ColdHubs to participate in FoodBytes! Pitch 2020 as the only African startup

ColdHubs, the Nigerian startup that provides solar-powered cold storage, has been selected as the only African startup to participate in FoodBytes! Pitch 2020.

Rabobank — a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company —  recently announced the 45 startups that will participate in FoodBytes! Pitch 2020. And this is the first FoodBytes! Pitch cohort with 45 startups and a virtual competition.

The selected startups are from 15 countries, including United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland. The 45 startups are categorized into three sectors: consumer food and beverage (CPG), food tech, and agtech. Each sector has 15 startups.

As the only African startup selected, ColdHubs will be representing the continent. It was founded by Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu in 2015. "Our innovation is 'plug and play' modular, solar-powered walk-in cold room, for 24/7 off-grid storage and preservation of perishable foods", ColdHubs says on its website.

Earlier in August, ColdHubs emerged the winner of FCMB Agritech EPIC Pitch. It received the grand prize of ₦1 million ($2,600).

Rabobank, in its announcement, said all the selected startups will participate in a two-week virtual mentorship programme and one-on-one meeting with corporate leaders and investors. Thereafter, they will pitch their solution to Rabobank and 17 FoodBytes! Pitch corporate investor members.

Of the 45 startups, 15 finalists will be selected to participate in FoodBytes! live-streamed pitch competition on December 2, 2020. These finalists stand a chance to win $10,000 and consultative prizes in each of the three categories: CPG, food tech and agtech.

Since Rabobank launched FoodBytes! in 2015 as a pitch competition, it has become the go-to network for agribusiness startups. FoodBytes! Pitch is part of the redesigned FoodBytes! innovation platform, which contributes solutions to food system challenges through collaboration between startups, large companies and investors.

"We redesigned Rabobank’s FoodBytes! food and ag innovation platform for one reason: to build a powerful engine for ongoing collaboration and innovation between food and agribusiness players who want to feed the world sustainably", said Anne Greven, Rabobank's Head of Food & Agric Innovation.

According to Rabobank, the 2020 cohort is the most diverse yet: 23 of them are BIPOC-founded [black, indigenous and people of color] or led, and 20 of them are woman-founded or led companies.

"Standing out from a global field of applications, the 2020 FoodBytes! Pitch startups have set a new benchmark for BIPOC and gender representation and quality of innovation in the program’s five year history", Anne said.

45 Startups in Rabobank's FoodBytes! Pitch 2020 Cohort

The selected 45 startups are categorized into three sectors: CPG, food tech and agtech. There are 15 startups in each category.

Consumer Food & Beverage (CPG):

Food and beverage products made with upcycled ingredients are a top trend among FoodBytes! 2020 CPG startups. They are also pioneering innovations such as edible spoons to reduce plastic waste, a distilled spirit made from upcycled whey byproduct, and plant-based cheese and egg products.

• Plant-Based Protein & Dairy: Evo Foods, Pleese Foods
• Gluten-free Frozen Snacks: COCINA 54
• Upcycled Foods: Agricycle Global, I Am Grounded, Outcast Foods
• Upcycled Beverages:, Agua Bonita, Riff Cold Brewed, Wheyward Spirit, Willa’s, Wize Coffee Leaf
• Wellness Beverages: H2OPS, Moment, Wildwonder
• Plastic Reduction: Planeteer

Food Tech

The startups in this category are developing technologies for cell-based meat production, natural coatings that extend produce shelf-life, and sustainable, antimicrobial packaging made from crustacean shells to replace plastic. Food safety technologies, advanced nutrition products and online marketplaces also address relevant needs in the wake of COVID-19.

• Cultured Meat & Fermented Protein: CellulaREvolution, Future Meat Technologies, NovoNutrients
• Advanced Nutrition: Alchemy Foodtech, Envara Health
• Produce Shelf-Life Extension: Lightning Water, PolyNatural
• Food Safety & Traceability: InSight Labs, NanoGuard Technologies, ThisFish
• Sustainable Packaging: Carapac, Mi Terro
• Clean Food Colorant: michroma
• Online Marketplace for Sustainable Groceries: Good Club
• B2B Marketplace for Suppliers: Fieldcraft

AgTech

These startups are developing solutions that address soil and water sustainability, farm efficiency and labor needs. Their innovations include technology that transforms air pollution into fertilizer, animal feed that reduces methane emissions, a method of growing rice out of water and on-farm robotics to combat labor shortages and worker safety concerns.

• Regenerative Farming to Reduce Water Use: Deep Planet, Green and Seed, SWAN Systems
• Regenerative Farming to Improve Soil Health: AgriCORE, BPS Agriculture, Phospholutions
• On-Farm Robotics & AI: Agerris
• Precision Agriculture & Digitization: agryo, Farmforce, Space AG
• Animal Health & Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Locus Animal Nutrition, Mazen Animal Health, ProAgni
• Social Impact Farming: ColdHubs, Koa