The food sector stands at the crossroads of necessity and opportunity. Beatriz Jacoste, Director of KM ZERO Food Innovation Hub, shares her inspiring journey and vision for transforming global food systems. Here are the key insights from her conversation.

KM ZERO brings together a diverse group of changemakers, from scientists and farmers to entrepreneurs and investors. These “food heroes” are united by a shared mission: creating sustainable, impactful solutions. Beatriz explains, “We need to bring big food into the conversation... We’re obsessed with convincing the unconvinced.” This collaborative approach ensures that stakeholders across the value chain, including large corporations, align toward meaningful change.

While cutting-edge trends like molecular farming grab headlines, Beatriz emphasizes the importance of “less sexy” innovations, such as soil regeneration. Healthy soils not only yield better crops but also help combat climate change. She warns, “We’ve lost 70% of biodiversity and 50% of topsoil, which directly impacts human health.” Reviving these ecosystems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create more nutritious food.

KM ZERO’s Gastro Genius program empowers children to tackle food challenges creatively. Through initiatives like designing the hamburger of 2050, younger generations are inspired to think critically about sustainable practices. Beatriz highlights the importance of this work: “If we don’t involve the next generation, we’re just wasting time designing solutions they’ll have to implement without context.”

KM ZERO’s think tanks and summits bring stakeholders together to break bottlenecks and reach consensus on sustainable practices. Their Fooduristic report showcases best practices and inspires companies to replicate them. “We need companies copying each other to accelerate change,” Beatriz urges. These events also provide startups with critical exposure and funding opportunities, bridging the gap between innovation and implementation.

Find Beatriz on:

LinkedIn: Beatriz Jacoste Lozano

Twitter/X: @BeatrizJacoste

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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Food tech is rapidly transforming how we grow, produce, and consume food, and at the forefront of this revolution is PeakBridge Ventures. During the recent podcast with Nadav Berger, founding partner of PeakBridge Ventures, we explored the cutting-edge trends shaping this dynamic sector. Here are the five biggest takeaways from our conversation.

Alternative proteins have been a hot topic in food tech, and Nadav emphasized their importance for sustainability. “The revolution is here, and it has to happen because we don’t have the land and water to grow more animals,” he explained. While the initial hype led to a saturated market, only the strongest companies are scaling effectively. Nadav highlighted that achieving global adoption depends on the scalability and affordability of these innovations.

When it comes to food tech investments, focusing on ingredients often yields the most promising results. Nadav noted, “Most exciting exits in food tech are in the ingredient space.” Startups working in B2B, particularly in scalable technologies like plant-based flavor and texture enhancements, are well-positioned to succeed. This focus on foundational innovations creates opportunities for both investors and big industry players.

Collaboration with established players like Nestlé or Danone is vital for startups aiming to scale. Nadav explained, “In food, it has to do with scale… to serve millions of consumers, you need production, safety, regulation, and distribution.” Startups often lack these resources, which is why partnerships are crucial. PeakBridge Ventures acts as a bridge, connecting startups with the expertise and networks they need.

For Nadav, investing is deeply personal. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the people,” he shared. Understanding the values and motivations of entrepreneurs is essential for long-term collaboration. Nadav even shared a story about how a lunch meeting helped him decide whether to partner with an investor, underscoring the importance of personal connection in professional relationships.

Europe is a hub for groundbreaking food tech research, boasting strong academic institutions and innovative companies. “Europe is amazing because the science and R&D are very deep,” Nadav remarked. With PeakBridge’s focus on seed-stage investments in Europe, the region is poised to lead in areas like alternative proteins, sustainable ingredients, and food system innovation.

Find Nadav on:

LinkedIn: Nadav Berger

Twitter/X: @PeakBridge

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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The environmental impact of traditional protein sources is immense. As Sirli explains, “Producing protein from animals is very environmentally demanding and inefficient.” With global meat consumption on the rise, alternative proteins offer a sustainable way to meet nutritional needs while mitigating climate change. Whether it’s plant-based, fermented, or cultivated, these new protein sources are designed to complement traditional ones, making food production more eco-friendly.

One of the most promising innovations in alternative proteins is mycoprotein, derived from fungal mycelium. Sirli highlights its benefits: “We don’t need any arable lands or depend on climate conditions. It’s a controlled process that can happen anywhere.” This scalability and resilience make fermented proteins an exciting solution for global food security.

Taste remains a significant barrier in the adoption of plant-based proteins. According to Sirli, “Plants have distinctive flavor properties, and no one wants their meat alternative to taste like pea or soy.” Exciting advancements, like gene editing and bioprocessing to remove unwanted flavors, could revolutionize sensory experiences, making plant-based products more appealing to consumers.

Europe’s stringent regulations present hurdles for FoodTech startups. “Everything that hasn’t been consumed before 1997 must go through approval by EFSA,” Sirli shares. Combined with high production costs, especially for technologies like cultured meat, startups face significant challenges. However, partnerships with governments and existing facilities can ease these burdens, fostering innovation.

For startups in the alternative protein space, collaboration is key. Sirli emphasizes, “One of the critical things is intellectual property. Startups need to ensure they retain ownership when working with large corporations or research organizations.” Balancing partnerships with IP protection ensures long-term growth and innovation.

Find Sirli on:

LinkedIn: Sirli Rosenvald

Funki: funki.ee

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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From understanding sensory memories to creating products that resonate with consumers’ emotions, Mario reveals how neuroscience is shaping the future of food. Here are five key insights from our conversation.

One of the central ideas Mario shared was how deeply tradition and memory shape our taste preferences. “Even if you don’t want to talk about tradition as a good value, think of it as habit and memory,” Mario explains. Neuroscience in food innovation helps brands understand the ways our memories and traditions impact our preferences. This insight allows companies to develop products that resonate emotionally with consumers, creating more meaningful connections to their brands.

Mario highlighted how neuroscience can break down the elements of sensory memory, a critical factor in food innovation. He says, “We can put a number on how the brain interacts with food from a familiarity standpoint.” By understanding these responses, brands can identify which ingredients or flavors connect positively with consumers, and which might need adjustment to gain acceptance. This is the science behind creating memorable, repeatable food experiences that align with consumer habits.

Changing eating habits is no easy feat, but neuroscience in food innovation can offer a solution. Mario shared how Thimus works with brands to use data-driven insights to gently encourage consumers toward healthier choices. “The idea of converting people to healthier food is valid, but they don’t change because it doesn’t taste good or click with them,” he notes. By aligning taste with emotional resonance, Thimus helps brands make healthier options more appealing, paving the way for better eating habits.

Mario introduced the concept of “food nostalgia,” where familiar aromas or flavors evoke memories, making new products feel more comfortable and enjoyable. “Sometimes food nostalgia is not about the product being good but the context it reminds people of,” Mario explains. For brands, understanding these cues is invaluable for creating products that feel like home and promote positive emotions, which are essential for product acceptance in new markets.

Looking ahead, Mario envisions a future where food products are tailored more closely to specific cultures and preferences. “This industry is not yet designed to be flexible, but it will have to adapt,” he says. Advances in AI and neuroscience will enable brands to customize flavors and experiences for diverse consumers, meeting demands for cultural and sensory relevance. The goal is to create foods that people connect with naturally, ensuring that brands stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market.

Find Mario on:

LinkedIn: Mario Ubiali

YouTube: @thimus8594

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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Claire Houry emphasizes the importance of building close, long-term partnerships with startups, noting that Ventech aims to support companies from early stages all the way to exit. "We invest early and want to be partners from day one," she says, highlighting Ventech's pan-European reach, with teams stationed in major tech hubs across Europe. This regional presence enables Ventech to work closely with founders, fostering trust and collaboration over time.

According to Claire, preparing for an exit starts from day one. In her view, startups should understand that "there will be an exit scenario at some point," and it's critical to prepare well in advance. By building relationships within the ecosystem and positioning themselves as acquisition-ready, startups increase their chances of successful exits. "You are being acquired, not for sale," Claire says, explaining the philosophy of strategically aligning with potential acquirers instead of openly looking for a buyer.

Claire shares that Ventech’s approach allows for financing losses in the early stages, but with a clear path to profitability. In her words, “We look at unit economics – customer acquisition costs, net retention rates – rather than pure profit in the early days.” This focus ensures that Ventech invests in companies that, although they may be unprofitable at the start, are set up for sustainable growth and profitability in the long term. For her, companies generating 30-40 million euros annual recurring revenue (ARR) should be nearing profitability, which she sees as a natural milestone for growth-focused ventures.

European tech investment has distinct characteristics, from regulatory landscapes to market size. Claire explains that European funds tend to be smaller and that “risk is linked to reward,” with exits often smaller in value compared to the U.S. However, she is optimistic about Europe, especially with the rise of new technology and regulatory-driven opportunities. "We have a responsibility to build global leaders," Claire asserts, emphasizing Ventech’s commitment to identifying and supporting ambitious founders who want to expand internationally.

Regulation in Europe, according to Claire, drives innovation in certain sectors, especially B2B SaaS. She gives the example of Prewave, an Austrian company focused on supply chain risk intelligence, which addresses growing compliance demands in the European market. "In sectors like supply chain and ESG, regulation creates new business opportunities," Claire notes. For her, regulatory demands in Europe offer a competitive edge by pushing companies to innovate in ways that U.S. firms often follow.

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Find Claire on:

LinkedIn: Claire Houry

Ventech's Newsletter: typeform.com/to/LQk75Mmz

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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One of the highlights from Tim Schumacher's conversation is his strong belief in "founder-market fit." Unlike product-market fit, which focuses on the product's place in the market, founder-market fit is about the founder’s connection and passion for the problem they're solving. Tim says, “I’ve always been better at scaling things rather than building from scratch." This mindset guided him in creating saas.group, where he buys established companies and scales them. Founder-market fit, he believes, is crucial for founders to thrive and stay motivated.

Tim’s approach with saas.group is different from the typical venture capital model. Instead of funding high-growth startups, saas.group acquires small, profitable SaaS companies and scales them. “We’re not a VC; we acquire 100 percent of the company,” Tim explains. This model allows founders to cash out and move on to new projects, while saas.group focuses on improving and scaling the acquired companies. His strategy highlights an alternative path for bootstrapped SaaS companies to achieve long-term growth without the traditional pressures of venture capital.

Apart from SaaS, Tim is also a founder of World Fund, a European climate-focused VC that invests in early to mid-stage startups with high decarbonization potential. “If it decarbonizes and does so heavily, that’s a topic we like to look at,” he shares, explaining World Fund’s criteria. This venture reflects Tim’s passion for applying his software expertise to the climate crisis, investing in innovations that reduce emissions and promote sustainability. His insights here show the potential for tech to drive impactful climate solutions.

Tim emphasized the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in any business. While ESG compliance is increasingly required, especially in VC-backed companies, Tim believes it’s just as important to look at the impact of the business model itself. “A company can have high ESG ratings and still be detrimental to the planet,” he points out. For Tim, it’s essential that businesses not only comply with ESG but also genuinely align with sustainable and ethical practices to build a lasting positive impact.

Tim has a deep respect for indie makers and bootstrapped founders, often those who build solid products on limited resources. “There are tens of thousands of great founders out there who just need an exit path,” he notes. saas.group’s model offers this by acquiring these companies and scaling them further. This approach resonates with Tim’s experience as a founder who values sustainable growth over flashy, high-risk ventures. Through saas.group, he’s creating a supportive ecosystem for bootstrapped SaaS startups to thrive long-term.

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Find Tim on:

LinkedIn: Tim Schumacher

Email: tim@saas.group // tim@worldfund.vc

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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Linn-Cecilie emphasizes that impact investing requires intentionality and measurability. According to her, “You can do a lot of impact investments unintentionally, but if you don’t have the intentionality there, it can be hard to call it real impact.” LUMO Labs, where she currently works, uses intentionality as a core part of their investment thesis. They measure both the financial and social returns, ensuring that each investment stays true to its impact goals over the long term.

This intentional approach is key in climate tech as the sector grows rapidly. As Linn-Cecilie notes, the impact investing market has reached “1.16 billion dollars” and is set to expand 20% yearly, showing how intentional impact is becoming the new normal in the investment world.

With a primary focus on early-stage investments, LUMO Labs actively encourages startups to scale beyond their local markets. Linn-Cecilie points out, “Our whole thesis is to take these companies and make them go out of their own market as soon as possible.” For climate tech and impact-focused startups, scaling is often essential to reach global markets and make a measurable impact.

By leveraging networks in the Nordics, Baltics, and beyond, Linn-Cecilie’s team at LUMO Labs helps startups overcome geographic and cultural barriers, setting them up for global success. This ability to bridge regions is what makes LUMO Labs’ impact investing approach truly valuable.

Linn-Cecilie shares that many Nordic founders tend to prioritize values over profit. She notes, “To build the biggest and the best companies, you need to be driven by something else than profit.” This value-driven approach is increasingly prominent in Norway and the Nordic regions, where impact and sustainability are core parts of the entrepreneurial mindset.

This shift toward values is especially beneficial in the climate tech space, where creating a positive impact is integral to the company’s mission. Startups in this ecosystem aren’t just focused on financial growth; they aim to create real-world change, which aligns with LUMO Labs' focus on investing in sustainable urban solutions.

One unique aspect of Linn-Cecilie’s work at LUMO Labs is collaborating with Tech Transfer Offices (TTOs) at universities to identify and develop early-stage tech innovations. She explains, “We invest very early, so we can do pre-seed and up to late-seed, often with projects coming directly out of TTOs.”

Working closely with TTOs allows her team to invest in cutting-edge technologies that address climate and urban challenges. These partnerships bring academic innovations to market faster, enabling climate tech startups to build solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also deeply impactful.

Linn-Cecilie highlights how LUMO Labs strives to support founders beyond mere financial investment. She states, “It’s not always a pitching competition; there is space for conversations.” Her firm places a strong emphasis on mentorship and availability, with Linn-Cecilie herself often meeting with founders just for a chat, even if no investment is immediately involved.

This approach is especially encouraging for early-stage startups, who may feel intimidated by VCs or overwhelmed by their financial needs. Her advice for founders? Don’t be discouraged by a “no” from VCs—often, it’s about alignment rather than company quality. LUMO Labs aims to foster an ecosystem where startups can thrive with the right support, not just funding.

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Find Linn-Cecilie on:

LinkedIn: Linn-Cecilie Linnemann

Instagram: @linnlinne

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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The Norwegian startup ecosystem has experienced rapid growth in recent years, especially in early-stage investments. Cecilie Skjong, an investment manager at Skyfall Ventures, shared her journey in the Nordic tech scene, highlighting how Norway's market has become a magnet for both local and international investors. “Over the past decade, there’s been a real boom in early-stage investments here in Norway,” she noted, pointing to an increase in funding and support structures for tech startups.

At Skyfall Ventures, the investment focus centers on founders and their teams more than anything else. Cecilie emphasized, “When you’re investing at the pre-seed or seed stage, it’s almost all about the team and their vision.” Early-stage investments come with many unknowns, and for Skyfall Ventures, the founders’ commitment and passion are paramount. This focus on team dynamics reflects Norway’s unique, people-first investment culture.

Skyfall Ventures embraces a generalist investment strategy, supporting companies across various sectors, from e-commerce to climate tech. “Our common denominator is software or software-enabled hardware,” Cecilie explained. This approach allows them to back a diverse range of startups, fueling innovation across different fields within the Norwegian startup ecosystem. By not limiting themselves to one niche, they provide crucial support to companies that might otherwise struggle to gain traction.

Norway’s small population size encourages startups to think internationally from the start. Cecilie highlighted that Skyfall encourages founders to scale globally early on, given the limited local market. “Companies that embrace a global mindset early are seeing the most success,” she shared, underscoring Norway’s competitive advantage. By targeting international markets, Norwegian startups can accelerate growth, making the region a global leader in tech innovation.

Despite Norway's reputation as a progressive country, female-led startups still receive less funding than their male counterparts. Cecilie discussed how Skyfall is committed to supporting female founders, noting recent investments in companies led by talented female CEOs and engineers. “We’re not investing in them because they’re female founders, but because they’re exceptional,” she emphasized. Skyfall’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity is a vital part of its mission to create a more balanced Norwegian startup ecosystem.

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Find Cecilie on:

LinkedIn: Cecilie Skjong

Skyfall Ventures website: skyfall.vc

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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