT Food South Director
Bio:
as EIT Food South Director, she enjoys driving innovation, boosting the entrepreneurial spirit, and engaging stakeholders from the Mediterranean area to develop products and services that contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable circular bioeconomy. Trained as a Pharmacist specialized in food microbiology and in Business Management of Food companies, she has worked for 25 years with food SMEs in innovation related to food safety, product development, traceability, authenticity, and sustainability of food systems.
Dragana Vukasinovic
Founder and CEO at Fauna Smart Technologies
Bio:
Dr. Vukasinovic is an Entrepreneurial Scientist. She is commercializing cutting-edge research findings to transform the oldest and the biggest industry in the world, Agriculture. She is the founder and CEO of Fauna Smart Technologies.
Dragana Vukasinovic
Founder and CEO at Fauna Smart Technologies
Bio:
Dr. Vukasinovic is an Entrepreneurial Scientist. She is commercializing cutting-edge research findings to transform the oldest and the biggest industry in the world, Agriculture. She is the founder and CEO of Fauna Smart Technologies.
Eric Buckens
Director at ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund
Bio:
Eric Buckens is Director ABN AMRO Social Impact Investments and Investment Director ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund. He has been leading the ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund since 2012, a venture capital fund that has been investing in impact ventures and innovative instruments, such as social impact bonds. The ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund has been launched in June 2021 and invests in impact companies that contribute to the energy transition, the circular transition and/or the social transition. Eric has been involved in eco-system development, discussions and policy making around impact and economic transition since 2008 on various platforms and in several committees and boards, both inside and outside the bank, one of which the Dutch board of microfinance organisation Oikocredit from 2004-2011. Currently he chairs “Co-Financing our Future”, a network organisation of the leading Dutch impact investors. In total Eric has over 30 years of experience in international finance, of which 7 years in Asia. As an investment professional he has worked in asset management for 12 years and in private wealth management for 8 years, prior to his role for the ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund. In total he has over 15 years of experience in private equity and venture capital.
Eric Buckens
Director at ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund
Bio:
Eric Buckens is Director ABN AMRO Social Impact Investments and Investment Director ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund. He has been leading the ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund since 2012, a venture capital fund that has been investing in impact ventures and innovative instruments, such as social impact bonds. The ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund has been launched in June 2021 and invests in impact companies that contribute to the energy transition, the circular transition and/or the social transition. Eric has been involved in eco-system development, discussions and policy making around impact and economic transition since 2008 on various platforms and in several committees and boards, both inside and outside the bank, one of which the Dutch board of microfinance organisation Oikocredit from 2004-2011. Currently he chairs “Co-Financing our Future”, a network organisation of the leading Dutch impact investors. In total Eric has over 30 years of experience in international finance, of which 7 years in Asia. As an investment professional he has worked in asset management for 12 years and in private wealth management for 8 years, prior to his role for the ABN AMRO Social Impact Fund. In total he has over 15 years of experience in private equity and venture capital.
Eugen Kaprov
Senior Investment Associate at ECBF
Bio:
Eugen is a Senior Investment Associate at ECBF, Europe’s leading venture fund in the bioeconomy backed by the European Investment Bank under the EU Green Deal, focusing on food tech and nutrition. Before joining ECBF, Eugene was investing in early-stage companies together with a business angel, primarily in digital technologies and in the intersection between tech and biology. Eugen comes from an operator background and has founded an e-commerce business that he sold successfully to an aggregator. Eugen studied Economics and Finance at the University of Cologne and, in his free time, is publishing the newsletter “The New Bioeconomy”.
Eugen Kaprov
Senior Investment Associate at ECBF
Bio:
Eugen is a Senior Investment Associate at ECBF, Europe’s leading venture fund in the bioeconomy backed by the European Investment Bank under the EU Green Deal, focusing on food tech and nutrition. Before joining ECBF, Eugene was investing in early-stage companies together with a business angel, primarily in digital technologies and in the intersection between tech and biology. Eugen comes from an operator background and has founded an e-commerce business that he sold successfully to an aggregator. Eugen studied Economics and Finance at the University of Cologne and, in his free time, is publishing the newsletter “The New Bioeconomy”.
Gonçalo Amorim
Vice-chairman of the board Food 4 Sustainability and CEO BGI
Bio:
Mechanical and environmental engineering passionate about developing sustainable ventures, very much focused in the agro-food space. CEO and Founder of BGI SA and Collaborative Laboratory, Food4Sustainability in Portugal. Has mentored over 200 tech-based founders, entrepreneurial teams, and technology-based start-ups & spinoffs and actively involved as an advisor & board member in several emerging technology intense start-ups.
Gonçalo Amorim
Vice-chairman of the board Food 4 Sustainability and CEO BGI
Bio:
Mechanical and environmental engineering passionate about developing sustainable ventures, very much focused in the agro-food space. CEO and Founder of BGI SA and Collaborative Laboratory, Food4Sustainability in Portugal. Has mentored over 200 tech-based founders, entrepreneurial teams, and technology-based start-ups & spinoffs and actively involved as an advisor & board member in several emerging technology intense start-ups.
Guillaume Boury
Senior Investment Associate at Telos Impact
Bio:
Guillaume is a Senior Investment Associate at Telos Impact where he has been working for 3 years in this evergreen family VC fund. He is passionate about environmental issues (climate, energy, circularity etc.) Guillaume has a Business School background in Belgium (Louvain School of Management) and started his career in M&A at KPMG Brussels.
Guillaume Boury
Senior Investment Associate at Telos Impact
Bio:
Guillaume is a Senior Investment Associate at Telos Impact where he has been working for 3 years in this evergreen family VC fund. He is passionate about environmental issues (climate, energy, circularity etc.) Guillaume has a Business School background in Belgium (Louvain School of Management) and started his career in M&A at KPMG Brussels.
Halim Jubran
CEO and Co-founder at Phytolon
Bio:
Halim Jubran is a biotechnology executive, co-founder, and current CEO at Phytolon – a biotechnology startup that offers natural colors to the food industry. Halim started his career in the academy where he completed a Ph.D. in biotechnology while conducting applied research projects at several institutes in Europe and in Israel. Since 2015, Halim has been working in the Biotech and Foodtech industries. Halim’s mission and passion is to utilize modern science to promote human health and environmental sustainability by binging biotechnology-based products to the market.
Halim Jubran
CEO and Co-founder at Phytolon
Bio:
Halim Jubran is a biotechnology executive, co-founder, and current CEO at Phytolon – a biotechnology startup that offers natural colors to the food industry. Halim started his career in the academy where he completed a Ph.D. in biotechnology while conducting applied research projects at several institutes in Europe and in Israel. Since 2015, Halim has been working in the Biotech and Foodtech industries. Halim’s mission and passion is to utilize modern science to promote human health and environmental sustainability by binging biotechnology-based products to the market.
Jean-Gabriel Tarnaud
Venture Manager at Doehler Ventures
Bio:
Franco-German with a passion for food and the surrounding ecosystem. I have a background in finance and consulting and am now responsible for venture management in Doehler’s European VC team, from deal sourcing to startup evaluation to portfolio management.
Jean-Gabriel Tarnaud
Venture Manager at Doehler Ventures
Bio:
Franco-German with a passion for food and the surrounding ecosystem. I have a background in finance and consulting and am now responsible for venture management in Doehler’s European VC team, from deal sourcing to startup evaluation to portfolio management.
Johan Jörgensen
Founder at Sweden Foodtech
Bio:
Johan Jorgensen is the founder of Sweden Foodtech, the leading advisory for the next gen food system in the Nordics. He is considered one of the thought leaders around how tech and food will merge into new products and business models, rapidly transforming the current value chain, providing massive new opportunities, and shifting fortunes on a planetary scale. Sweden Foodtech also organizes the local ecosystem and hosts the Big Meet, one of the world’s largest and leading food tech conferences
Johan Jörgensen
Founder at Sweden Foodtech
Bio:
Johan Jorgensen is the founder of Sweden Foodtech, the leading advisory for the next gen food system in the Nordics. He is considered one of the thought leaders around how tech and food will merge into new products and business models, rapidly transforming the current value chain, providing massive new opportunities, and shifting fortunes on a planetary scale. Sweden Foodtech also organizes the local ecosystem and hosts the Big Meet, one of the world’s largest and leading food tech conferences
Justine Vanhalst
Project Manager at Matís
Bio:
Justine is a project manager at Matís, a research institute based in Reykjavík focusing on food safety, public health, and value creation. Her passion lies into finding solutions for our climate crisis through sustainability, entrepreneurship, and environmental leadership. She drives entrepreneurial education through venture creation program in Europe and in Iceland as well as hackathon. She led more than 8 hackathons focusing on climate change and value creation in the food sector all around Iceland. Through all her projects Justine aims at developing the entrepreneurial mindset of students or peers and pushes them to see beyond, innovate and take the leap. Her focus allowed her to have a strong grounding in the Icelandic start-up scene and community.
Justine Vanhalst
Project Manager at Matís
Bio:
Justine is a project manager at Matís, a research institute based in Reykjavík focusing on food safety, public health, and value creation. Her passion lies into finding solutions for our climate crisis through sustainability, entrepreneurship, and environmental leadership. She drives entrepreneurial education through venture creation program in Europe and in Iceland as well as hackathon. She led more than 8 hackathons focusing on climate change and value creation in the food sector all around Iceland. Through all her projects Justine aims at developing the entrepreneurial mindset of students or peers and pushes them to see beyond, innovate and take the leap. Her focus allowed her to have a strong grounding in the Icelandic start-up scene and community.
Katelijne Bekers
Co-Founder and CEO of MicroHarvest
Bio:
Kate is Co-Founder and CEO of MicroHarvest, in which she brings together her passion for fermentation, excitement for the future of the agri-food supply chain and an intrinsic drive to change the world for the better. Kate has a dual background in biotechnology and business development. She worked as fermentation scientist leading projects at Corbion, and worked on the scaling of biobased processes at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. During her time at Ohly as technical sales and later business development manager she obtained an MBA at Rotterdam School of Management and got a deep understanding of the B2B Ingredients market.
Katelijne Bekers
Co-Founder and CEO of MicroHarvest
Bio:
Kate is Co-Founder and CEO of MicroHarvest, in which she brings together her passion for fermentation, excitement for the future of the agri-food supply chain and an intrinsic drive to change the world for the better. Kate has a dual background in biotechnology and business development. She worked as fermentation scientist leading projects at Corbion, and worked on the scaling of biobased processes at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. During her time at Ohly as technical sales and later business development manager she obtained an MBA at Rotterdam School of Management and got a deep understanding of the B2B Ingredients market.
Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė
AgriFood Lithuania Director and Lithuania Cluster Network Managing Director
Bio:
Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė is Lithuania Cluster Network Managing Director. She has a vast experience in product development and innovation managing, working with research and development and implementation, information technologies and services, and ICT products on a cross-sectoral basis. She is studying Ph.D. in economics at The Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Center for Social Sciences. Her scientific area of interest evaluates the effectiveness of the industries’ twin transition- digitalization and the Green Deal- in the EU Member States.
Since 2021 she is The Chairwoman of the Agri – Food and Bioeconomy Committee and The Chairwoman of the Labour, Social Policy and Human Resources Committee at the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (the biggest association of business in Lithuania).
In July 2022 she has been appointed as a Vice-Chair of the Food and Agriculture Committee at Business at OECD (BIAC).
Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė
AgriFood Lithuania Director and Lithuania Cluster Network Managing Director
Bio:
Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė is Lithuania Cluster Network Managing Director. She has a vast experience in product development and innovation managing, working with research and development and implementation, information technologies and services, and ICT products on a cross-sectoral basis. She is studying Ph.D. in economics at The Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Center for Social Sciences. Her scientific area of interest evaluates the effectiveness of the industries’ twin transition- digitalization and the Green Deal- in the EU Member States.
Since 2021 she is The Chairwoman of the Agri – Food and Bioeconomy Committee and The Chairwoman of the Labour, Social Policy and Human Resources Committee at the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (the biggest association of business in Lithuania).
In July 2022 she has been appointed as a Vice-Chair of the Food and Agriculture Committee at Business at OECD (BIAC).
Loet Rammelsberg
Program Director at StartLife, the Netherlands
Bio:
As a Program Director at StartLife, Loet supports promising agrifoodtech startups to turn their idea into a great company. He helps founders with validating their most critical market assumptions and thinks along with raising an (often) first investment round. Loet was born and raised on a small organic farm in the south of the Netherlands.
Loet Rammelsberg
Program Director at StartLife, the Netherlands
Bio:
As a Program Director at StartLife, Loet supports promising agrifoodtech startups to turn their idea into a great company. He helps founders with validating their most critical market assumptions and thinks along with raising an (often) first investment round. Loet was born and raised on a small organic farm in the south of the Netherlands.
Lorena Savani
Innovation Programme Manager at EIT Food
Bio:
Food Engineer with a master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetic for Health Promotion and an Executive Management Program by IESE Business School. Innovation, business development and marketing expert with over 20 years of international experience in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods and Horeca sectors. She also worked for 3 years as senior business consultant of large food industry companies. From 2018 she is the Innovation Programme Manager at EIT FOOD CLC South with a special focus in Healthy Nutrition and Protein Diversification.
Lorena Savani
Innovation Programme Manager at EIT Food
Bio:
Food Engineer with a master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetic for Health Promotion and an Executive Management Program by IESE Business School. Innovation, business development and marketing expert with over 20 years of international experience in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods and Horeca sectors. She also worked for 3 years as senior business consultant of large food industry companies. From 2018 she is the Innovation Programme Manager at EIT FOOD CLC South with a special focus in Healthy Nutrition and Protein Diversification.
Manon Littek
Founding Partner at Green Generation Fund
Bio:
Manon is one of Europe’s pioneering investors in plant-based food alternatives and a prominent figure in the food tech ecosystems: She serves as board member at Upfield (KKR-backed), the world’s largest plant-based company and is founding partner of the Green Generation Fund, a recently established venture capital investor that focuses on early stage sustainable food tech and green tech companies in Europe and the US.
Previously, she has been CEO of Katjesgreenfood, and Managing Director of DLD Ventures (Hubert Burda Media).
Dr. Manon Littek holds a doctoral degree from the FU Berlin and obtained a BA in Philosophy from Oxford University.
Manon Littek
Founding Partner at Green Generation Fund
Bio:
Manon is one of Europe’s pioneering investors in plant-based food alternatives and a prominent figure in the food tech ecosystems: She serves as board member at Upfield (KKR-backed), the world’s largest plant-based company and is founding partner of the Green Generation Fund, a recently established venture capital investor that focuses on early stage sustainable food tech and green tech companies in Europe and the US.
Previously, she has been CEO of Katjesgreenfood, and Managing Director of DLD Ventures (Hubert Burda Media).
Dr. Manon Littek holds a doctoral degree from the FU Berlin and obtained a BA in Philosophy from Oxford University.
Marie Ammann
Business Creation Manager at EIT Food CLC Central (Munich)
Bio:
Marie is as ecosystem shaper, linking EIT Food’s agri-food Startups from GER/NL/AT and the European network and vice versa. She has local knowledge of other agri-food players and events, and actively engages with accelerators, VCs, and companies to support and integrate EIT Food startups into the agri-food ecosystem.
Marie Ammann
Business Creation Manager at EIT Food CLC Central (Munich)
Bio:
Marie is as ecosystem shaper, linking EIT Food’s agri-food Startups from GER/NL/AT and the European network and vice versa. She has local knowledge of other agri-food players and events, and actively engages with accelerators, VCs, and companies to support and integrate EIT Food startups into the agri-food ecosystem.
Marie Breysse
EHead of Innovation at Shake’Up Factory, France
Bio:
Head of Innovation at Shake up Factory, leading acceleration programs for AgriFood Tech startups (inc. EIT FAN) as well as Strategic Innovation Project Lead for corporates, Marie is a FMCG/B2C marketing expert with 15 years of local & international experience at Unilever in France / UK / Netherlands across Foods & Home Care divisions, including the development of the first global Foods Incubator team.
Marie Breysse
Head of Innovation at Shake’Up Factory, France
Bio:
Head of Innovation at Shake up Factory, leading acceleration programs for AgriFood Tech startups (inc. EIT FAN) as well as Strategic Innovation Project Lead for corporates, Marie is a FMCG/B2C marketing expert with 15 years of local & international experience at Unilever in France / UK / Netherlands across Foods & Home Care divisions, including the development of the first global Foods Incubator team.
Marie Brueser
Corporate Venture Manager at EIT Food CLC Central (Munich)
Bio:
Dr Marie Brueser is the Corporate Venture Manager at EIT Food and connects innovative startups with corporates to set up collaborations, thereby working at the forefront of agri-food-tech innovation.
Marie Brueser
Corporate Venture Manager at EIT Food CLC Central (Munich)
Bio:
Dr Marie Brueser is the Corporate Venture Manager at EIT Food and connects innovative startups with corporates to set up collaborations, thereby working at the forefront of agri-food-tech innovation.
Martijn Blom
Lead Impact Funds Initiative at European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA)
Bio:
Impact Investment Funds expert, with special interest in creative lens approach. Lead
Impact Funds Initiative at EVPA and advisor to starting impact funds in Ukraine,
Armenia and Georgia. Board member of Graphic Matters and Blind Walls Gallery
Foundations in Breda, where he lives.
Martijn Blom
Lead Impact Funds Initiative at European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA)
Bio:
Impact Investment Funds expert, with special interest in creative lens approach. Lead
Impact Funds Initiative at EVPA and advisor to starting impact funds in Ukraine,
Armenia and Georgia. Board member of Graphic Matters and Blind Walls Gallery
Foundations in Breda, where he lives.
Mirva Lampinen
Co-creation Manager at VTT and EIT FAN Helsinki HUB Lead
Bio:
Mirva Lampinen is VTT´s Co-Creation Manager who is leading Food and Beyond innovation ecosystem. Which aim is create a positive impact on the people, the planet and the business by bringing to life innovative food solutions and beyond. Ecosystem has multiple actions such as EIT Food accelerator program´s Helsinki hub, which now running the third year. Ecosystem also supports plant protein innovation under national protein cluster action. Before VTT she has been working on food industry at different development roles related product development, nutrition and food legislation.
Mirva Lampinen
Co-creation Manager at VTT and EIT FAN Helsinki HUB Lead
Bio:
Mirva Lampinen is VTT´s Co-Creation Manager who is leading Food and Beyond innovation ecosystem. Which aim is create a positive impact on the people, the planet and the business by bringing to life innovative food solutions and beyond. Ecosystem has multiple actions such as EIT Food accelerator program´s Helsinki hub, which now running the third year. Ecosystem also supports plant protein innovation under national protein cluster action. Before VTT she has been working on food industry at different development roles related product development, nutrition and food legislation.
Ninna Granucci
CEO and founder at Green Spot Technologies
Bio:
Ninna Granucci is the CEO and founder at Green Spot Technologies. She has a master’s degree in Biotechnology and Biosciences (Universidade de Santa Catarina, Brazil) and a PhD in Biotechnology from The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Her Ph.D. thesis created the initial technological asset of the company. As CEO of GST, she has successfully led the company through two fundraising rounds (pre-seed and seed), the leveraging of public subsidies, and through the development and setting up of the industrial demonstrator of the company. Ninna moved from Brazil, through New Zealand and now to France with the ambition to bring better and sustainable nutrition to all.
Ninna Granucci
CEO and founder at Green Spot Technologies
Bio:
Ninna Granucci is the CEO and founder at Green Spot Technologies. She has a master’s degree in Biotechnology and Biosciences (Universidade de Santa Catarina, Brazil) and a PhD in Biotechnology from The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Her Ph.D. thesis created the initial technological asset of the company. As CEO of GST, she has successfully led the company through two fundraising rounds (pre-seed and seed), the leveraging of public subsidies, and through the development and setting up of the industrial demonstrator of the company. Ninna moved from Brazil, through New Zealand and now to France with the ambition to bring better and sustainable nutrition to all.
Peter Krüger
Founder and chairman of Agrifood-tech Italia
Bio:
Managing Partner at AgFood Ventures, an EU-based VC investing globally in disruptive seed stage agrifood-tech startups. Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Agrifood-tech Italia, with +20 years of experience leading entrepreneurship/startup organizations in Italy and worldwide. He is an active Entrepreneur, investor, and advisor in the Italian agrifood innovation ecosystem.
Peter Krüger
Founder and chairman of Agrifood-tech Italia
Bio:
Managing Partner at AgFood Ventures, an EU-based VC investing globally in disruptive seed stage agrifood-tech startups. Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Agrifood-tech Italia, with +20 years of experience leading entrepreneurship/startup organizations in Italy and worldwide. He is an active Entrepreneur, investor, and advisor in the Italian agrifood innovation ecosystem.
Philippe Vanrie
European Affairs Manager, Wagralim Food Cluster, Belgium
Bio:
Philippe is an Engineer graduated from Gembloux Agro-Bio-Tech, and from UCLouvain in Innovation Management. He has 30 years of experience in conducting complex multi-stakeholders European & International Innovation Networks (EBN and EUREKA), and implementing EC-funded R&I and economic development projects in various fields (Open innovation, Start-ups & Scale-ups, SMEs internationalization, digital transformation, circular economy, bioeconomy, smart agriculture, satellite applications). Philippe has led EBN (European Network of Business Innovation & Incubation Centres) during 20 years, a community of thousands of smart innovators and entrepreneurs, Business & Innovation Centres, Incubators & Accelerators, Economic Development Agencies.
Philippe Vanrie
European Affairs Manager, Wagralim Food Cluster, Belgium
Bio:
Philippe is an Engineer graduated from Gembloux Agro-Bio-Tech, and from UCLouvain in Innovation Management. He has 30 years of experience in conducting complex multi-stakeholders European & International Innovation Networks (EBN and EUREKA), and implementing EC-funded R&I and economic development projects in various fields (Open innovation, Start-ups & Scale-ups, SMEs internationalization, digital transformation, circular economy, bioeconomy, smart agriculture, satellite applications). Philippe has led EBN (European Network of Business Innovation & Incubation Centres) during 20 years, a community of thousands of smart innovators and entrepreneurs, Business & Innovation Centres, Incubators & Accelerators, Economic Development Agencies.
Rebecca Lewis
New Business & Proposals Manager at Agri-EPI Centre
Bio:
Rebecca has a background in consulting in the international agri food supply chain, spanning all sectors but especially dairy, livestock and horticulture. Prior to this she worked in dairy farming and has a degree in Agriculture. Rebecca has an excellent understanding of the business environment in the sector and the participants that will effect positive change to deliver value for farmers, consumers, and the supply chain.
Rebecca Lewis
New Business & Proposals Manager at Agri-EPI Centre
Bio:
Rebecca has a background in consulting in the international agri food supply chain, spanning all sectors but especially dairy, livestock and horticulture. Prior to this she worked in dairy farming and has a degree in Agriculture. Rebecca has an excellent understanding of the business environment in the sector and the participants that will effect positive change to deliver value for farmers, consumers, and the supply chain.
Robin Simsa
CEO at Revo Foods
Bio:
Dr. Robin Simsa is the CEO of the Austrian food tech startup Revo Foods. He has a PhD from Tufts University/University of Gothenburg in Tissue Engineering and was working on “Cultured Meat” during his thesis. In 2020, he cofounded Revo Foods with the mission to fight overfishing by delivering better plant-based alternatives to seafood. The startup has 3 patents pending on a novel texturization method based on 3D Food Printing and held the world´s first public tasting of a plant-based salmon fillet in May 2022. The products of Revo Foods are available at more than 3000 locations across Europe, making it a leader in the European plant-based seafood space.
Robin Simsa
CEO at Revo Foods
Bio:
Dr. Robin Simsa is the CEO of the Austrian food tech startup Revo Foods. He has a PhD from Tufts University/University of Gothenburg in Tissue Engineering and was working on “Cultured Meat” during his thesis. In 2020, he cofounded Revo Foods with the mission to fight overfishing by delivering better plant-based alternatives to seafood. The startup has 3 patents pending on a novel texturization method based on 3D Food Printing and held the world´s first public tasting of a plant-based salmon fillet in May 2022. The products of Revo Foods are available at more than 3000 locations across Europe, making it a leader in the European plant-based seafood space.
Sebastian Jeschko
Co-founder and CTO at Kern Tec
Bio:
Sebastian Jeschko is Co-Founder and CTO at Kern Tec, an Austrian-based company upcycling a waste stream of the fruit industry to high quality ingredients for the plant-based revolution. With an engineering & economics background he has worked in the manufacturing business in Europe and Asia as well as the renowned Incubator Brinc before co-founding Kern Tec. With his team, Sebastian has developed innovative technologies to transform cherry, apricot, and plum pits (currently a waste product) to plant-based milk alternatives, spreads, and award-winning speciality oils. As ecological sustainability demands economic stability, at Kern Tec his focus lies on bringing inventions to market fast in a lean and efficient matter. Kern Tec has been able to introduce these new resources to the food market in the form of multiple products in Europe and is tackling the problem of millions of tons of fruit pit waste by transforming them to a most wanted part of the fruit.
Sebastian Jeschko
Co-founder and CTO at Kern Tec
Bio:
Sebastian Jeschko is Co-Founder and CTO at Kern Tec, an Austrian-based company upcycling a waste stream of the fruit industry to high quality ingredients for the plant-based revolution. With an engineering & economics background he has worked in the manufacturing business in Europe and Asia as well as the renowned Incubator Brinc before co-founding Kern Tec. With his team, Sebastian has developed innovative technologies to transform cherry, apricot, and plum pits (currently a waste product) to plant-based milk alternatives, spreads, and award-winning speciality oils. As ecological sustainability demands economic stability, at Kern Tec his focus lies on bringing inventions to market fast in a lean and efficient matter. Kern Tec has been able to introduce these new resources to the food market in the form of multiple products in Europe and is tackling the problem of millions of tons of fruit pit waste by transforming them to a most wanted part of the fruit.
Sharon Cittone
Founder and CEO, Edible Planet Ventures
Bio:
EIT Food South Director, she enjoys driving innovation, boosting the entrepreneurial spirit, and engaging stakeholders from the Mediterranean area to develop products and services that contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable circular bioeconomy. Trained as a Pharmacist specialized in food microbiology and in Business Management of Food companies, she has worked for 25 years with food SMEs in innovation related to food safety, product development, traceability, authenticity, and sustainability of food systems.Cittone believes in connecting the dots, creating opportunities for others, and facilitating the collaboration that will lead to systemic change within the food system. She is founder & CEO of Edible Planet Ventures, a systemic platform that aims to reshape our food system. To date she’s also Founding Board Member of Agrifood Tech Italia, an advisor to two funds, sits on the advisory board of the WFP Italia, a mentor for both Rockstart Agrifood and the Foodtech Accelerator, Global Chair for Food Innovation of the G100 and a in the NOW Partners collective’s team. Finally, she’s been recognized as one of the women changing our food system by both Forbes and Food Tank, is a TEDx speaker, Food Tech Junkies podcast host and guest contributor for several publications in the sector.
Sharon Cittone
Founder and CEO, Edible Planet Ventures
Bio:
Cittone believes in connecting the dots, creating opportunities for others, and facilitating the collaboration that will lead to systemic change within the food system. She is founder & CEO of Edible Planet Ventures, a systemic platform that aims to reshape our food system. To date she’s also Founding Board Member of Agrifood Tech Italia, an advisor to two funds, sits on the advisory board of the WFP Italia, a mentor for both Rockstart Agrifood and the Foodtech Accelerator, Global Chair for Food Innovation of the G100 and a in the NOW Partners collective’s team. Finally, she’s been recognized as one of the women changing our food system by both Forbes and Food Tank, is a TEDx speaker, Food Tech Junkies podcast host and guest contributor for several publications in the sector.
Simon Baty
Knowledge Transfer Manager (AgriFood) at Innovate UK KTN
Bio:
Simon started work in pharmaceuticals, then brewing followed by bulk chemical cargo inspection, animal feed and food safety. Joining the Innovate UK KTN in 2013, where he helps drive innovation, by powerfully connecting people, before guiding them through funding schemes. His recent interest has been filling the funding gap between prototype and scale up by accessing Series A investment. Via the Innovate UK, Transforming Food Production: Series A Investor partnership, he has prepared SMEs for investment and manged a group of investors. This has resulted in private investment of over £48M in addition to the public impact investment of £10M, into 12 AgriTech businesses.
Simon Baty
Knowledge Transfer Manager (AgriFood) at Innovate UK KTN
Bio:
Simon started work in pharmaceuticals, then brewing followed by bulk chemical cargo inspection, animal feed and food safety. Joining the Innovate UK KTN in 2013, where he helps drive innovation, by powerfully connecting people, before guiding them through funding schemes. His recent interest has been filling the funding gap between prototype and scale up by accessing Series A investment. Via the Innovate UK, Transforming Food Production: Series A Investor partnership, he has prepared SMEs for investment and manged a group of investors. This has resulted in private investment of over £48M in addition to the public impact investment of £10M, into 12 AgriTech businesses.
Simon Maechling
Innovation Manager at Bayer Crop Science
Bio
With >17 years’ experience in R&D, Simon plays a central role in fostering strategic partnerships around the globe and supporting programs of internal and external innovation to accelerate Bayer’s industry leading R&D pipeline.
He is a strong champion for both external and pre-competitive partnering as a driving force for innovation with 14 original research publication in peer reviewed journals and >40 patent applications.
Working from the LifeHub Lyon in Lyon, France he is a strong promotor of open innovation and new technologies for agriculture. He is very active in supporting and mentoring startups to grow.
In his spare time he practices Double-bass, Tenor Saxophone and Baritone Saxophone and is active within the amateur music circuit in Lyon and Rhone-Alpes.
Simon Maechling
Innovation Manager at Bayer Crop Science
Bio:
With >17 years’ experience in R&D, Simon plays a central role in fostering strategic partnerships around the globe and supporting programs of internal and external innovation to accelerate Bayer’s industry leading R&D pipeline.
He is a strong champion for both external and pre-competitive partnering as a driving force for innovation with 14 original research publication in peer reviewed journals and >40 patent applications.
Working from the LifeHub Lyon in Lyon, France he is a strong promotor of open innovation and new technologies for agriculture. He is very active in supporting and mentoring startups to grow.
In his spare time he practices Double-bass, Tenor Saxophone and Baritone Saxophone and is active within the amateur music circuit in Lyon and Rhone-Alpes.
Stella Spanou
Innovation Advisor at Aarhus University
Bio:
Stella Spanou is a passionate Innovation Advisor with technical & managerial experience gained at international working environments (Greece, Sweden & Denmark). Has a track record in EU competitive Grants & Philanthropy undraising. Holds a substantial experience within knowledge sharing & communication between different scientific groups & stakeholders. As well as knowledge of cross-disciplinary areas & a broad network of academic & industrial partners across Europe. Has supported for 2 years the 30 start-ups of the Lefkippos Attica Technology Park in effectively attracting soft and blended funding. Participated as a mentor under the EIT FOOD Seedbed incubator program. And is currently part of the EIT Food Seedbed Activity Lead team
Stella Spanou
Innovation Advisor at Aarhus University
Bio:
Stella Spanou is a passionate Innovation Advisor with technical & managerial experience gained at international working environments (Greece, Sweden & Denmark). Has a track record in EU competitive Grants & Philanthropy undraising. Holds a substantial experience within knowledge sharing & communication between different scientific groups & stakeholders. As well as knowledge of cross-disciplinary areas & a broad network of academic & industrial partners across Europe. Has supported for 2 years the 30 start-ups of the Lefkippos Attica Technology Park in effectively attracting soft and blended funding. Participated as a mentor under the EIT FOOD Seedbed incubator program. And is currently part of the EIT Food Seedbed Activity Lead team
Thomas van den Boezem
Principal Associate at PeakBridge (FoodSparks®)
Bio:
Thomas is a Principal Associate at PeakBridge, a global FoodTech fund manager. He focuses on early-stage investments in Europe and Israel. Before PeakBridge, Thomas worked in investment roles at EIT Food and Innovation Industries. He is based in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Thomas van den Boezem
Principalr Associate at PeakBridge (FoodSparks®)
Bio:
Thomas is a Principal Associate at PeakBridge, a global FoodTech fund manager. He focuses on early-stage investments in Europe and Israel. Before PeakBridge, Thomas worked in investment roles at EIT Food and Innovation Industries. He is based in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Tijl Hoefnagels
Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures for the Food and Ag domain
Bio:
Tijl is Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures for the Food and Ag domain. For the last 13 years I worked at several investment funds investing in different stages of the food value chain, ranging from F&A Venture capital to direct investments in Agriculture. Loves projects in the kitchen ranging from fermentation to creating hot-sauces.
Tijl Hoefnagels
Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures for the Food and Ag domain
Bio:
Tijl is Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures for the Food and Ag domain. For the last 13 years I worked at several investment funds investing in different stages of the food value chain, ranging from F&A Venture capital to direct investments in Agriculture. Loves projects in the kitchen ranging from fermentation to creating hot-sauces.