StartLife is a gateway to early-stage funding for foodtech & agtech startups. Find out how StartLife can support you in raising capital.
Food & agri investors network
Our you planning an investment round for your agtech or foodtech startup? StartLife has close ties to an extensive international network of investors to which we can provide warm introductions. Some of the world’s leading agrifoodtech investors have even partnered up with StartLife to have a front row seat in the world of agrifoodtech startups, like Anterra Capital, PeakBridge and The Yield Lab.
Are you looking for investors that can provide you seed or growth capital, then make sure to reach out to us. Our Investor Relations Manager might just be able to introduce you to the right investors.
Pre-seed fund for agrifoodtech startups
Are you looking for an attractive funding scheme to kickstart your agrifood business?
In collaboration with the province of Gelderland and development agency OostNL, Startlife offers early stage food & agtech startups founder-friendly subordinated loans. Via our joined fund, called Startup Fund Gelderland, we provide loans from €25.000 up to €250.000!
The loans are solely granted in combination with a minimum of 3 month coaching and guidance by StartLife. If you’re granted funding, you may also want to benefit from the knowledge and experience of world-renowned corporates and investors from the agriculture and food industry, as well as researchers and talents at Wageningen University & Research. We are happy to make the connections.
Our offer:
- Subordinated loan: €25.000 – €250.000 (average €75.000)
- Interest rate: 3%
- Loan duration: 6 years
- Grace period loan and interest: 24 months
- Payback scheme: 48 months
- No co-financiering / matching required
- No personal surety required
Who can apply?
- Startups, younger than 5 years
- Proposition is based on innovative technology that is protectable and scalable
- The technology aids the development of a sustainable food system
- The company is a Dutch entity
- Commitment to a minimum of 3 months StartLife coaching
Interested? Let us know and we’ll set up a call or meeting to discuss things further with you.
Student Startup Loan
Are you a (Phd) student or recent graduate from Wageningen University & Research and looking for money to fund your first startup activities? Then you can apply for a StartLife Student Startup Loan up to €8.000.
Criteria for application
- Student or recent graduate (<2 years) of Wageningen University & Research
- Not been registered with your startup at the Dutch chamber of commerce for over 5 years
- Innovative product (not solely service)
Meet investors at the F&A Next Summit
Each May, StartLife co-organizes the F&A Next summit on Wageningen Campus. F&A Next is Europe’s premier platform where hundreds of investors, corporates, startups and scaleups in food and agricultural domain from all over the world come together for sharing insights, networking and deal-making. Several startups are given the opportunity to take the stage and pitch their innovation to the audience.
Want to receive updates about F&A Next? Then subscribe to the F&A Next newsletter.
Non-equity funding
– Rabobank Innovation Fund
Startups typically find it difficult to get approved for a loan in their earliest stages, because they’re unable to show proven results and have insufficient cash flow at the time. These companies can turn to the Rabobank Innovation fund. The fund can grant €20 million in subordinated loans (AIL); which is enough to boost hundreds of young companies every year. This involves loans between €25,000 and €150,000, for which no collateral is required and no repayments must be made in the first two years.
– Grant application and funding advice
If you want to optimize your long-term funding strategy than check the services of our program partner Catalyze: a fast-growing consultancy firm that provides support in grant application and funding advice to innovative businesses in life sciences, agri, food and bioeconomy. The company helps innovative researchers and companies secure financing for ambitious R&D projects, from early stage up to growth stage. Their goal is to prioritize specific short-term and long-term R&D activities in organizations and to use the best funding opportunities as building block for these activities.