FoodTech Challenge – UAE
Introduction
The FoodTech Challenge is a global competition that identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments.
The UAE is rapidly emerging as a global leader in food security. The nation has implemented a proactive and multifaceted strategy to address the growing challenges facing global food systems.
Led by the National Food Security Strategy 2051, a comprehensive roadmap outlining the UAE’s ambition to achieve global leadership in food security by 2051, it prioritizes agtech as a key driver of economic diversification and aims to bolster the entire food value chain, from production to consumption.
In regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where a significant portion of the population suffers from food insecurity, advanced agrifood technology can play a transformative role.
Agriculture is a primary source of livelihood in many parts of the Global South, and innovations in this sector can unlock new opportunities for growth and prosperity.
Who can apply?
The competition is open to all participants above 18 years old.
We are specifically looking for early-stage agri-food tech start-ups with solutions related to the food-water-energy nexus.
To be eligible to participate, your start-up should:
- Address challenges related to one of our three key focus areas (“Food & Water”, “Food & Energy” or “Food Loss & Waste”)
- Have not yet gone for a Series-A funding round
- Have a workable minimum viable product
- Have been in operation for less than 5 years (Founded after January 2019)
- Have no more than 25 permanent, full-time employees
To be shortlisted as a finalist, your start-up needs to exhibit a unique and sustainable technological solution, a strong plan for commercial viability, relevance to hot, arid, and challenging environments like the UAE, and a clear implementation roadmap for the UAE and Global South.
Awards or Benefits
The FoodTech Challenge prize consists of $2m cash equity-free cash and grants to support the development of solutions in the UAE and the Global South. The prize will be shared between four equal winners:
$400k Cash Prize: $100k awarded to each winner to support the ongoing development of their start-up
$800k UAE Focused Grants: $200k awarded to enable immediate local impact by further developing, testing, and deploying the winning solution in the UAE with the support of FTC’s local impact partners
$800k Global South Focused Grants: $200k awarded to each winner to advance the further development, testing, and deployment of the winning solution to their selected markets in the Global South, with the support of FTC’s global impact partners
In addition to the cash prize, finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to the UAE for the finale event. Non-winning finalists will receive a $15K prize for their participation. They will have the opportunity to engage with FoodTech Challenge partners’ in-kind support and acceleration programs, including start-up accelerators Hub71, Sheraa, and startAD; the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture; and Al Tamimi & Company.
Please note that prior to awarding, all Finalists will be asked to provide more detailed activities and budgets for how they will use the Focused Grants, should they be named Winners.