The first half of 2025 has been action-packed for the European foodtech sector, with incredible investments solidifying its role in shaping a more sustainable, efficient, and innovative food system. As someone deeply committed to understanding new technologies and fostering entrepreneurship, I find the developments in foodtech not only exciting but also incredibly motivating for fellow founders navigating new pathways in STEM and related industries.
Now let’s dive into the details, because the stories behind these deals offer lessons, inspiration, and a look at opportunities that any entrepreneur, especially within Europe, should pay attention to.
Main Highlights of H1 2025 Foodtech Deals
Foodtech investments in Europe are signaling an evolution that focuses on technological advancements aimed at sustainability. This is no longer about the trendiness of plant-based burgers, forged innovations like precision fermentation for animal-free dairy and upcycled by-products are leading the way. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest deals and why they mattered.
1. Laxey’s €130M
Land-based salmon aquaculture in Iceland? Absolutely! Laxey’s closed a major funding round to scale its sustainable salmon production, which relies on renewable energy and a no-antibiotics approach. This level of funding shows that investors are betting on the “blue food” revolution to solve some of the planet’s ugliest problems, like overfishing and unethical aquaculture practices.
2. Vivici’s €32M for Dairy Innovation
Making milk that’s never touched a cow? That’s Vivici, a Dutch trailblazer mastering precision fermentation for dairy proteins. What caught my attention here isn’t just the funding but the cross-B2B focus, they aren’t limiting themselves to food but are expanding into consumer goods and biotech solutions.
3. Volare's €26M for Insects on the Menu
In Finland, Volare secured a hefty €26 million to upcycle food manufacturing waste for insect protein production. With so much emphasis on waste reduction, insect proteins are finally leveraged beyond niche press. This is a perfect model of circularity, a buzzword not just for policy makers, but for budget-savvy founders, too.
4. Heura Foods Makes Plant-Based Classic
Barcelona-based Heura Foods grabbed €20M with institutional backing. Focusing on refined texture and authentic Mediterranean cuisine, Heura is also proving plant-based can stay relevant if combined with branding culture-specific food experiences.
5. Project Eaden Innovates Whole Cuts (€15M)
Skip the burger. Germany’s Project Eaden has turned heads with its capabilities around fiber-spinning tech for plant-based meats that mimic traditional textures, like steak. If you’re a founder targeting food niches, take note of their niche appeal
6 – 10. Thriving Micro Markets
More success followed in niche markets, ranging from mycoproteins (Kynda, €3M) in pet-and-human food dual frameworks to Fungu'it’s industry-scaled gourmet level of production next reinforces my Pique***
FAQ
1. What were the main trends in the European foodtech sector during H1 2025?
The European foodtech sector focused on sustainability, circularity, and value chain transformation, with investments in next-generation proteins, circular and upcycling innovations, and blue food technologies. Read more about 2025 foodtech trends on Tech.eu
2. Which foodtech company secured the largest investment in H1 2025 in Europe?
Laxey from Iceland secured the largest investment with €130 million to scale its sustainable salmon aquaculture systems using renewable energy and antibiotic-free practices. Learn more about Laxey on Tech.eu
3. What funding did Vivici receive and for what purpose?
Vivici raised €32 million to advance animal-free dairy proteins production through precision fermentation, expanding globally and developing its B2B solutions. Discover Vivici’s progress
4. How is Volare contributing to circularity in the food industry?
Volare upcycles food industry waste into insect-based proteins, oils, and fertilizers, receiving €26 million to increase production capacity. Find out more about Volare
5. What innovation distinguishes Project Eaden in the alternative meat market?
Project Eaden uses fiber-spinning technology to produce ultra-realistic plant-based whole meats, like steak, and raised €15 million to scale production. Explore Project Eaden’s innovation
6. How is Heura Foods cultivating the plant-based market?
Heura Foods raised €20 million to expand plant-based meat offerings inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, emphasizing sustainability and cultural authenticity. Learn more about Heura Foods
7. What sets Rival Foods apart in the alternative protein sector?
Rival Foods specializes in whole-cut plant-based meats using Shear Cell technology and raised €10 million to expand manufacturing and reduce production costs. Check out Rival Foods
8. Which company focuses on upcycling agricultural by-products for flavor innovation?
Fungu’it raised €4 million to develop fermented, clean-label flavorings by upcycling agricultural by-products through fungal technology. Discover Fungu’it’s mission
9. What is Grassa’s sustainable innovation?
Grassa transforms grass into proteins, fibers, and prebiotics, raising €3.6 million to scale its solution as a sustainable soy alternative for animal and human consumption. Learn about Grassa
10. How is SuperGround addressing food waste in manufacturing?
SuperGround upcycles undervalued fish and poultry by-products into quality food ingredients, raising €2.5 million to expand its patented technology. Find out more about SuperGround
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
