FOODTECH:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Ingredients, technologies and experiences for the future of food and its intersection with human wellbeing



In partnership with Griffith Foods, the global snacks company Pladis and the Northstar Innovation Company (the innovation arm of international food and retail company Yildiz Holding), and leading ingredients company Ingredion, we are investing in foodtech startups. Specifically, we are looking for early-stage startups with novel ingredients, snacks, packaging, and technology that can meet the needs and desires of an ever-evolving consumer landscape.
Selected startups will have access to companies' full capabilities and reach across the entire value chain of food (agriculture, ingredients, production, packaging, distribution, and retail). We will work with startups to help them scale their manufacturing, distribution, and digital resources, while also getting an opportunity for investment from our VC partners.
Participating startups will have the opportunity for commercial pilots, R&D partnerships, and strategic investment. We accept applicants throughout the year.
We are looking for early-stage startups with technologies in areas such as:
New
Ingredients
New Food Products
Packaging
Food R&D Tech
Food Process Tech
The opportunity
The primary objective of this investment program is to connect early-stage startups to international food, food service, grocery, and ingredient companies, including their investment and R&D arms.
Success may be defined differently for each participating startup but may generally include:
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A commercial pilot
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An R&D collaboration
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A strategic investment or joint venture
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A go-to-market partnership
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A pre-seed or seed stage investment from Sente or its investment partners
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Partnerships with different foodtech, ingredient, packaging, marketing, and distribution partners
Our multi-phased process is designed to efficiently support decision points at each step of the process to maximize the likelihood of achieving one or more of these goals, with clarity and clear expectations for each of the stakeholders along the way.
Key details
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Rolling acceptance throughout the year. Startups will be accepted based on solution fit and novelty and evaluated based on strength of the technology, team, brand, business model, competitive strength, and scaling potential.
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Interactions will be 100% virtual (with a few exceptions) and may require product sampling before decisions can be made.
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Startups will go through Sente's collaborative due-diligence process (an efficient 5-week process to support a "go / no-go" decision for investment and/or pilot project(s).
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Participants will receive hands-on guidance and support for building a proper business model, investor data room, financial model, and project pitch for corporate partner(s). Support and mentorship will be tailored to startup's stage and needs/gaps.
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Partner stakeholders will provide coaching and feedback for startups' technologies, solution fit, business model, pricing, partnership strategy and scaling plans.
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For selected startups (after 5-week due-diligence), Sente may facilitate pre-seed or seed-stage investment with our investment partners and provide a full 12 months of hands-on support and access to its partners and network (and continues to support our startup family long after the formal program is complete)