Call for the BioBoosters accelerator programme is open – Apply now!

The application period for the Spring 2024 Accelerator Program is now closed.

Jamk University of Applied Sciences, together with Valtra, AGCO Power, Neste and Innovestor, has opened the call for the international bioeconomy accelerator programme. The programme is targeted at growth-oriented bioeconomy and agritech startups and is part of the activities of BioBoosters by Jamk Business Accelerator.

BioBoosters accelerator programme connects agritech and bioeconomy startups and growth companies with end users, investors and corporations. The network of partners includes leading corporations, such as Valtra, AGCO Power and Neste, as well as investors who are ready to support the innovations promoted in the accelerator.

What’s in it for startups?

BioBoosters accelerator programme offers the attendees not only a tailored growth plan, but also access to valuable industrial partnerships, investor contacts and unique testbed environments.

The programme offers the startups coaching and mentoring by top mentors to crystallize your business model, and increase customer/end user understanding and readiness for external financing. The accelerator programme connects the bioeconomy and agritech startups efficiently with potential end users, investors and leading corporations.

Highlights:

• The ecosystem your startup needs: Connecting startups with corporate partners, investors and potential pilot customers / end users
• Business acceleration: Training, mentoring and coaching by top mentors for crystallizing the business model, increasing customer/end user understanding and readiness for external financing
• Market fit and validation: Physical and virtual testbed environment of Bioeconomy Campus and partner farms for testing, validating and co-creating smart bioeconomy & agriculture in Nordic conditions
   

Get to know our partners

Neste is the global leader in sustainable biofuel production, 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, AGCO power and Neste want to build partnerships with startup teams developing the agritech and bioeconomy industry.

"Climate change is a huge challenge and it is clear that all solutions and new innovations are needed to solve it and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's great that new players  will join the collaboration, where we develop smart, more sustainable and profitable agriculture", says Joni Pihlström, VP, Marketing & Services, Neste.

“At Valtra we aim to be at the top of data driven agriculture, because we need to be able to offer new solutions to our clients in this fast-changing world. We are eagerly looking forward to building collaboration with the startups and innovations to be discovered via the accelerator programme, to improve the productivity, effectivity, and sustainability of agriculture with the help of technology”, says Managing Director Mikko Lehikoinen, Valtra.

Innovestor’s Corporate Venturing provides the startups with coaching by experienced mentors and direct contacts to investors active in this field.

“Innovestor as an early-stage venture capital firm has useful contacts for startups within the industry. The food production value chain is experiencing a great technological leap, which is a great possibility for startups to grow. The BioBoosters programme has a significant network of partners, that can offer the attendees unique contacts and coaching”, says Matti Härkönen, Partner, Innovestor Corporate Venturing.

Call is on – Welcome to join the ride!

Call for the accelerator programme is now open! Applications are reviewed on an on-going basis, so submit your application as soon as possible. Programme kicks off in June 19th, 2024, the duration of the accelerator programme is six months, the language is English, and participation is possible both virtually and on-site, so you can participate from anywhere in the world!

Participation in the accelerator programme is free-of-charge and equity-free for the startup companies. Instead, we work closely with the investors active in this business area and network the interesting startup companies and investors with each other.

The BioBoosters programme is part of the activities of the “Finnish Future Farm”-project, that is funded by the Regional Council of Central Finland. The project is run by Jamk University of Applied Sciences, and partners are Poke Vocational School, Valtra, AGCO Power, Neste and the city of Saarijärvi.

Jamk University of Applied Sciences is strongly committed to fostering the growth in bioeconomy. “Bioeconomy and sustainable food production have the greatest potential in slowing down the climate change and promoting carbon sequestration. With the BioBoosters accelerator programme, we invite bioeconomy and agritech startups and early-stage growth companies to join us in cooperation to speed up the digital transformation of bioeconomy and food production”, encourages Director Minna Lappalainen, Institute of Bioeconomy, Jamk University of Applied Sciences.

The application period for the Spring 2024 Accelerator Program is now closed. 

More information

BioBoosters accelerator programme boosts innovation in bioeconomy and agritech

Annimari Lehtomäki, Chief Specialist [email protected] tel. +358504642563 Jamk University of Applied Sciences
Matti Härkönen, Partner, Corporate Venturing tel. +358 40 578 2688 Innovestor