Apr 30 2024

Desafía UK: Initiates its Program within the Framework of F4F Bilbao

Desafía is more than a program; it's a gateway to internationalization for Spanish startups. They get the opportunity to explore new markets and establish valuable connections, delving into the FoodTech ecosystem and betting on support and connection with key agents

On April 16th, the selected startups to be part of Desafía UK 2024 kicked off the program by participating in the Foodtech event Food 4 Future, where the Eatable Adventures team, supported by ICEX, organized dynamics over three days designed to prepare them for their immersion in one of the most innovative international markets.

The startups were able to establish valuable connections, share challenges and concerns in a networking dynamic with the Desafía community, where they met Alumni from previous editions and could connect with the startups that will travel with the Desafía Germany program. Moreover, they were able to hone their pitching skills with different interlocutors: corporate, investors, and press, in a personalized session with each of these agents. Lastly, one-to-one sessions were organized with mentors and key agents for the growth and internationalization of the startups.

What are the startups looking for from the program? They all agree on one point: getting to know the British market will help them grow, meet new agents, and, above all, expand:

- Farayde Matta, CRO of Bio2Coat, mentions: "We previously participated in Desafía in the Netherlands, and it was really beneficial for us. That's why we decided to participate again, this time to become familiar with the key players and the ecosystem in the UK, with the invaluable support of Eatable Adventures and ICEX."

- Javier Viña, Founder and CEO of mmmico, hopes: "to gain in-depth knowledge of UK innovation models and what tools exist to support startups like ours. We also hope to meet corporations interested in product co-development options, as well as research centers, universities, and other knowledge agents."

- Diego Rueda, Co-Founder and CEO of Relash, comments: "Being part of Desafía UK is a great opportunity for us, as it allows us to test the validity of our product in highly competitive markets like the UK."

- Sònia Hurtado, Co-Founder and CEO of Poseidona, points out: "What we hope to obtain from Desafía UK is to find new partners in the UK and explore synergies with other potential actors, whether they are suppliers, customers, or other types of collaborators that we may find."

- Ángela García, Business Developer, and Daniel Valdeperez, Bioprocess Developer at Levprot Bioscience, express: "We need to focus not only on specific regions but also believe that the UK market offers compelling partnership opportunities with various companies. I am sure this program will lead to many success stories."

- Miguel Ángel, CEO of Ingredalia, adds: "While we are already selling in Spain, expanding to the UK is a priority for us, as we believe we can achieve faster growth in this market. Therefore, it was crucial for us to receive assistance to facilitate and streamline our introduction to the UK market."

- Laura Pérez, Co-Founder and CEO of MIWI Real Drinks, states: "Being part of Desafía UK is a real opportunity for us to leverage all the knowledge that the institution has in terms of internationalization and also to have all the contacts in terms of investors and also about the ecosystem."

- Joshua Robinson, CEO of Cocoon Bioscience, comments: "Alternative proteins have had strong adoption in the UK market, and we believe we can contribute value to these supply chains. Participating in the Desafía Program is our first step to familiarize ourselves with this market and establish meaningful connections."

- Milos Dukat, CEO of Isauki Foods, highlights: "The program is very interesting, especially for startups with limited resources. It provides valuable information about the market, guidance on how to engage with key players, and understand potential barriers for our products. It offers a streamlined approach to entering and selling in the UK market."

- Nicolás Lavalliere, Co-Founder and CEO of Lov Ferments, shares: "It's really interesting to be part of Desafía UK because it allows us to talk to a new segment of customers. We believe that people in the UK are more likely to be pioneers and try new things. They tend to adopt exotic products and make them their own. That's why we're working to identify and propose products that resonate with this market."

Throughout the different dynamics carried out, the startups had the opportunity to develop their communication skills. The pitch session was approached differently, where each startup had to face a different agent and try to differentiate themselves in just 3 minutes. This highlights the importance of knowing how to face different situations as Founders.

After this first stage, we hope that the startups are ready to face the next phase: immersion in the British market, which will take place over five days in June, where they will be able to meet the main agents of the Foodtech ecosystem in this country: universities, R&D centers, startups, corporates, and retailers

MORE INFO ABOUT DESAFIA FOODTECH UK 2024