The TOP Swiss Foodtech Startups 2021

With Planted Food being the evening’s big winner, foodtech took center stage at this year’s award show. Find out which six foodtech startups found the recipe for success and excited the expert jury and the public in 2021.

The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award showcases the most promising Swiss startups. The annual ranking 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 less than five years old and show the greatest commercial potential. The first-placed company gets 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 can cast one vote and choose the most promising startup per vertical.
 
Discover the six foodtech startups that received the most points from the members of the TOP 100 Jury and the public in 2021: 
 

 
1. Planted Foods
The Zurich-based startup revolutionizes the food industry by creating plant-based protein made of 100% animal-product-free ingredients. Planted Foods’ process technology allows the ETH spin-off to recreate the texture, taste, appearance, and nutritional value of fish, chicken, pork, and beef. Planted’s vegan meat alternatives tickle the taste buds without any additives, chemicals, GMOs, antibiotics, or hormones.

8. AgroSustain
AgroSustain reduces food waste and greenhouse gas emissions from farm to fork. The Nyon-based startup has developed two product lines. The first, a fungicide used before harvest that protects against fungal attack, is scheduled to be commercialized in 2025; the second, a coating sprayed on before transport and storage, is scheduled to be launched later this year.

16. yamo
Zug startup yamo has developed a new process for the production of baby food, a vitamin-friendly cold pressing without coloring or preservatives. It now also produces children’s food, such as oat yogurt. After settling a legal quarrel with the market giant Hipp in Germany, yamo is on an expansion course: Since April, the products have also been available at Carrefour in Spain.

80. SwissDeCode
More and more consumers want to know what is on their table. The food industry has reacted by investing in systematic control of products and indication of origin. For example, the DNA analysis kits from SwissDeCode prove reliably within 30 minutes whether a food is contaminated or incorrectly labeled. Several pilot projects are currently running with global food companies.

81. Embion
Embion’s technology platform, developed at EPFL, enables organic waste to be chemically upgraded to prebiotic food suitable for humans and animals. The first product, made from brewery waste, hit the market last summer. Shortly afterward, the Vaud firm won the Asahi Group—the seventh largest brewery in the world, with beer brands Pilsner Urquell and Peroni—as a customer and investor.

Public Voting: Kemiex
Kemiex improves the trading of raw materials in the feed, food, vet, and pharma industries. The Zurich-based startup develops a trading and information platform that connects users with global suppliers and clients, allows them to access exclusive reports and sector news, and offers additional services such as trade credit insurance.