From mushroom waste to blockchain traceability, the Warsaw Accelerator hub is supporting a new wave of EU-based innovators with financing and strategic advice
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in partnership with EIT Food, has selected 10 agri-food start-ups from across the EU to join its Warsaw Accelerator hub – a programme designed to help early-stage ventures scale solutions that address pressing food system challenges. The cohort reflects a strong emphasis on circularity, climate resilience, and digital innovation.
Why these start-ups were chosen
According to Nemanja Grgic, associate director of agribusiness advisory at EBRD, the selected start-ups stood out for their ability to combine biotech, AI, and sustainable design in novel ways.
“These ventures are solving real-world challenges with scalable, deployable technologies that align with our priorities around food security, climate action, and inclusive economic development,” Grgic told AgTechNavigator. “They’re catalysts for change.”
From upcycled bread and mushroom waste valorisation to AI-powered pest detection and probiotic poultry feed, the start-ups are tackling inefficiencies and environmental impacts across the agri-food value chain.
Meet the cohort: Innovation across the value chain
- Proteine Resources (Poland): Converts mushroom waste into a scalable beef alternative for pets and humans, while replacing peat with insect frass in mushroom cultivation
- Rebread (Poland): Builds local markets for surplus bread through upcycled product concepts and distribution tools
- Smart Farm Robotix (Bulgaria): Develops adaptable weed-management robots for challenging terrains and dry soils
- Biomyc (Bulgaria): Offers customizable, mycelium-based packaging to reduce costs and eliminate prototyping
- OBORTECH (Estonia): Provides a blockchain and IoT-enabled platform for traceable, waste-reducing supply chains
- Agritrack (Greece): Uses real-time data to predict seafood spoilage and improve traceability
- CleverHive (Poland): Combines AI and laser tech to detect and deter bird pests in crops
- Elogium (Belgium): Delivers a probiotic feed additive that reduces campylobacter in poultry while improving ROI
- Bio Ice Cream Dots (Poland): Produces nutrient-rich frozen treats using cryogenic tech and natural stabilizers
- Alpha9/MEGenzymes (Poland): Creates fermented alfalfa-based products to support digestion and metabolic health
How the EBRD Is helping start-ups scale
Start-ups in EBRD regions often face fragmented innovation ecosystems, limited access to finance, and weak market linkages. The Warsaw Accelerator aims to bridge these gaps.
“We offer tailored, long-term support and help startups connect with corporates and investors,” Grgic said. “Post-accelerator, our goal is to integrate them into the wider EBRD client network to embed their innovations into real-world agri-food value chains.”
The EBRD also sees the programme as a testbed for new support models, continually evolving its approach to meet the needs of emerging innovators.
A vision for Europe’s food future
The selected start-ups are not just solving technical problems – they’re reimagining how food systems can work.
“Whether it’s circular economy models like upcycling surplus bread, smart robotics for weed management or blockchain-enabled traceability platforms, these start-ups bring fresh thinking to entrenched challenges,” Grgic said.
He highlighted the need to embed sustainability and digitalisation into every stage of the food system. These ventures are showing us how.