Founders and teams developing solutions for agriculture and the food industry can apply until September 7, 2026, to AgriStart, a new program dedicated to agrifood startups in Romania. Organized by Impact Hub Bucharest, in its role as EIT Food Country Representative, with the support of EIT Food and Bayer, the program will help 10 selected teams move from idea to market.
EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
The launch of AgriStart comes at a time when agriculture and the food industry are undergoing significant changes, with technology playing an increasingly important role in how food is produced, processed and distributed. Romania has one of the largest agricultural areas in Europe, yet the sector continues to face challenges including climate change, an ageing workforce and limited access to modern technologies.
According to the Romanian AgriFood Startups Overview Report 2024, Romania’s agrifood startup ecosystem has significant potential, but founders still face barriers related to access to funding, resources and infrastructure. At the same time, local startups are developing solutions across a wide range of areas, from farm digitalization and process automation to new food products and more sustainable business models.
The direction is also supported by a recent OECD analysis of Romania’s agricultural innovation system, which highlights Agriculture 4.0, sustainable agriculture technologies, sensor networks, traceability and robotics among the areas with strong potential for sector development.
AgriStart is structured in two stages.
During the first stage, taking place between September and October, 10 teams will work with mentors, entrepreneurs and industry experts on topics including business model validation, customer understanding, go-to-market strategy and pitching. The program will also include four one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Of the 10 teams, the two most promising startups will advance to the second stage, running from October to November. They will receive intensive commercialization support, access to an Advisory Board made up of industry experts and leaders, as well as specialized services worth up to €2,000 per startup.
“Romania has many ideas and solutions that can contribute to transforming agriculture and the food system, but for many of them, the journey from a promising innovation to a product that actually reaches the market is still difficult. Through AgriStart, we want to step in precisely at this stage: helping founders validate their business model, better understand customer needs and build concrete steps towards launch. We want the 10 selected teams to leave the program not only with more knowledge, but with a stronger business foundation and a clear direction for their next stages of development,” said Oana Craioveanu, CEO and Co-founder of Impact Hub Bucharest.
Who can apply?
AgriStart is aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs and startups, researchers and academics looking to turn research into products, innovators from companies or NGOs, EIT Food Challenge Labs alumni, and multidisciplinary teams developing solutions with applications in the agrifood sector.
Teams can apply with a validated idea, prototype, MVP, initial market tests or a solution with clear commercial potential in areas including:
- AgriTech
- FoodTech
- Precision Agriculture
- Digital Agriculture
- Smart Farming
- Sustainable Food
- Circular Economy
- Food Waste
- Packaging
- Supply Chain
Participants must have established a legal entity in 2026 or commit to establishing one by the end of the program’s first stage.
Applications are open until September 7, 2026, inclusively. Participant selection will take place on September 8–9, with the selected teams announced on September 10. The program will officially begin on September 15 with an online kickoff meeting.
