Founder Institute makes Helsinki home for global food innovation

Founder Institute, a US-based business incubator, has chosen the Finnish capital as the global hub for its food tech initiatives and, along with S Group and Valio, aims to help to build more than 20 promising food and agricultural technology startups there in 2019.

“Over the last few years, I have seen more innovative food-tech startups launch in Finland than any of the other 60+ countries where the Founder Institute operates,” said Adeo Ressi, founder and CEO of the Founder Institute. “Discovering and optimising better ways to care for and produce food is essential to the future of our world.”

The food-focused entrepreneurs chosen for the programme will have the opportunity to receive feedback and mentorship from food tech experts in Helsinki and beyond, including from S Group and Valio leadership.

They will also be supported by Founder Institute’s local and global network of entrepreneurs, investors and advisers, while the top applicants will be awarded S Group Fellowships, which allow them to partake in the programme for free.

“I can’t think of a better place to launch our food tech programme than Helsinki, and I’m confident that it will help entrepreneurs with big visions build meaningful food startups,” Ressi said.

The FI Helsinki Food Tech Programme will run from January to April next year and is now open for applications.