EIT Food Accelerator Network – Helsinki Hub

The programme enables the most promising agrifoodtech startups to accelerate, further validate their technology, connect with corporate partners and advance their investment and commercial readiness to achieve the ultimate goal: a successful market adoption.  

Since 2025, Viikki Food Design Factory at University of Helsinki runs the Helsinki Hub, with a programme designed for startups developing circular solutions for food systems. The circular economy is a key driver of truly sustainable food systems, yet circular solutions often face barriers to market entry. Advancing these innovations is crucial for sustainability and new business creation while also offering exciting research and development opportunities, as upcycling technologies and circular business models in the bioeconomy are rapidly evolving. By supporting the pioneers behind circular solutions, we aim to accelerate the transition to a more resilient and resource-efficient food system.

More specifically, our hub supports teams working on:  

• By-products and waste stream valorization (nutrient recovery and upcycling)  
• Upcycled food raw materials and ingredients (good taste, solubility, high nutritional value)  
• Upstream processes and feedstock optimization (preparation of upcycled feedstocks in bioprocessing for maximizing yield, and minimizing energy use, resource consumption, and waste generation)  
• Closed-loop farming solutions (facilitating circularity in farm-2-fork supply chains) 

Eleven startups were selected in the 2025 cohort of the Helsinki Hub programme. Here are the changemakers building a more circular food system:

• Aquanzo – transforms marine ingredient production by farming zooplankton, the natural super-ingredient, industrially on land using agricultural liquid by-products
• CHoNova - unlocks the power of the cocoa pod’s inner membrane (endocarp) with a patented ingredient redefining sustainable innovation
• Decameal – creates sustainable products from crabs, for food and feed, restoring a healthy marine life
• Endless Food Co – are future-proofing our favourite chocolate treats by using upcycling technology, THIC™, a chocolate-like ingredient, and tapping into the flavour and value potential of overlooked resources
• Kyomei – transforms wasted crop leaves into nature's bio-factories, creating and extracting healthy ingredients for 'clean label' and better-for-you foods
• NPHarvest - enables efficient and profitable nutrient recycling from wastewater flows to the fertiliser market
• Proteine Resources – redefines pet nutrition with the world’s first sustainable and hypoallergenic alternative to beef protein - made for pets with sensitive stomachs and big appetites
• Rebread – upcycles surplus bread into functional food and beverage products, turning the problem of bread waste into a powerful solution for sustainability
• Seaqure labs – utilises solid side streams from the agrifood industry to create high-value mycelium-based ingredients for animal feed based on solid-state fermentation technology
• SilviBio – empowers sustainable farming with peat-free, coir-free growing media made from locally sourced materials, helping crops thrive in challenging conditions
• Tetis Biotech - focuses on marine by-product valorisation to create high-value functional foods and innovative ingredients