Congratulations to the Winners and 178 Food Solutions Finalists, pitching 35 innovative Prototypes!

“We want to continue our journey focusing on the core innovation of our project: an innovative and circular ingredient named BITELOOP. This ingredient represents a virtuous example of circular economy and it has enhanced nutritional values. We firmly believe in its potential to create a meaningful impact, that's why we are dedicated to continuing the development of BITELOOP, refining its unique benefits for the food sector.​ We are currently planning to apply for the Seedbed 2025 incubation program, also promoted by EIT Food, which focuses specifically on market validation. Additionally, we are preparing to submit our application for the Incubation Programme at the NOI start-up incubator.​ ​ In addition to these initiatives, we are actively seeking partnerships with industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to scale our solution”

“We really think there is a market for our product. Of course there is still work to do with, for example, the shelf life, scaling and improving the fibre content, but the idea behind Chickie and where we are at this point is a really good start. We are still full-time students, so Chickie might be on hold for some time, but who knows - maybe you'll see it in stores in the future.”

“Looking ahead, we are working to evaluate the feasibility of our idea in collaboration with local companies and suppliers. We aim to take the project to the next stage by fostering meaningful partnerships that enhance quality, efficiency, and innovation while contributing to the local ecosystem”

“Currently, we are exploring the possibility of pursuing additional national or international projects to better understand the potential of our product and make the most appropriate choices for the future.”

“Several members of the group have pursued their careers abroad and are currently in other countries. It is for this very reason that our project is at a standstill for the moment and we are still considering whether to continue with it or not.”

“Our mission and ambition at Mighty Pods is to create and provide nutritious, delicious, sustainable products that can bridge cultures and address nutritional deficiencies. With “Pea-Chata,” we aimed to create a nutritious, plant-based, eco-conscious, horchata-inspired beverage, fortified to meet the developmental needs of UK children, and we endeavor to share our product with as many people as we can”

“Following our success in the EIT Food Solutions Zero-Waste Challenge, Team Optilize is eager to take Edilm to the next level by developing it into a fully-fledged start-up. Our immediate focus is on further product development—perfecting the formulation and exploring options to make Edilm vegan and 100% plant-based. In parallel, we aim to advance the commercialization process and hope to pursue a patent for our innovative edible packaging solution in the near future. To accelerate this journey, we plan to submit our business plan to programs like “Helsinki Incubator” and “Business Finland” to seek additional support for commercialization and scaling. We also believe that collaboration with EIT Food could be invaluable as we move forward. Guidance on product development, making our solution cost-effective, and creating a robust business plan would greatly enhance our progress. Additionally, we are eager to explore opportunities for pilot projects, build partnerships in product development and gain insights on finding our first customers. Our ambition is to bring Edilm to market as a sustainable solution that eliminates plastic and food waste, creating real-world impact for food producers and consumers alike.”

“For my future steps I want to focus on job search, with preference for research and development positions given my predisposition and background, the creation of this prototype has certainly helped me to increase awareness but for now we have not discussed with the team possible future scenarios.”