The 5 most promising Swiss Foodtech startups of 2023, according to investors

The 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups are picked by a panel of 100 leading investors and industry experts and are revealed at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award. This year, Foodtech has 5 representative startups in the TOP 100, including 1 in the TOP 10. Embracing concepts such as plant-based meat innovation and sustainable farm-to-fork solutions, these startups are redefining the future of food production and consumption in Switzerland and beyond.

The annual ranking of the TOP 100 Swiss Startups has become a benchmark in Switzerland’s startup ecosystem — and beyond. Every year, a panel of 100 leading investors and startup experts chooses the 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups. Each jury member nominates 10 Swiss startups that are fewer than five years old and show the greatest commercial potential. The first-placed company receives 10 points, the second nine points, and so on. The individual rankings are compiled to generate the final TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award ranking. In parallel, the TOP 100 Public Voting allows everyone with a LinkedIn account to cast one vote and choose the most promising startup per vertical.


Discover the 5 Foodtech startups that impressed the TOP 100 Jury and the public the most with their innovative solutions.




Planted, #2
Planted combines proprietary structuring and fermentation technologies to produce meat from plant proteins, focusing on delicious taste, and meaty and juicy texture, while only using natural ingredients. Planted designs and structures its meat in any size, shape, and fibrous texture and is driven by the conviction that it will outperform animal meat in the future in terms of taste, sustainability, health, efficiency and price. Committed to using only natural and clean ingredients and no additives in all its products, Planted is setting a completely new standard in the plant-based meat category, making it a healthy and sustainable choice for all. Truly better than meat from animals. Planted’s principal meat production is in a glass-house production facility in Kemptthal (Zurich).

AgroSustain, #18
AgroSustain is a company founded in 2018 to reduce food waste and support sustainable food production by developing farm-to-fork solutions, like natural fungicides and coatings. All the designed products of AgroSustain are patent-protected. The entrepreneur has a master's degree in genetics and a Ph.D. in "Plant Biochemistry" from the "Université de Lausanne". In 2020 AgroSustain received the EIC Accelerator grant and in 2023 Eurostars project from the European Union and was in the TOP 100 Swiss start-ups since 2021.

Cultivated Biosciences, #26
Cultivated Biosciences has seized the opportunities offered by the continuing vegan trend: the Fribourg startup
makes a vegetable, creamy fat from yeast and sugar, which can be used as substitute cream in cheese or ice cream production. At the end of 2022, Cultivated won CHF 150,000 on Venture Kick, which will be invested in further customer product tests.

Luya Foods, #57
The Zollikofen-based startup produces plant-based meat substitutes from organic okara, a by-product of tofu and soymilk production. Thanks to a fermentation process, the product acquires a beautiful structure and juiciness. In addition to Coop, the meat substitute is now also available in Migros and Alnatura. Luya plans another round of financing in 2023 to accelerate product development and expand sales and marketing capacity.

Agrinorm, #68
As fruit and vegetables are perishable, their availability is highly dependent on local weather conditions. Agrinorm’s AI-based SaaS platform helps retailers deal with this challenge and optimise entire supply chains. This spring, founders Daria Reisch and Sharon Wulff closed a seven-figure seed round. Investors include venture capital firm QBIT Capital and several experienced business angels.

PUBLIC VOTING: CARIFY
CARIFY gives its customers the flexibility to choose the right car for the right need at the right time, delivered right to their doorstep on demand.

The 13th edition of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2023 celebrated Switzerland's best startups. Discover the cleantech startups and all the details in the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine 2023 or follow the hashtag #TOP100SSU on Linkedin, Twitter, and Instagram for impressions.