Despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing economic uncertainty, new startups are founded every day. To introduce you to 5 recently founded startups, we analyzed 1.135 FoodTech startups in total. All of them develop innovative solutions spanning from food monitoring to food manufacturing robots.
The 5 promising FoodTech startups you should watch in 2021 were hand-picked based on our data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. The 1.135 companies that were analyzed for this report are identified using the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally. When you are looking for up-to-date FoodTech solutions for your innovation units, R&D, or product development department, the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform gives you the most exhaustive collection and ensures you continuously discover new startups, scaleups, and technologies.
Global Startup Heat Map: 5 FoodTech Startups to Watch in 2021
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 FoodTech startups, developing technology-driven solutions for the food industry. Moreover, you can explore global hotspots for FoodTech startups and even download this graphic to include in your next presentation.
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Chef Robotics automates Food Assembly Lines
Food assembly lines devise the nutrient ingredient and food quantity for the consumers. Conventional assembly methods rely on labor and their expertise, which vary from an employee to another. Innovations in FoodTech enable startups to build food robotics and automation solutions, which improve efficiency and food quality-consistency in the assembly line. Besides, automated cleaning mechanisms avoid food contamination in the assembly line, assuring food safety throughout the process.
The US-based startup Chef Robotics utilizes robotics and artificial intelligence to assemble food, improving the quality and efficiency of the otherwise labor-intensive task. The startup’s solutions increase production volume and product consistency. Chef Robotics’ automated robots are flexible and easily integrated with existing assembly lines, reducing additional costs. Therefore, the startup’s solutions offer better productivity and save the overall costs for hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and schools, among others.
Sibö offers Sustainable Functional Extracts
The food industry is adopting sustainability with innovations that reduce wastage, increase production, and lower carbon footprint. Technologies like smart farming and vertical farming minimize resource consumption while delivering profitable produce. Similarly, the food distribution industry utilizes sustainable solutions such as biodegradable packaging and reusable materials, further reducing ecological impact.
Sibö is a Dutch startup that produces sustainable solutions for the food industry. The startup integrates FoodTech and BioTech to develop insect-based raw materials & functional extracts. These serve as adequate replacements for conventional protein sources such as beef and chicken while requiring fewer resources than livestock. Furthermore, Sibö offers biodegradable biopolymers for sustainable packaging, ensuring a zero-carbon footprint in food packaging.
qZense Labs develops Precision Grading Solutions
From the ingredients to the processes involved in food production, consumers are in constant search of healthy food culture. Food quality grading is a manual task and involves destructive testing for reliable results. As a result, conventional grading methods are inefficient and lead to food wastage. But, startups now offer advanced solutions that predict the quality of the food through non-destructive testing. Innovations in food technology utilize data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), spectroscopy, and AI to deliver tailored food grading solutions.
Indian startup qZense Labs delivers end-to-end IoT solutions for fresh food management. The startup provides two devices to grade and predict the condition of fresh food. Q-Scan is a handheld device that uses near-infrared spectral imaging to detect the browning inside visibly fresh foods. Q-Logs uses olfactory sensors in storage to track changes in the state of fresh food. qZense Labs’ solutions assess ripeness, spoilage, and shelf life accurately, helping retailers and aggregators in reducing spoilage and inventory loss.
FreshStart offers a Food Donation Platform
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, one-third of food produced globally is wasted globally, leading to avoidable emissions. Reducing food waste feeds more people as well as reduces the ecological impact of agriculture. FoodTech startups offer innovative solutions addressing the discontinuity between food wastage and food insecurity to increase sustainability.
FreshStart is a US-based startup that provides a food donation platform to address the disparity between food waste and food insecurity. The startup’s mobile application connects food donors with food providers, letting businesses initiate a food donation. FreshStart collects the food and delivers it to distribution organizations such as food banks, food pantries, and hunger relief organizations. Moreover, the startup also documents the donations making it easier for businesses to receive a tax refund.
AmaiZonia delivers Food Monitoring Solutions
Warehouses and farms use manual monitoring methods to understand the condition of stored food and minimize food spoilage. Innovations in the industry equip startups with IoT, machine learning, and other technologies to deliver robust solutions that restrict food spoilage and wastage. Modern food monitoring solutions use predictive models to accurately predict the quality and shelf life of the food. These solutions proactively aid in food movement and management, thus ensuring timely usage and reducing wastage.
British startup AmaiZonia develops a digital platform for food monitoring. The startup’s platform utilizes AI and a device with sensors to monitor and streamline food and beverage fermentation processes. The startup also develops an app that sends alerts about the fermentation stages. The startup’s solutions enhance fermentation by ensuring time management and accurate data collection, lowering costs.
How will FoodTech impact your company?
To stay ahead of the technology curve, it is important that you know which technologies and industry trends will impact your company. Explore our free FoodTech Innovation Report or let us do the work for you. To keep you up-to-date on the latest technology and emerging solutions, we provide you with actionable innovation intelligence – quickly and exhaustively.
