Deadline: May 22, 2025
Applications are open for the World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards 2025. The WFF Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is a global competition showcasing entrepreneurs who are using the power of technology to transform agrifood systems to end global hunger and achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Made possible through a strategic partnership with XTC, the world’s leading platform for fostering collaboration and innovation among startups, corporations and governments to address global challenges stemming from the SDGs, the Startup Innovation Awards spotlight the next generation of innovators developing solutions for a sustainable future. Over USD $80,000 in financial and in-kind contributions are offered to the winners.
Categories
Through the Startup Innovation Awards, they are seeking to identify, elevate and accelerate the youth-led startups who show the greatest potential for a positive impact to transform agrifood systems across the four categories for 2025:
- Digital Innovation in Food Processing Award: Startups developing cutting-edge solutions to enhance the sustainability, efficiency and resilience of food processing systems. This award celebrates innovations transforming how raw food materials are processed, preserved, and packaged using data-driven insights, smart equipment and connected platforms that optimize every step of the food processing chain.
- Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition Award: Startups driving inclusive solutions to ensure access to nutritious, sustainable food for all. This award recognizes innovations across food production, distribution and consumption that promote health and well-being, making nutritious food more accessible, affordable, and equitable for communities everywhere.
- Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security Award: Startups developing innovative solutions to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change and water scarcity. This award recognizes technologies and practices that promote sustainable water management, strengthen resilience to climate change and support the long-term sustainability of agrifood systems and the communities that depend on them.
- Driving Innovation in Agrifood Systems Award: Startups developing digital innovations that enhance the sustainability, efficiency and resilience of agrifood systems. This award highlights the use of technologies such as IoT, AI, blockchain, automation, drones, robotics and advanced data analytics to optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability across the agrifood value chain.
Special Awards
- Startup of Year Award 2025
- Fighting Malnutrition and Enhancing Food Security Prize by MassChallenge Switzerland
Benefits
This is more than a competition. It’s your chance to:
- Pitch your innovation to an expert panel of agrifood systems specialists and global leaders.
- Elevate your startup through a global platform, with visibility to investors, governments and organizations committed to sustainability.
- Access resources and opportunities to enhance and scale your solution.
- Win prizes up to USD $80,000 including financial and in-kind awards to fuel your growth. Travel support to attend the WFF flagship event in Rome, Italy is also provided.
- Ongoing access to two global communities to enhance and scale your solution; continuing engagement with FAO and Extreme Tech Challenge Ecosystems.
Eligibility
- They are looking for youth-led startups with a founder or C-level executive.
- Between 18 and 35 years old at the time of submission of the application.
Application
Submit your application for consideration by May 22, 2025. Semi-finalists will be notified, marking the beginning of an exciting journey toward the finals by June 30, 2025.
For more information, visit World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards.
