The RisingFoodStars program is designed to help innovative food companies achieve significant growth and become the Food Stars of tomorrow. This pan-European program provides resources, tools, and a network to support companies in challenging themselves, designing their strategies, and successfully scaling their businesses.
The program begins with a comprehensive Scale-Up Diagnosis, conducted by experts who assess your company’s strengths and weaknesses to identify specific needs for successful scaling. This in-depth analysis helps pinpoint areas for improvement and sets the foundation for a tailored action plan.
Following the diagnosis, the program provides a Scale-Up Action Plan through customized, interactive workshops in small groups and one-on-one mentorship sessions. These sessions focus on developing a clear action plan and building essential capabilities within your team. The workshop curriculum is accessible to all team members, ensuring company-wide understanding and implementation of the strategies developed.
The RisingFoodStars program facilitates Partnership Building by connecting participants with decision-makers in over 100 corporate partner organizations. This access expands market reach and commercial opportunities. The program also offers corporate venture services, helping companies tailor their value propositions to specific industry partners and facilitating connections with key stakeholders within partner organizations. This targeted approach maximizes the potential for successful collaborations and market penetration.
Funding is a crucial element for scaling, and the RisingFoodStars program addresses this need by connecting participants with suitable funding opportunities. This includes access to the EIT Food impact fund and a network of over 30 leading investors, such as Food Sparks by Peak Bridge. Eligible members may also qualify for direct financial support from the EIT Food impact fund to accelerate growth and support commercial partnership pilots with corporate partners, with potential funding of up to €500,000 per venture through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) instrument.
The program enhances Visibility by providing privileged access to major corporates and investors through leading pan-European conferences like FutureFoodTech London, F&A Next, and the venture summit in Lisbon. Financial support for travel to these key events is included in the core membership. Furthermore, the program highlights member success stories across various media channels, including social media, websites, and podcasts, reaching an audience of over 8 million.
Core membership fees are €4,500 annually, starting in 2024. For companies joining in 2024, the fee is prorated to €2,250 for the initial six months, starting in July. Optional side tracks are available to further enhance the scale-up journey, priced at €2,000 each. In 2024, these tracks focus on “Series A Investment Readiness,” “Unlocking Your Commercial Potential,” and “Boosting Your Visibility,” offering specialized guidance and resources in these critical areas for growth.
