BioBoosters Accelerator Programme boosts innovation in bioeconomy and agritech
International bioeconomy accelerator operated by Jamk University of Applied Sciences, together with top companies Valtra, AGCO Power, Neste, Lantmännen, and Innovestor. The next programme kicks off in August 2025, and registration is open until March 31, 2025. Apply now!
What is it about? | Programme 2025 | Who can apply and how? | Partners | References
What is it about?
Bioeconomy, agriculture, and sustainable food production have the greatest potential as a sector to slow down climate change and promote carbon capture and sequestration. We invite growth-stage startups to collaborate in accelerating the digital transformation in bioeconomy and food systems.
Our 12-week accelerator programme connects innovative startups and growth companies with a valuable network of leading industrial corporations, investors, potential customers, and end users, fostering a dynamic ecosystem for sustainable development.
We strongly recommend this programme especially for startups who want to get to know of Nordic agritech network, such as companies, partners, and farmers. The program offered great networking, direct connections to partners' top level management and help with investor presentation.
Dmitry Dementiev, CEO at GeoPard Agriculture | Startup
Participants will be provided with a unique environment for product and service development, testing, market validation, increasing customer understanding, and assistance of investors with finding financing.
Join us driving the future of smart farming and innovations along the food value chain. Together, we can create sustainable solutions for a better tomorrow.
Programme offers
Network
Experts
Validation
Company-specific coaching and mentoring
to crystallize your business models and growth plan, develop your readiness for external financing, and polish your pitch decks. Sessions are run by the multidisciplinary expert network of the University of Applied Sciences, experienced coaches and entrepreneurs, as well as our top industrial partners and investors.
Accelerator programme team's common training days
aimed at networking and connecting you with our programme partners Valtra, AGCO Power, Neste, Lantmännen, and Innovestor, to initiate and facilitate concrete collaborations, as well as high-level coaching and training by top indurstry experts, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors active in the agrifoodtech and bioeconomy sectors and community.
Testing and validation of product and services
in real-world situations and use cases. You will have a chance to use a wide range of testing and validation services in the Bioeconomy Campus' virtual and physical testbed environment and partner farms. Gain valuable insights and ensure that the product or service meets the needs and expectations of users in different situations.
A wide range of networking and matching events
to create valuable connections with leading industrial companies, investors, farmers, end-users, and your peers. Also, to bring startup teams and corporations together to start collaboration and empower growth-stage startups to scale impactful solutions with the help of the whole agritech accelerator ecosystem.
The accelerator programme is 12 weeks long, the language is English, and participation is possible both virtually and on-site, so you can join from anywhere in the world!
Participation is free-of-charge and equite-free for startups. Instead, we work closely with investors active in this business area and connect interesting startups with them.
The call is on especially for startups who are focused on:
Smart
Future
Emission
Programme Schedule 2025
- May 27-28: Welcome to network at AgriVenture Finland 2025 - Agritech and Sustainable Food Chain Venture Days, an international startup and investor event on May 27-28, 2025 in Bioeconomy Campus, Saarijärvi, Finland
- August 20-21: Kick-off Days at Valtra Headquarters, Suolahti, Finland, and in Bioeconomy Campus, Saarijärvi, Finland
- September 17: Growth & Collaboration Workshop 1/2, online and in Neste office, Helsinki, Finland
- October 7: Growth & Collaboration Workshop 2/2, online and in Lantmännen office, Helsinki, Finland
- November 10-11: Grande Finale & Innovation Showcase at AGRITECHNICA, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery in Hannover, Germany
Who can apply and how?
- Growth-oriented, international startups and growth companies in smart bioeconomy and agritech
- Scalable ideas and teams that aim to disrupt the bioeconomy and sustainable food value chains
- Corporations seeking for innovative partners
- Investors active in the agrifoodtech and bioeconomy sectors
The application period is open until March 31, 2025. Please fill in your application now!
Meet our partners
Neste is the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel, whereas Valtra and AGCO Power are part of the US listed company AGCO Corporation, which is one of the world’s largest manufacturer of tractors and agricultural machinery. In the BioBoosters programme Valtra and AGCO Power want to build partnerships with startup teams developing the agritech and bioeconomy industry.
BioBoosters Business Accelerator has been an excellent program in 2024, we have loved it! We have been screening more than 400 startups. I am really excited about the startups that we have been working with.
Mikko Lehikoinen, CEO of Valtra Inc. | Partner
Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and one of Northern Europe's leading players in the agriculture, machinery, bioenergy, and food sectors. Lantmännen operates several test farms in the Nordic countries and offers testing and development opportunities to startups participating in the BioBoosters Accelerator Programme on their test farms. Innovestor’s Corporate Venturing provides the startups with coaching by experienced mentors and direct contacts to investors active in this field. Jamk University of Applied Sciences is strongly committed to fostering the growth and collaboration networks in bioeconomy, and offers the companies access to both office and laboratory space as well as versatile testbed and co-creation facilities in the BioEconomy campus area.
Accelerator Programme 2024 highlights
In 2024, the accelerator programme’s inaugural year, hundreds of innovative agritech and foodtech startups from around the world, from India to Peru, were scouted and evaluated for the programme. After a careful selection process, ten of the most promising startups from five different countries were selected and matched with the corporate partners and investors of the programme. Check out what our last year's companies say about their accelerator experience.
The selected startups operate in areas such as smart farming and data management, robotics, soil and water management, as well as sustainability and carbon footprint in the food value chain. The 2024 accelerator programme provided numerous outstanding opportunities for startups and great outcomes for the whole agritech ecosystem.
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24
4/5
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Interested? Contact us!
Anni Hintikka
Liinamaaria Hakola
For us, the best part was the mentoring sessions, where we were not only guided but also challenged to be better. We can proudly say that we came out as a stronger company than we came in.
Mads Zeidler, CEO & Co-Founder at Groundley | Startup
We had the opportunity demonstrate our solution based on tractor-mounted AI sensors and related software in the Bioeconomy Campus with a potential customer. Demonstration has been very well done and successful for us, and it would not have been possible without the help from the BioBoosters and JAMK team. We are on a very right track for having concrete benefits from joining the accelerator programme.
Sumod Nandanwar, CTO and Founder, PerPlant Ltd. | Startup
Serving as a mentor in programme provided an excellent experience to coach and closely observe interesting agritech startups. The programme succeeded in bringing highly relevant industrial partners close to the startups and offered genuine collaboration opportunities.
Lauri Reuter, Founder & Partner at Nordic FoodTech VC | Mentor & Investor
It was pleasure to join the BioBoosters Accelerator Programme as a mentor. The selected companies were high quality and on right stage for mentoring. Overall, the program was much appreciated by companies and offered great experience!
Aline Santa Izabel, Networks & Ecosystem Manager at Business Helsinki, Expert Advisor at the European Innovation Council (EIC) | Mentor
Frequently asked questions
What is the duration and structure of the accelerator programme?
The BioBoosters Accelerator Programme lasts approximately three months and requires a commitment of an average of two working days per month. The accelerator workshop days are on August 20-21, September 17, October 7, and the final event at AGRITECHNICA on November 10-11, 2025.
The accelerator programme consists of:
- Company or group-specific coaching and mentoring sessions with a designated company coach
- Themed training days for the accelerator programme teams
- Various networking events, for example pitching and demonstration events in the Bioeconomy Campus environment
- AgriVenture Finland - Agritech & Sustainable Food Chain Venture Days, an international startup and investor event on May 27-28, 2025
- Innovation Showcase at AGRITECHNICA, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, in Hannover, Germany, on November 10-11, 2025.
Participation in the accelerator programme is possible both virtually and on-site. We strongly recommend live participation particularly in the Accelerator Kick-Off Day, Growth and Collaboration workshops, Innovation Showcase, and, where appropriate, in the joint training days. In the campus area there is office space as well as versatile laboratory and testing facilities available for the companies participating in the programme.
What does it require from the startup company to participate in the accelerator programme?
Participation in the BioBoosters Accelerator Programme requires a commitment of about two working days per month. Participation in the accelerator programme is possible both virtually and on-site. Live participation is particularly recommended for the Accelerator Kick-Off Day, Growth and Collaboration workshops, Innovation Showcase, and, where appropriate, in the joint theme days.
Participation in the accelerator programme is free-of-charge and equity-free for the startups. Instead, we work closely with the investors active in this business area, and connect the interesting startup companies and investors with each other.
How to join the accelerator programme?
The next call for applications for the accelerator programme is open until March 31 2025 - Be fast! If you are interested in more information, please contact Anni Hintikka.
What does the accelerator programme offer for investors and corporations?
The BioBoosters Accelerator Programme and related events give investors and startups access to the Bioeconomy and Smart Agriculture startup ecosystem and a view to the hottest Bioeconomy and AgriFoodTech startups and growth companies internationally. We are currently looking for investors and corporations to join the network. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Anni Hintikka.
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The BioBoosters accelerator programme is implemented as part of the "Finnish Future Farm" project funded by The Regional Council of Central Finland. In the “Finnish Future Farm” -project, a physical and virtual testbed environment and a center of expertise for testing, demonstrating and co-creating Smart Agriculture in Nordic conditions will be created at the Bioeconomy Campus in Saarijärvi, Central Finland. The main implementer of the project is Jamk University of Applied Sciences and co-partner is POKE Vocational College. The project is supported by several top companies in the field, such as Valtra, AGCO Power and Neste, as well as the city of Saarijärvi.
