Being a nutrition expert and founding a startup - is this something special? Actually, yes! For the list below we researched over 20 founders with a background in nutrition or food science, food technology or dietetics, who founded their own food tech startup. We believe we need much more of such founders - combining entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking, social responsibility, and sustainability.
Ten billion people are estimated to live on planet earth by 2050. If we continue to eat as we do now, almost one in two of them will be overweight or obese. According to scientists at the University of Berkeley, the average global temperature has risen by about one degree Celsius compared with the pre-industrial era. Part of the explanation: greenhouse gas emissions from a food industry largely driven by efficiency and profits. We need solutions that make our food system sustainable - for our planet and for us.
Consumers are turning to start-ups that are transforming the industry with sustainable, responsible, and transparent business models. Disruption in the food sector began 10 years ago with startups that simplified meal delivery such as Delivery Hero or Hello Fresh. Six years ago, start-ups foscussing on brand innovations entered the market. Just Spices and Foodspring are well-known names from this segment. Today, start-ups and investors are increasingly focusing on scientific and technological innovations that address customer needs and can be patented at the same time. Almost eight billion euros have been invested in this new category of start-ups since 2015, which are growing at an average annual rate of 33 percent, according to the study "The State of European Food Tech".
However, founders with a degree in nutrition or food science are currently underrepresented. And yet, these experts are the oneswe desperately need in the food tech sector: They drive technological innovations based on their specialist knowledge. We believe: It is important to showcase successful entrepreneurs in the food sector to inspire others. In this article we present 20 entrepreneurs who are successfully turning our industry around. Enjoy your meal!
20 Startups - from plant-based to Sober Drinks
plant-based food
1. Hülsenreich: Snacking for planetary and personal health - Emilie Wegner
HÜSLENREICH produces delicious and healthy snacks made from chickpeas. The snacks are rich in protein and fiber, organic and vegan. The chickpeas are also perfect as a topping for soups or salads. In addition, growing chickpeas is good for our soils. This fact makes chickpeas not only healthy but also a sustainable snack. Hülsenreich was founded by Emilie Wegner, who studied Nutrition Science at the University of Halle-Wittenberg.
Founded in: 2019
Country: Germany
Investors: Yes
Stage: Seed
Website: www.huelsenreich.de
2. La fille du boucher: Vegetarian diet made easy - Auriane Borremans
LA FILLE DU BOUCHER distributes ready-to-eat vegetarian and vegan bowls. Auriane graduated in Food Science and Innovation at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. She comes from a family of butchers and wants to convince people of a vegetarian diet in a playful and simple way, without having to rely on artificial meat.
Founded in: 2022
Country: Germany
Investors: No
Stage: Seed
Website: www.lafilleduboucher.be
3. Malunt: Savory snack revolution in the shape of bars - Marie-Luise Ueckeroth
Marie’s startup ‘MALU NUTRITION GmbH’ is committed to making the nutrient-rich composition of food the new benchmark and to making the food industry a little bit cleaner and more sustainable. The first product line consists of savory bars which are launched under the brand MALUNT. The bars are all natural, plant-based, organic, gluten- and nut-free, and contain no artificial additives. Founder Marie studied Nutrition Science at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen.
Founded in: 2022
Country: Germany
Investors: No
Stage: Seed
Website: www.malunt.com
4. Neggst: Egg enjoyment for everyone - Verónica García Arteaga
NEGGST (VEgg Gmbh) is a plant-based egg consisting of egg white and egg yolk - just like its animal-made counterpart. The basis for the purely plant-based and sustainable egg is legume proteins. Unlike hen's eggs, Neggst products contain no cholesterol. Co-founder Verónica García Arteaga holds a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the Technical University of Munich.
Founded in: 2021
Country: Germany
Investors: Yes
Stage: Seed
Website: www.neggst.co
5. nude.o: The most sustainable almond drink - Hannah Samira Schmidt
NUDE.O is the first base for homemade almond drinks. It is a natural, organic and clean label product full of nutrients. Furthermore, it offers barista foam and maximum flexibility. Compared to an almond drink in a TetraPak, the nude.o almond drink base causes up to 80% less transport emissions. nude.o founder Hannah will graduate next year with a degree in Nutrition and Biomedicine from the Technical University of Munich.
Founded in: 2021
Country: Germany
Investors: No
Stage: n.a.
Website: www.nudeo.co
6. Planted: The new standard for plant-based meat - Eric Stirnemann
PLANTED makes tasty meat from alternative proteins, focusing on the perfect bite. Planted is committed to using only natural ingredients and no additives in all its products - making it a healthy and sustainable option for everyone. Further, Planted wants to encourage better health, good taste, animal welfare and the environment through its products. Co-founder Eric studied Food Science at ETH Zurich.
Founded in: 2019
Country: Germany
Investors: Yes
Stage: n.a.
Website: www.eatplanted.com
7. vly: Sustainable pea-based milk alternatives - Moritz Braunwarth und Nicolas Hartmann
VLY markets plant-based milk and yogurt alternatives based on pea protein. The company's goal is to make plant-based nutrition as balanced, delicious and, above all, as easy as possible. At vly, no less than two members of the founding team have nutrition-related backgrounds. Moritz studied Food Technology at the Technical University in Berlin. Nicolas has a degree in Medical Administration, Nutrition and Medicine from the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands.
Founded in: 2019
Country: Germany
Investors: Yes
Stage: Series A
Website: www.vlyfoods.com
SUSTAINABILITY
8. air up: Transforming tap water into a tasty beverage - Fabian Schlang
AIR UP is a revolutionary drinking system that flavors water by scent alone. Through the power of the pods, still or sparkling water is transformed into the taste of cola, peach and more. Further, the pods contain no sugar or artificial additives. At the Technical University of Munich, air up co-founder Fabian graduated with a degree in Food Technology and Biotechnology.
Founded in: 2018
Country: Germany
Investors: Yes
Stage: Series B
Website: de.air-up.com
9. Frudist: Tasty preservation of overripe fruits - Alica Lammerskitten
FRUDIST has developed the world's best freeze-drying process that preserves all the vitamins and nutrients of fresh fruit and enhances the flavor and aroma of the fruit. Frudist fruits are 100% natural and contain no additives, added sugar, stabilizers, or preservatives. The innovative process can palatably preserve fruit that is already too ripe for retail. Co-founder Alica studied Agricultural and Food Economics at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.
Founded in: n.a.
Country: Germany
Investors: n.a.
Stage: n.a.
Website: www.frudist.com
10. Ooble Innovations: Declaring war on plastic straws - Divya Mohan
OOBLE started as a university project to find a sustainability gap within the food packaging industry. With over 1 billion straws being used every single day globally, there was a clear need for a sustainable solution. Ooble's straws are not only sustainable and functional, but edible as well. Founder Divya graduated with a cross-university degree in Food Innovation and Product Design (FIPDes program).
Founded in: 2022
Country: Sweden
Investors: No
Stage: Seed
Website: weareooble.com
11. Tenetrio: Sustainable alternatives for our precious dogs - Dr. Ina M. Henkel
TENETRIO develops high-quality and delicious snacks for dogs based on insects.The use of insects provides a sustainable alternative source of protein. The products are suitable for allergic dogs and completely grain-free. Each Tenetrio product is developed and manufactured by nutrition and animal health experts. Co-founder Dr. Ina M. Henkel holds a PhD in Experimental Nutritional Medicine from the University of Potsdam.
Founded in: 2017
Country: Germany
Investors: Yes
Stage: Seed
Website: www.tenetrio.de
12. Wheycation: A step towards circular economy - Doris Erne
LOKALGENUSS AG develops and markets healthy and tasty food products by upgrading (upcycling) by-products from food production. The focus is on finding solutions for the holistic use and upgrading of Swiss whey and marketing high-quality, whey-based, functional products under the brand WHEYCATION. Co-founder Doris studied Food Science at ETH Zurich.
Founded in: 2018
Country: Switzerland
Investors: Yes
Stage: Seed
Website: wheycation.com
Personalization and Digitalization
13. Bio & Me: Greater well-being through gut-friendly foods - Dr. Megan Rossi
BIO & ME sells granola, porridge and muesli that is good for the gut. Each Bio & Me recipe has been individually developed by Dr. Megan to ensure it is beneficial to the microbes living in the gut. Dr. Megan is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and research fellow at King's College London, and is known as a world-leading gut specialist with a PhD in gut health.
Founded in: 2019
Country: UK
Investors: Yes
Stage: n.a.
Website: bioandme.co.uk
14. FoodPunk: The future of dietary consulting is digital - Marina Lommel
FOODPUNK combines dietary counseling and software development. Clients receive personalized, digital nutrition programs, played out via an award-winning AI-based app. The FoodPunk digital coach also considers each person's individual goals, body needs, allergies, intolerances, and health conditions. The FoodPunk community currently counts over 100,000 customers. Founder and nutritionist Marina graduated from the Technical University of Munich.
Founded in: 2015
Country: Germany
Investors: No
Stage: -
Website: foodpunk.de
15. Insentials: Modern nutritional supplements specifically for women - Amandine de Paepe
INSENTIALS sells nutritional supplements that are individually tailored to the needs of women. The supplements contain few, bioavailable and optimally dosed ingredients to ensure high absorption by the body. The company stands for full transparency and clean ingredients. Founder Amandine studied Food Management in the Netherlands at Wageningen University.
Founded in: 2021
Country: Belgium
Investors: Yes
Stage: Seed
Website: www.insentials.com
16. MixDeinBrot: Wholesome baking mixes for a healthier lifestyle - Mona Glock
MIXDEINBROT offers high-quality organic baking mixes and organic flours. All products are produced in cooperation with a workshop for the disabled in the Stuttgart area in Baden-Württemberg. All products are gluten-free. A change in personal diet and a preference for wholesome ingredients, among other things, led founder Mona to study Food Science and Technology at the University of Hohenheim.
Founded in: 2015
Country: Germany
Investors: n.a.
Stage: n.a.
Website: mixdeinbrot.de
17. Nori Health: Improving quality of life for chronically ill people - Lisa Booth
Today, more than half of all adults live with a chronic disease. NORI HEALTH provides evidence-based digital therapies for people living with inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's Disease or Colitis. The goal is to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms like fatigue, pain, and anxiety. Co-founder Lisa graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Food from San Diego State University in California.
Founded in: 2017
Country: Netherlands
Investors: n.a.
Stage: n.a.
Website: norihealth.com
Healthy Ageing
18. Avea Life: Health and wellness for everyone - Sophie Chabloz
AVEA provides evidence-based nutritional supplements to support longevity goals and overall wellness. Avea's vision is to optimize people's health and longevity through nutritional supplements and health education. Sophie Chabloz is co-founder of the startup and holds a degree in Food Science from ETH Zurich. The startup places a high value on evidence and therefore collaborates with scientists in the field of longevity.
Founded in: 2021
Country: Switzerland
Investors: n.a.
Stage: n.a.
Website: avea-life.com/de
Sober Drinking
19. NONA Drinks: Aperol Spritz without alcohol? Coming right up! - Charlotte Matthys
NONA creates premium non-alcoholic spirits as an alternative to the classic gin and spritz cocktail. The high-quality products are distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and are produced in Belgium. Founder Charlotte’s love for nature and her interest in Food Technology led her to study Biotechnology, Food Technology and Nutrition at Ghent University.
Founded in: 2018
Country: Belgium
Investors: n.a.
Stage: n.a.
Website: www.nonadrinks.com
20. The REAL Drinks Co.: Fermented tea as a healthy substitute for champagne - Adrian Hodgson
THE REAL DRINKS CO. produces naturally fermented sparkling tea, making it a real alternative to sparkling wine and champagne. The products are alcohol-free, contain little sugar and no artificial additives. Co-founder Adrian holds a PhD in Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Birmingham.
Founded in: 2017
Country: UK
Investors: n.a.
Stage: n.a.
Website: realkombucha.co.uk
Which founder should be as well on this list? Please share them with us via hello@nutrition-hub.com. This TOP-20 list was researched and created by Alina Demke. Alina is a food economist and founder of the startup cravy foods. With cravy foods, Alina is also pursuing the mission of making the food industry more plant-based and sustainable.
In cooperation with Simone Feiler, Head of Corporate Brand Communication, R-Biopharm AG. R-Biopharm, global market leader in test systems for allergen analysis, is also an internationally recognized top supplier of test systems and services for Food and Feed Analysis, Clinical Diagnostics and Nutrition Care.