European accelerator Startupbootcamp has revealed the cohort for its Italy-based FoodTech initiative, which is backed by networking equipment manufacturer Cisco and food companies Barilla, Monini and Gambero Rosso.
The accelerator is also backed by venture capital firms LVenture Group and M3 Investimenti. It will provide €15,000 ($16,300) to participating startups, as well as office space, access to a network of mentors and potential investors, and €400,000 worth of services.
The 10 participating startups in the Rome-based program were selected from a total of 452 applications, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of 21 ahead of a three-day pitching event.
The selected startups include Indonesia-based BiteBack Insect Oil, which is producing cooking oil out of beetle cultures in order to reduce reliance on palm oil, and Italy-based eVja, creator of a precision farming platform to make pruning, irrigation and plantation more efficient.
Spain-based FruitsApp is developng a marketplace connecting fruit and vegetable producers with wholesalers, while Italy-based IQP is developing internet-of-things technology to monitor olive trees. Colombia-based Kiwi Campus operates a food delivery service for university campuses.
Ireland-based Milis Bio is creating protein-based flavour additives for the food and beverage sector, and Germany-based Neofarms is developing aeroponics products for households. UK-based Phytoponics CIC is working on an advanced hydroponic system.
US-based TrakBar is building a big data platform that will help restaurants and pubs manage the amount of food and drinks inventory required throughout busy periods. Finally, Italy-based Wallfarm is working on technology that will facilitate vertical farming.
The three-month accelerator will begin on November 21 and conclude with a demo day on March 10, 2017.