Advance your start-up in the UAE and beyond
Applications for the FoodTech Challenge are closed
Advance your start-up in the UAE and beyond
About the FoodTech Challenge
The FoodTech Challenge is a global competition that identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems into arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments.
In its third and current edition, the FoodTech Challenge has received more than 1,200 submissions from over 113 countries. Previous editions garnered 1,100 submissions from 98 countries.
The competition which is offering its largest prize yet – $2m in cash – seeks to help winners make tangible progress in scaling their start-ups.
While emphasizing the UAE market, the competition also provides explicit pathways to generate impact in underserved markets throughout the Global South.
The FoodTech Challenge 3.0
Our Partners
The FoodTech Challenge has partnered with leading entities, both in the region and beyond, that are driving forward the global food security agenda through advanced R&D, start-up support, investment, policy, education, and more.
A Premier Global Competition
Testimonials
Richard Beks
Co-founder and CCO of Orbisk“Winning this competition will enable us to accelerate our growth in the Middle East. We will use the platform, the networking, and the prize money to start production facilities here in the UAE and attract new talent locally”
Dr. Anne Le More
United Nations Food Systems Champion“Foodtech challenges such as this one organized in Abu Dhabi are amazing in bringing innovation, creativity and talent, all of which are really necessary if we want to drive food security comprehensively”
Danielle Nierenberg
President, Food Tank“The FoodTech Challenge is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop food systems for the UAE that are nourishing and equitable, and can help solve the climate crisis. I was so excited to see the innovation during the first challenge and look forward to this year’s submissions!”
Ryan Lefers
CEO, iyris“The FoodTech Challenge was huge for us in terms of building our company profile in the UAE, increasing external exposure overall, and developing a pipeline for business development. The process had more depth than other competitions we’ve participated in previously.”
