FOOD & AGRICULTURE
Open Innovation for Food & Agriculture
Elpis Labs connects food producers, agribusiness corporations, CPG brands, and biomaterials companies with market-ready startups solving challenges in food safety, alternative proteins, sustainable packaging, precision agriculture, and supply chain transparency.
Through innovation challenges, startup scouting, and CVC deal flow, we help food and agriculture corporations find and pilot emerging technologies — from novel biomaterials to AI-driven supply chains.
110+
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
IN LATEST CHALLENGE
THE CHALLENGE
What Food & Agriculture Leaders
Face Today
Innovation teams at food corporations, agribusinesses, and biomaterials companies face mounting pressure to develop sustainable alternatives, improve supply chain resilience, and meet rapidly shifting consumer and regulatory demands.
Sustainable Materials & Packaging
Consumer demand and regulatory pressure require food and materials companies to find alternatives to conventional plastics. Emerging biomaterials — from protein-based resins to plant-derived packaging — need validation, scaling, and integration into existing production systems.
Alternative Proteins & Novel Ingredients
The alternative protein market is projected to reach $290B by 2035. Food corporations need to identify, evaluate, and partner with startups developing cultured proteins, fermentation-derived ingredients, and plant-based solutions that can achieve commercial scale.
Food Safety & Supply Chain Transparency
Global food supply chains require end-to-end traceability from farm to consumer. Companies need technologies for provenance tracking, contamination detection, and regulatory compliance across dozens of countries and certification standards.
Precision Agriculture & Climate Resilience
Climate volatility, water scarcity, and soil degradation demand technology-driven approaches to crop management, irrigation optimization, and yield prediction. Agribusinesses need startup partners that deliver measurable improvements in productivity and sustainability.
WHAT WE DO
Our Services For Food & Agriculture
Elpis Labs provides end-to-end innovation support tailored to the food safety requirements, sustainability mandates, and consumer dynamics of the food, agriculture, and biomaterials industries.
01
AgTech & FoodTech
Startup Scouting
Targeted identification and validation of startups in precision agriculture, alternative proteins, food safety, biomaterials, sustainable packaging, and supply chain optimization. Elpis Labs delivers curated shortlists matched to your specific R&D priorities and commercial requirements.
03
CVC Deal Flow
& Investment Matchmaking
Curated pipeline of investment-ready agtech, foodtech, and biomaterials startups for corporate venture capital teams. Elpis Labs aligns deal flow with your CVC thesis and parent company sustainability and product development goals.
05
U.S. Market Access
for Mobility Startups
Softlanding and go-to-market programs for international food technology and agtech startups entering the North American market. Includes corporate introductions to food majors and CPG companies, investor matchmaking, and regulatory guidance.
02
Innovation
Challenges
Structured programs where food and agriculture corporations present specific technology challenges and vetted startups compete to deliver solutions. Elpis Labs manages the full cycle from challenge definition through startup screening, pitch coaching, workshops, and pilot facilitation.
04
CORPORATE LEARNING
EXPEDITIONS
Custom visits to U.S. food innovation hubs, agtech startups, alternative protein companies, and food-focused VCs in New York, Miami, and other innovation centers. Designed for executive teams exploring emerging food and agriculture technologies.
06
Cross-Border
Open Innovation Programs
Elpis Labs designs and operates innovation challenges in partnership with government trade organizations. Through the JETRO J-Bridge program, Elpis Labs has operated a dedicated Biomaterials/FoodTech innovation challenge connecting Japanese corporations with North American startups.
Speak with an Elpis Labs innovation expert about your food and agriculture challenges.
Ready To Find Your Next Food Technology Partner?
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Technologies We Scout In Food & Agriculture
Elpis Labs identifies and validates startups across the following technology domains within food, agriculture, and biomaterials innovation.
Our Recent Corporate PoCs
Innovation Challenge: Automotive In-Cabin Technology
Client
Leading Japanese chemical and materials manufacturer operating across automotive, electronics, and healthcare sectors.
144
Scouted startups
30
Startups validate
Project
Elpis Labs managed the full innovation challenge as part of JETRO NY's J-Bridge program, attracting 144 startup applications across three industry verticals.
3
Winners Chosen
4
Day Program
CVC & INVESTMENT
Corporate Venture Capital In Food & Agriculture
Corporate venture capital activity in food and agriculture has accelerated as major CPG companies, agribusiness conglomerates, and food retailers invest in technologies that address sustainability mandates, supply chain resilience, and rapidly evolving consumer preferences. The convergence of food, materials science, and biotechnology is creating entirely new CVC investment categories.
Elpis Labs connects food and agriculture CVC teams with validated startup deal flow and helps international agtech and foodtech startups access corporate partners in the U.S. market. Our hands-on experience operating the JETRO J-Bridge Biomaterials/FoodTech challenge gives us direct insight into how Japanese and global food corporations evaluate and select technology partners.
Through its cross-industry expertise, Elpis Labs identifies innovations from adjacent sectors: biotech, materials science, AI - that food-only scouting teams often miss, delivering broader and more creative deal flow to CVC teams
