Food has always been a central part of human civilization. Since the dawn of time, the cultivation, preparation, and consumption of food have been vital activities. Communities across ages have adopted various practices and techniques to ensure food security, minimize waste, and essentially make the most of their available resources.
Nowadays, the foundational concept remains largely unchanged, but the emergence of new technologies has led to significant advancements in the food industry. At the heart of this revolution lie food tech startups, entities dedicated to using technology for sustainable food sources, reducing food waste, and enhancing efficiency and scalability in the food industry.
Food Tech Startups: The Concept Behind and Their Significance
According to the World Food Programme, the volume of food produced but never consumed would be sufficient to feed two billion people. This figure is more than double the number of undernourished people worldwide. In developing countries, 40% of food losses occur at the post-harvest and processing stages.
Conversely, in industrialized nations, over 40% of losses happen at retail and consumer levels. The global challenges facing the food industry are numerous, and the role of food tech startups is increasingly crucial as they address issues such as:
- food waste reduction
- sustainability and regenerative foods
- food safety and quality
- supply chain optimization
- cost management and efficiency
Overall, food tech startups are an important part of the modern food industry, addressing global food challenges, driving innovation, and shaping a more sustainable and efficient future for food production and consumption. Let’s explore the food tech startups that are defining the future of food in depth.
Best Food Tech Companies to Follow and AgTech Pioneers
In recent years, food tech startups have increasingly introduced AgTech, or agricultural technology, to provide added value services and automation solutions to traditional agriculture. Driven by challenges such as climate change, population growth, and sustainability concerns, these companies aim to enhance efficiency in the farming process through innovative solutions.
AgTech encompasses various domains including smart farming, digital agriculture, and precision agriculture. These technologies offer diverse solutions ranging from crop monitoring and automated equipment to data-driven decision-making tools, all aimed at improving yields, reducing environmental impacts, and ensuring economic viability for farmers.
Farm-to-Table Automation
Farmwise
Location: California, United States
Funding: $74.01M
Farmwise offers an autonomous vegetable weeder that utilizes machine learning and actuation control software to deliver reliable and consistent sub-inch weeding accuracy. Designed for sustainable farming at scale, this innovative food technology aims to enhance overall farming efficiency and reduce labor costs for farmers.
Fieldwork Robotics
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Funding: $4.87M
Fieldwork Robotics is delivering an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable harvesting solution with its selective and autonomous harvesting robots. Equipped with 3D cameras, sensors, and machine learning, and created with flexibility and modularity in mind, this food tech is showing impressive results in harvesting different soft fruits.
FarmDroid
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Funding: $4.87M
FarmDroid introduces a fully automatic, solar-powered field robot that automates both seeding and plant protection. The robot boasts an impressive 8 mm precision in seeding and weeding, thanks to its patented seeding system. This food tech innovation minimizes soil compaction, and notably, it operates entirely on energy harnessed from four solar panels.
The Small Robot Company
Location: Salisbury, United Kingdom
Funding: $10.65M
Small Robots employs robots and AI with the goal of making farming more financially and environmentally sustainable. Their robot autonomously digitizes fields, enabling farmers to detect every weed and assess the health of their crops. By geolocating each crop plant and weed, Small Robots can provide field-scale actionable insights at a plant level.
This technology can eliminate the need for blanket chemical applications, allowing farmers to apply treatments precisely where needed, or even giving them the confidence to avoid spraying altogether.
SwarmFarm
Location: Queensland, Australia
Funding: $15.69M
Swarm Farm is equipping farmers with advanced robotic technologies to enhance and improve their farming practices. The solutions provided by Swarm Farm are not one-size-fits-all. Instead, they are adapted to address the specific problems or needs that are characteristic of the local farming systems where they are implemented.
Their objective is to boost productivity through the precision application of crop protection products. By targeting individual weeds, they aim to reduce the amount of herbicide used on farms, thereby improving the sustainability and environmental impact of agricultural activities. They also offer machines that are great for mowing and slashing applications on turf farms and between orchard rows.
Tortuga AgTech
Location: Colorado, United States
Funding: $28.07M
Tortuga AgTech is dedicated to helping farms become more resilient, sustainable, and successful by providing services in harvesting, forecasting, and pest treatment. The company primarily addresses two major issues: ensuring access to reliable, affordable labor and delivering high-quality information.
Their robots are designed to perform various labor-intensive tasks on the farm, with a special focus on harvesting. Simultaneously, these robots capture detailed plant-level data. The aim is to automate repetitive and strenuous tasks, allowing farm workers to focus on more skilled, high-value work, and to gather information that enhances operational, agronomic, and commercial decision-making on the farm.
Vertical Farming Innovators
Bowery Farming
Location: New York, United States
Funding: $716.31M
Bowery Farming utilizes vertical farming techniques within industrial warehouses, leveraging proprietary technology to cultivate produce. This innovative approach to agriculture enables Bowery Farming to grow crops without the use of pesticides. As a result, their produce is not only fresher for longer periods but also boasts enhanced flavor and does not require washing before consumption.
In contrast to traditional agriculture, which typically requires extensive land, significant water usage, and pesticides, Bowery Farming offers a more sustainable and efficient solution. Their method significantly reduces the environmental impact, aligning with modern sustainable farming practices.
OnePointOne
Location: California, United States
Funding: $5.7M
OnePointOne addresses the increasing demand for food with its advanced vertical farming technology. They use AI and data analytics in their proprietary software to optimize farm operations and increase yields. The technology ensures crops grow in ideal conditions, from germination to harvest. Live imaging and AI monitor plants continuously, allowing for real-time yield predictions and enhanced visibility.
This method results in significant benefits: 99% less water usage, 250 times more plants per acre, 80% less shrinkage, twice as fast growth, pesticide and herbicide-free produce, and three times longer shelf life.
Living Greens Farm
Location: Minnesota, United States
Funding: $2.32M
Living Greens Farm specializes in vertical indoor farming, called aeroponics, a plant-cultivation technique conceptualized by NASA. This innovative approach allows them to use less land and water, reduce their carbon footprint, and eliminate the need for harmful chemicals, while growing fresher, safer, and more nutrient-rich produce year-round.
Harvest London
Location: London, United Kingdom
Funding: $610K
Harvest London specializes in cultivating a diverse range of fresh, sustainable herbs and leafy greens. Utilizing cutting-edge hydroponic technology and vertical farming, they achieve pesticide-free produce that’s not only kinder to the environment but also rich in quality. This food tech innovation ensures year-round growth, completely unaffected by external weather conditions at a volume that isn’t possible in fields.
Notably, their controlled environment agriculture offers a stable solution to the common challenges of fluctuating market prices and the loss of freshness during transport.
AeroFarms
Location: New Jersey, United States
Funding: $180.86M
AeroFarms integrates the latest advances in controlled environment agriculture, indoor vertical farming, artificial intelligence, and plant biology to cultivate a broad range of products. Their new food technology ensures superior flavor, enhanced quality, and improved nutrition.
Utilizing predictive analytics, AeroFarms continuously reviews and tests its systems for improvements. By integrating various cutting-edge technologies, they have developed a fully connected smart farm. This food tech innovation has allowed optimal conditions for healthy plant growth, enhancing food safety and enabling sustainable indoor farming.
Food Delivery and Logistics
In the world of new food technology, startups in the food delivery and logistics sector are redefining convenience and efficiency. As per recent data, the global online food delivery market, valued at USD 190.28 billion in 2022, is poised to soar to around USD 517.37 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.52%.
This remarkable growth trajectory is fueled by breakthroughs in food delivery technology, which incorporate technologies like AI, autonomous vehicles, and drones for swifter, more efficient services. Simultaneously, other food tech startups are introducing blockchain in food supply chain for enhanced traceability. This not only ensures seamless operations from farm to fork but also paves the way for more sustainable and consumer-friendly practices.
Next-Gen Delivery Platforms
Zypp Electric
Location: Gurgaon, India
Funding: $35.6M
Zypp Electric is a technology-driven and eco-friendly EV-as-a-service platform, providing sustainable last-mile delivery solutions for both local merchants and e-commerce giants. Dedicated to making India carbon-free, the company offers fully automated IoT and AI-enabled scooters, which are highly efficient and easy to maintain.
They facilitate the delivery of a range of products, including groceries, medicines, food, and e-commerce parcels, thereby contributing to the reduction of urban pollution and delivery costs.
Instacart
Location: California, United States
Funding: $2.861B
Instacart specializes in food delivery technology, providing intuitive and straightforward solutions for retailers, customers, brands, and shoppers. Through its Instacart App, Instacart connects users with a diverse range of grocery products, ensuring a convenient and efficient home delivery service.
The company also offers an integrated suite of hardware and software solutions that merge physical retail with advanced technology, boosting retailers’ online presence and streamlining both pick-up and delivery processes.
DoorDash
Location: California, United States
Funding: $2.472B
DoorDash is a food delivery technology that connects customers with a wide range of local businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, pet stores, florists, and alcohol retailers. DoorDash also allows for some time-saving with its package recovery service, where a Dasher picks up prepaid parcels from customers’ homes and delivers them to local carriers.
Deliveroo
Location: London, United Kingdom
Funding: $1.713B
Deliveroo is another food delivery platform connecting consumers with local restaurants and grocery stores. By deploying advanced machine learning, Deliveroo enhances its food delivery technology, optimizing the coordination between riders, restaurants, and customers for efficient and high-quality delivery services.
The company has also introduced the concept of delivery-only kitchens, which allows restaurants to expand into new areas without the upfront costs and risks associated with traditional high-street premises.
Furthermore, Deliveroo empowers restaurants with valuable data insights, enabling them to identify popular cuisines in specific local areas. This strategic approach not only facilitates faster growth for restaurants but also offers customers a wider choice of culinary options.
Sharebite
Location: New York, United States
Funding: $58.62M
Sharebite is a comprehensive food ordering platform tailored for corporate environments, offering access to over 20,000 premium restaurant partners. It streamlines meal ordering through an intuitive app, allowing users to browse menus, customize orders, and track expenses.
Sharebite enables employees to use meal allowances flexibly, whether working from the office, remotely, or in a hybrid setup. The company delivers customized meals directly to designated office pick-up spots, enhancing convenience and efficiency. Sharebite also features a Sharebite Dashboard for the users to easily manage their corporate accounts, assign allowance limits, view order data and receipts, track order statuses, and more.
Smart Logistics Solutions
Zipline
Location: California, United States
Funding: $817.16M
Zipline offers contactless food delivery using its delivery drones and distribution centers. The company designs, manufactures, and operates the entire system, enabling faster deliveries, serving more customers, reducing costs, and significantly enhancing convenience. Notably, Zipline’s delivery drones are fully electric, resulting in significantly fewer emissions compared to traditional delivery methods.
Connecting Food
Location: Paris, France
Funding: $7.58M
Connecting Food is integrating blockchain in food supply chain management to provide complete traceability from farm to fork. This system breaks down data silos and empowers each participant in the chain – farmers, producers, cooperatives, aggregators, processors, manufacturers, brands, retailers, and consumers. It enhances the quality and reduces risks by ensuring transparency at every stage.
Additionally, it boosts operational efficiencies and unlocks the value of data, enabling informed decisions and fostering trust. By doing so, it ensures that every stakeholder has access to reliable information about the food’s journey, enhancing accountability and sustainability in the food industry.
Starship Technologies
Location: California, United States
Funding: $197.56M
Starship offers contactless food delivery through its autonomous delivery robots in over 60 locations worldwide. These robots provide a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for last-mile deliveries to stores and restaurants, enhancing efficiency, convenience, and sustainability.
Equipped with a suite of sensors and 12 cameras, these robots are adept at navigating around obstacles and people. They are also highly safe and secure due to their locked compartments, accessible only to the intended recipient who can conveniently track the robot’s progress on their smartphone.
Mabel Systems
Location: Sydney, Canada
Funding: $30K
Mabel Systems specializes in digital inventory and traceability solutions tailored for the seafood industry. Their approach ensures real-time visibility and keeps clients well-informed about their business operations. The user-friendly software provides complete control over inventory, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.
Mabel Systems stands out for its flexibility and customization options, aligning its software with the unique workflow and requirements of each client. This personalized approach ensures that Mabel seamlessly integrates with existing operations, maintaining the distinctiveness of each business.
Transparent Path
Location: Washington, United States
Funding: $190K
Transparent Path, combining a blend of cutting-edge technologies like 5G, IoT, AI, and cloud computing, offers advanced supply chain visibility. This service enhances shipment monitoring by attaching advanced cellular sensors at the point of shipment, enabling real-time tracking of location and conditions throughout the journey.
It focuses on preventing lost loads and uses machine-learning algorithms to predict product freshness, providing clients with early warnings about potential losses and risks. This feature is particularly crucial for companies transporting high-value, perishable goods such as chilled or frozen items, allowing them to identify and address issues proactively.
TE-FOOD
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Funding: Undisclosed
TE-FOOD utilizes blockchain technology in the food supply chain to ensure robust and transparent traceability. Their tools and solutions are adaptable to various processes, data sets, and technical environments, making them suitable for a diverse array of companies, ranging from small farms to large corporations.
TE-FOOD, helps clients showcase their sustainability and quality, facilitating market differentiation and export opportunities to countries where traceability information is a prerequisite. Notably, clients can analyze and optimize their supply chain processes, enhancing operational efficiency. They also have the opportunity to engage directly with their consumers and gather valuable data about them.
Sustainable Food Alternatives
Sustainable food alternatives are essential for addressing both environmental and health challenges. They notably reduce our reliance on resource-intensive animal agriculture. As highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), livestock, accounts for nearly two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector.
Food tech startups offer us alternatives that have a lower carbon footprint, consume less water, and require less land, helping to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
But the upsides don’t stop there. They also offer nutritional benefits and can reduce the risk of diseases linked to high meat consumption. By diversifying diets with plant-based products and sustainable proteins, we can significantly lessen the environmental impact of our food systems while promoting global food security and public health.
Plant-Based Revolution
Beyond Meat
Location: California, United States
Funding: Undisclosed
Beyond Meat specializes in plant-based products containing typical meat components – protein, fat, minerals, carbohydrates, and water – but sourced from plants. Their product range includes alternatives to ground beef, sausages, meatballs, and chicken. The goal is to create a sustainable alternative protein that also tastes good.
Next Level Burger
Location: Oregon, United States
Funding: $20M
Next Level Burger is a plant-based burger chain known for its burgers made from 100% non-GMO ingredients and all-organic vegetables. They strongly believe in the potential of plant-based products and are dedicated to contributing to food tech innovation within this sector.
Plant Power Fast Food
Location: California, United States
Funding: $7.71M
Plant Power Fast Food is on a mission to redefine fast food chains by combining convenience with nutritious, eco-friendly plant-based products. Offering a healthier, sustainable alternative to traditional fast food, their menu features all your favorite fast food classics, reimagined with plant-based ingredients.
Cultivated and Lab-Grown Foods
TurtleTree
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Funding: $39.4M
TurtleTree is a food tech innovation company, specializing in ethical and sustainable milk production without animals. Their groundbreaking work in alternative protein sources transforms the dairy industry.
By harnessing advanced cellular agriculture, TurtleTree produces milk and its components, aligning with the growing demand for plant-based products, and prioritizing environmental and animal welfare.
WNWN Food Labs
Location: London, United Kingdom
Funding: $6.6M
WNWN Food Labs specializes in creating cocoa-free chocolate to address environmental and ethical issues in traditional chocolate production. The company combines food tech innovation with plant-based products and delivers delicious chocolate in all its applications.
Revyve
Location: Wageningen, Netherlands
Funding: $8.77M
Revyve taps into renewable microbial biomass sources like brewer’s yeast to forge a new path in alternative protein production. Introducing food tech innovation they deliver an extensive array of animal-free products, such as savory meats, rich sauces, versatile pasta, wholesome baking goods, and crispy fried snacks.
Tech-Driven Food Service
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that foodborne diseases annually affect 1 in 10 people worldwide. Unsafe food results in 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and causes 420,000 deaths each year.
Notably, 30% of these deaths occur among children under the age of 5. These statistics highlight the critical importance of food safety. In response to this urgent issue, a growing number of food tech startups are emerging, focusing on enhancing food safety through the use of advanced technologies.
Food Quality and Safety Assurance
Hyperplan
Location: Bidart, France
Funding: $4.44M
Hyperplan provides a collaborative data platform designed for crop monitoring, integrating satellite imagery, meteorological data, and artificial intelligence. Its advanced operational software enables food chain industrial companies to monitor crops and harvests in real-time, effectively addressing pressing operational challenges.
SafeTraces
Funding: $18.68M
Location: California, United States
SafeTraces provides a scalable, cost-effective traceability solution for pharmaceutical and food industries with its innovative product called miniDART. It uses edible, invisible DNA-based tags that meet FDA-GRAS standards and can be applied directly to products or ingredients, ensuring traceability without compromising product integrity or safety.
The company also offers two other specialized products: veriDART and saniDART. veriDART improves building safety and efficiency by optimizing indoor air quality and energy use, while saniDART offers a quick, effective way to verify sanitation at the microbial level, essential for ensuring bacterial inactivation.
AI-Powered Culinary Creations
MOA Food Tech
Location: Navarra, Spain
Funding: $2.06M
MOA Food Tech specializes in upcycling food waste and by-products from food production. By using biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI), they create an alternative protein source. This approach employs significantly fewer resources, meeting the growing global food demands with high-value, natural, and nutritious products.
NotCo
Location: Santiago, Chile
Funding: $465.84M
NotCo uses artificial intelligence to replicate the taste, texture, and aroma of animal products exclusively from plant sources. Their range includes plant-based alternatives for milk, burgers, and chicken, offered in various forms such as patties, nuggets, and tenders.
Conclusion
As we conclude our exploration of food tech startups, their role in forging a sustainable future becomes undeniably clear. Through innovative solutions, these companies are not only addressing complex food-related challenges but are also setting new standards for the entire food industry.
If you’re planning to join this revolution with your startup, it’s very important to ensure that your food tech innovation is harnessed effectively.
This is where Prelaunch.com steps in, offering a suite of tools for concept validation, market analysis, and audience insights. It’ll equip you with the necessary resources to refine your ideas and launch with greater assurance of success.
