Seedbed Venture Catalyst Call for Startups
Seedbed Venture Catalyst Call for Startups supports agrifood founders with funding to overcome practical barriers, develop viable businesses and prepare to generate revenue and attract investment.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: December 16, 2026 (Cutoff 5) | January 27, 2027 (Final cutoff)
Funding Amounts: Up to €30,000 per venture project for six months; €480,000 total available
Summary: Funding helps Seedbed Venture Catalyst founders overcome practical barriers to creating viable, investable agrifood startups.
Key Information: Only unincorporated projects currently enrolled with one of the seven participating Venture Builders are eligible.
Description
EIT Food’s Seedbed Venture Catalyst call supports founders developing new agrifood ventures through its participating Venture Builder programmes. Supported by the European Commission through the EIT Food Business Plan 2026–2028, it operates as cascade funding: the EU-funded project runs the call and awards and pays the funding itself. The aim is to help promising projects become legitimate startups capable of generating revenue and attracting external investment.
Funding addresses concrete obstacles that founders cannot overcome without external support. Activities can include producing test batches, negotiating contracts, securing intellectual property, supporting co-founder participation, purchasing test-laboratory equipment, and obtaining coaching or specialist advice. Projects should contribute to a more sustainable, resilient, healthy and fair food and agriculture system, while showing how funding will reduce risk and improve investor readiness.
