Women’s month may have wrapped, but we at Forward Fooding would still like to shine a spotlight on the remarkable women who are not just participating in the AgriFoodTech revolution but driving it. A 2023 study published in a journal indexed in PubMed Central found that women hold about 26% of leadership roles in the food industry, compared to just 10.9% in the general technology sector.

We also see this trend in the 2024 FoodTech 500 list, which boasts 171 women-founded and/or women-led companies, underscoring their growing influence. Yet, beyond the numbers, it’s about the transformative power they wield, reshaping the future of food with unique perspectives and approaches.

Gaps as Opportunities: Uncharted Territories

While women remain underrepresented, this gap presents a fertile ground for innovation. They’re leveraging their “outsider perspective” to identify overlooked market needs, creating entirely new business models.

As Nélida Leiva Eriksson, Ironic Biotech Founder, notes,

“My own experience with anemia has provided me with invaluable insights into the challenges and shortcomings of existing solutions. I firmly believe that a woman’s perspective is crucial in solving this prevalent issue.”

Meanwhile, Tessa Clarke, Olio Co-founder & CEO, uses her experience as a mother to innovate solutions in the AgriFoodTech space:

“As a woman, and someone who is responsible for feeding my family, I have a particularly acute sense of the value of food, and therefore how big a problem food waste is.”

Malin Bruset, GroGro Founder and CEO, also uses motherhood as her tool in creating invaluable food products:

“For this venture, it’s been a strength to approach the problem first as a mom — and then solve it as a business owner. That dual perspective has helped me build a new and fresh category within kids’ food, rooted in love, compassion, and a deep understanding of what families actually need.”

Monica Bhatia, EQUII Co-founder & Co-CEO, started her company from what she said is “a culmination of my experiences as a woman.

“EQUII was borne out of. During my pregnancy, I faced a constant struggle to get my protein as a vegetarian. The struggle only worsened as my life evolved as a mother trying to source more nutrition into everyday foods that our kids enjoy and, most recently, on the personal front, facing peri-menopause,” she said.

For Maricel Saenz, Compound Foods Founder and CEO, it all comes down to innovating for women’s holistic well-being:

“With Minus, I’ve prioritized functional ingredients that support balanced energy, reducing caffeine dependency, and promoting hormone health.”

 

Investment Patterns and Success Metrics: Funding the Future

It’s time to move beyond mere representation and examine the how of women’s leadership. Data consistently demonstrates that women-led startups often achieve more with less, showcasing remarkable capital efficiency. Research from BCG indicates women-run startups generate 78 cents in revenue per dollar of funding, compared to 31 cents for male-run startups. Diverse teams, including those with female leadership, also consistently outperform financially.  

However, despite their proven success, women founders receive disproportionately less funding. In 2023, only 2% of US startup funding went to women-owned businesses.

Because of this, female founders have to think of creative ways to ensure capital efficiency:

Nélida Leiva Eriksson, Ironic Biotech Founder: “Our approach includes actively seeking equity-free funding, which provides us with the flexibility to explore innovative and high-risk opportunities without compromising our financial commitments.”

Anastasia Gutkevich, Bifidice Founder: “My strategy? Lean teams, scientific partnerships, and ruthless prioritization. I don’t spend on fluff—I spend on what moves us closer to product-market fit and real impact.”

Joëlle van den Brand, Agurotech Co-founder: “I’ve prioritized lean operations, clear priorities, and hiring carefully—only when it truly moves the needle. We also build in close collaboration with customers, which helps us avoid waste and stay aligned with real needs.”

Maricel Saenz, Compound Foods Founder and CEO: “In my case, we’ve focused on lean product development—prioritizing early customer validation before scaling. We also leverage strategic partnerships, particularly in manufacturing and distribution, to optimize costs.”

Sarah Carroll, MariHealth Solutions Co-founder & CEO: “In our early stage, we have placed a strong emphasis on learning and professional development, where (admittedly) we wear multiple hats, which not only saves costs but also creates a richer, growth-oriented culture.”

Agni Hadjilouka, EMBIO Diagnostics Ltd Head of Bioengineering: “By securing EU-funded research grants and industry collaborations, I have been able to accelerate innovation without over-reliance on external investment.”

Malin Bruset, GroGro Founder and CEO: “Most of our marketing has been organic and created in-house to save money.”

The funding disparity is a missed opportunity, as women-owned businesses deliver higher returns on investment. Investors, particularly men, must actively seek and support women-led ventures. Initiatives like the Diversity Rider, championed by funds like Supply Change Capital, are crucial in shifting this landscape.

 

Overcoming Barriers and Moving Forward

A challenging funding environment is not the only obstacle to the success of female founders. They also have to navigate through gender biases, as well as societal assumptions and prejudices.

Here’s how some AgriFoodTech female founders are overcoming these barriers:

Nélida Leiva Eriksson, Ironic Biotech Founder: “One significant challenge has been conveying the severity of Iron Deficiency and Anemia (IDA) to non-females…. I believe that when addressing a problem that isn’t immediately apparent, it is essential to be resourceful and effectively communicate the issue from the perspective of those involved.”

Anastasia Gutkevich, Bifidice Founder: “The biggest barrier has been being heard. In investor rooms, scientific panels, and even some partnerships, I’ve seen how easily women’s expertise is overlooked—especially in technical domains. To overcome that, I’ve learned to lead with data, with calm authority, and with results that speak louder than opinions. I’ve also had to develop a thicker skin—because you can’t let someone’s lack of imagination limit your ambition.”

Eve Plakk, Paul-Tech Co-founder: “[The] Agriculture [sector] is very conservative and largely owned by large corporations. Just do your own thing, and consistently—even if all the big ones say it’s not possible or not a priority.”

Abir Mehaweyj, BeYou Director and Founder: “There’s often a bias—conscious or not—where women are seen as less capable of building scalable businesses. I also noticed that as women, we tend to be more realistic with our forecasts. We don’t promise dream figures just to impress, and that can be seen as a lack of ambition, when in fact, it’s integrity.  

Despite this … I refused to inflate numbers just to fit into an investor pitch mold. Instead, I focused on building real value, proving the concept through traction and partnerships, and letting our progress speak for itself.”

Maricel Saenz, Compound Foods Founder and CEO: “Being underestimated—especially when pitching a company that challenges the traditional coffee and cocoa industries. I’ve learned to embrace these moments as opportunities to prove not only the viability of our business but also the broader consumer shift happening in food and beverage.”

Andrea Araiza Calahorra, MicroLub Technical Director: “One of the biggest challenges has been the representation gap, which makes it harder for women to access the same networks and opportunities as our male counterparts. This gives us fewer opportunities to take on leadership roles in technical fields, which hinders our ability to gain the experience and industry recognition needed to successfully launch and scale a deep tech company.”

Sarah Carroll, MariHealth Solutions Co-founder and CEO: “Being young and female sometimes meant people underestimated my expertise or mistook my approachable nature for naivety. I’ve experienced moments where my contributions weren’t taken seriously or I wasn’t invited into certain ‘men’s club’ conversations at conferences – almost as if I didn’t earn my space at the proverbial table.

I’m gradually learning to build mental defenses, reminding myself why I chose to be here in the first place. I refuse to shy away from speaking up: if my voice isn’t invited to the table, I’ll make sure it’s heard anyway. Whenever I feel overlooked, I return to the core reasons motivating me, using that mission-driven energy to fuel how I respond.”

Agni Hadjilouka, EMBIO Diagnostics Ltd Head of Bioengineering: As a woman in the FoodTech industry, one of the most significant barriers I’ve faced is gaining equal visibility and recognition for my contributions. To overcome this, I’ve focused on collaborating with like-minded colleagues and constantly demonstrating expertise through research and teaching. I also make it a priority to mentor and support other women entering the field, fostering a more inclusive environment for the next generation.”

Hadar Ekhoiz Razmovich, Meala Foodtech Co-founder & CEO: “One of the greatest opportunities I’ve embraced is the chance to exceed expectations—whether in boardrooms, investor pitches, or technical conversations. These moments have strengthened my resolve, allowing me to showcase my credibility and expertise. Instead of feeling discouraged, I’ve used them as motivation to grow. I’ve learned to trust my intuition, support it with data, and build a strong network of mentors and team members who share our vision and recognize the value we bring.”

Maria Fernanda Silva, Bioeutectics Co-founder: “Sometimes, I’ve had to work harder to prove myself and gain trust. To overcome this, I focus on building strong relationships and showing results. I make sure my ideas are backed by data and real-world impact. I also stay confident and persistent, knowing that innovation doesn’t have a gender. Over time, my work speaks for itself.”

Bhavna Tandon, Brown Foods Co-founder: “One of the biggest barriers I’ve faced as a woman in FoodTech is a male-dominated landscape where women representation is fairly limited. I’ve overcome this by building strong networks with fellow female founders, encouraging other female founders, and surrounding myself with a team that shares my vision.”

Silvana Spinelli, Kresko RNAtech Co-founder & CEO: “The biggest challenge has been overcoming imposter syndrome in male-dominated spaces. I’ve tackled it by building a strong network, focusing on achievements, and trusting my unique perspective and skills.”

 

Beyond “Female Founders”: Transformative Leadership

It goes without saying that leadership diversity fosters creativity and innovation. And women at the helm of any company turn out to have a ton of benefits, as various studies show—from an increase in productivity, enhanced collaboration, inspired dedication, and improved fairness.

When asked about the leadership qualities that have been most crucial to their success in the AgriFoodTech industry, here’s what some 2024 FoodTech 500 female founders have to say:

Riley Jackson, Ivy Farm Technologies Head of Marketing: “The ability to be transparent and honest is essential. The team feels trusted to handle difficult challenges, and they feel included, especially important for start-ups.”

Nélida Leiva Eriksson, Ironic Biotech Founder: “I emphasize personal development and fulfilment, recognizing that many people aspire to have a positive impact on society.”

Joëlle van den Brand, Agurotech Co-founder: “When building teams, I focus on trust, ownership, and open communication, fostering a culture where feedback is valued and everyone feels connected to the bigger purpose.”

Abir Mehaweyj, BeYou Director and Founder: “What matters most to me is the wellness of my team. I actually insist that everyone subscribes to a gym or some kind of physical activity—not just for health, but to protect mental well-being and recharge energy. I truly believe a healthy, balanced team is the foundation for sustainable success.”

Maricel Saenz, Compound Foods Founder and CEO: “At Compound Foods, we cultivate a culture where people feel ownership over their work while also feeling supported. I believe in fostering an environment where curiosity, problem-solving, and well-being are valued as much as performance.”

Andrea Araiza Calahorra, MicroLub Technical Director: “I’ve learned that great leaders are not just experts in their fields, but also listeners and mentors, and good at empowering their teams to bring out their best… I believe that when people feel they belong and are encouraged to contribute their ideas, that’s when true innovation happens.”

Elena Petukhovskaya, Big Akwa CEO: “I don’t believe in standing on the sidelines — I’m in it with the team, solving problems, making decisions, and learning as we go… At the same time, I try to create a culture where people have the space to think independently, experiment, and come up with their own solutions. Innovation doesn’t happen when people are micromanaged — it happens when they feel trusted and supported.”

Jenny Du, Apeel Sciences Senior Vice President: “Practicing humility requires one to be open to the ideas and perspectives of others, to always be open to learning (especially from our inevitable missteps), and to pursue problem-solving with the mindset that it’s more important to be effective than to be “right”.”

Elin Roberts, Better Nature Co-Founder & Co-CEO: “I force myself to take a deep breath and look at the facts in front of me, almost treating it like a puzzle to solve. There’s always a solution – it might not always be pretty, but it’s there, and it’s our job to find it. I find that being calm, rooting things back to our strategy, thinking outside the box, and working well with people help a lot.”

 

To investors, corporations, and ecosystem builders: Supporting women in FoodTech is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic advantage.

To women entrepreneurs: Your unique perspective is your greatest strength. The food system needs your innovations, your resilience, and your vision.

Download the full 2024 FoodTech 500 list here.

 

Michal Amit, CEO/CTO & Founder at Accellta (#429 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Aviaja Riemann-Andersen, CEO and Co-Founder at Agrain (#285 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Irene Rupert, Co-Founder at AgrigateOne  (#353 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Daria Reisch, Co-founder & CEO at Agrinorm (#296 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Shobha Chanchlani, Co-Founder & Director at AgriVijay (#111 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Débora Campos, Founder & CEO at AgroGrIN Tech (#310 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Olga Dubey, Co-founder & CEO at AgroSustain (#263 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Martha Montoya, CEO at Agtools (#88 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Joëlle van den Brand, Co-Founder at Agurotech (#265 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Nemailla Bonturi, Co-Founder at ÄIO (#198 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Lena Jüngst, Co-Founder & Co-Inventor at Air Up (#19 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Abigail Barnes, Founder & CEO at Amulet (#220 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Larissa Viana, CEO at APEXzymes (#491 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Brittany Chibe, Co-Founder & CEO at AQUA Cultured Foods (#383 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Helga Dögg Flosadóttir, Co-Founder & CEO at Atmonia (#340 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Valeria Arredondo, Founder & CEO at BEAM CropTech (#457 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Deniz Ficicioglu, Founder & CEO at BettaF!sh (#379 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Gali Yarom, Co-Founder & CEO at Better Juice (#208 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Elin Roberts, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Better Nature (#64 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Abir Jean Mehawej, Director & Founder at BeYou (#446 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Anastasia Gutkevich, Founder & CEO at Bifidice (#481 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Elena Petukhovskaya, CEO at BigAkwa AB (#422 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Dana Yarden, Co-Founder at BioBetter (#280 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maria Fernanda Silva, Co-Founder & CSO at Bioeutectics (#218 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ximena Adriazola Du Pont, Co-Founder & COO at BNS (#284 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Tal Malca Salhuv, Co-Founder & CEO at BOB FoodTech (#378 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ilana Taub, Co-Founder & CEO at Bolder Foods (#471 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Hélène Briand, Co-Founder & CTO at Verley/ Bon Vivant (#97 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Elena Gross, Founder & CEO at Brain Ritual (#387 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Rocio Espinosa Torres, Co-Founder & COO at BYBUG (#360 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Shara Ticku, Co-Founder & CEO at C16 Biosciences (#53 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Michele Stansfield, Co-Founder & CEO at Cauldron (#67 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Hanne Volpin, Co-Founder at Celleste Bio (#108 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Heejung Kim, Co-Founder & CTO at Cellmeat (#61 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Marianne Ellis, Co-Founder & CTO at Cellular Agriculture (#452 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Bibiana Matte, Co-Founder at Cellva Ingredients (#135 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Alexandra Stuthridge, COO at Cetogenix (#393 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Natasha Dhayagude, Co-Founder & CEO at Chinova Bioworks (#92 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Safia Qureshi, Founder & CEO at Clubzero (#376 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maxine Roper, Co-Founder at Connecting Food (#59 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Alexandra Broddy, Co-Founder at CrushDynamics (#104 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Lucie Rein, Chief Commercial Officer at Cosaic/ Cultivated Biosciences (#332 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Dana Marom, Co-Founder and CTO at Day 8 (#425 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Joni Symon, Co-Founder and R&D Lead at De Novo Foodlabs (#350 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Dr Leah Bessa, Co-Founder and CSO Lead at De Novo Foodlabs (#350 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Nil Nurlu Deniz, Co-Founder at DepoDone (#96 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maddalena Zanoni, Co-Founder at Dreamfarm (#106 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Dana Levin, CEO at E-FISHient Protein (#479 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Martha Wenzel, Co-Founder & CEO at E-TERRY (#418 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Menna Shahin, Founder at eJaby (#358 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ana Indart, Co-Founder & CEO at Elytron Biotech (#318 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Lina Kourtella, COO at EMBIO Diagnostics (#124 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Jacqueline Heard, Co-Founder at Enko Chem (#75 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Monica Bhatia, Founder & co-CEO at EQUII (#316 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Rachel Thu Nguyen, Co-Founder at eversyn (#427 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Netta Granot, Co-Founder & CEO at EXOSOMM (#438 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Angela de Manzanos, Co-Founder & CEO at FA Bio (#304 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Adi Yehezkeli, Co-Founder & CEO at FABUMIN (#476 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Claire van Enk, Founder & CEO at Farm to Feed (#257 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Eva Sommer, Founder & CEO at Fermify (#51 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Vinita Choolani, Founder & CEO at Float Foods (#281 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Moria Shimoni, Co-Founder & CTO at Forsea Foods (#150 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Christine Moseley, Founder & CEO at Full Harvest (#42 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Josune Ayo, Co-Founder & CEO at Genbioma Aplicaciones (#334 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Imke Sittel, Co-Founder & CSO at Glaia (#419 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Kanitsanan Thanthitiwat, Co-Founder at Global Bugs Asia (#441 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ninna Granucci, Co-Founder & CEO at Green Spot Technologies (#85 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Annette Granéli, Co-Founder & CEO at Green-On (#489 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Malin Bruset, Founder & CEO at GroGro (#307 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Astrid Prajogo, Founder & CEO at Haofood (#239 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Francesca Varvello, Co-Founder & CEO at Heallo (#478 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Laura Katz, Founder & CEO at Helaina (#76 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Taly Nechushtan, Co-Founder at Innovopro (#98 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Kathy Vredeveldt, Co-Founder & CFO at inPhocal (#217 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Anna Ogar, Founder & CEO at Insignes Labs (#440 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Himani Shah, Co-Founder at Intello Labs (#17 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Nélida Leiva Eriksson, Founder & CEO at Ironic Biotech (#297 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Cathy Ye, Co-Founder at Ivy Farm Technologies (#206 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Meena Sankaran, Founder & CEO at KETOS (#26 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Marta Arisa, Co-Founder & CMO at Kibus Petcare (#219 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Daria Feldman, Co-Founder at Kinoko-Tech (#254 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Anastasia Hofmann, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at KITRO (#114 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Deborah Gael, Co-Founder at Koolboks (#43 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Silvana Spinelli, Co-Founder & CEO at Kresko RNAtech (#461 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ifat Peled Dinstag, Co-Founder & CEO at LiVA (#485 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Karen Schuett, Co-Founder & CEO at Livestock Water Recycling (#93 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Nicole Robinson, Co-Founder & CEO at Lyro Robotics (#274 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Sarah Carroll, Co-Founder & CEO at MariHealth Solutions (#439 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Leonie Johanna Jahn, Co-Founder at MATR Foods (#45 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Hadar Ekhoiz Razmovich, Co-Founder & CEO at Meala Foodtech (#153 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Tali Feldman Sivan (PhD), Co-Founder & Chief Business Strategy Officer at Meala Foodtech (#153 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Anastasia Krivoruchko, Co-Founder & CEO at Melt&Marble (#167 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Katelijne Bekers, Co-Founder & CEO at MicroHarvest (#70 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Anwesha Sarkar, Founder at MicroLub (#211 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Coralie Hellwig, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Millow (#228 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Solveiga Pakštaitė, Founder at Mimica (#182 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maricel Saenz, Founder & CEO at Minus (#87 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Annamari Jukkola & Marjaana Vuorio, Founders at Mö Foods (#333 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Didi Gan, Founder at N&E Innovations (#232 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Buse Berber Örçen, Co-Founder & CEO at Nanomik Biotechnology (#115 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Chantal Roth, Co-Founder at Natural Trace (#451 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Antonella De Lazzari, Co-Founder at Naturannova (#346 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Verónica García Arteaga, Co-Founder & CEO at Neggst Foods (#185 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ingrid Dynna, Co-Founder & CEO at Norwegian Mycelium (#454 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Alix Chausson, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer at Nosh.bio (#112 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Shimrit Bar-El, Co-Founder at Novella (#448 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Giovanna Meneghel, Co-Founder & CEO at Nude (#89 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Eden Banon-Lagrange, Co-Founder & CEO at Nūmi (#177 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Nathalie Rolland, Co-Founder & CEO at Nutropy (#170 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Chuchu Huang, Co-Founder & CTO at Nutrumami (#466 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Karen Scofield Seal, Co-Founder & CEO at Oceanium (#195 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Iria Varela Campo, Co-Founder & CEO at ODS Protein (#385 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Tessa Clarke, Co-Founder & CEO at Olio (#86 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Saasha Celestial-One, Co-Founder & COO at Olio (#86 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Elen Faxö, CEO at OlsAro (#335 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maija Itkonen, Co-Founder & CEO at Onego Bio (#18 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Jennifer Côté, Co-Founder at Opalia (#435 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Olivia Ogilvie, Co-Founder & CEO at Opo Bio (#447 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Katarzyna Dymek, Co-Founder & Head of Applications at OptiCept Technologies (#413 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Hannah Brown, Co-Founder at Organifarms (#449 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Françoise de Valera, Co-Founder at Pack2Earth (#302 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Eve Plakk, Co-Founder at Paul-Tech (#431 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Lindy Hensen, Co-Founder at PeelPioneers (#238 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Diana Oliveira, Co-Founder & Head of R&D at PFx Biotech (#367 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Adèle James, Co-Founder & CTO at Phagos (#144 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maya Sapir-Mir, Co-Founder & CEO at PoLoPo (#224 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

María Cermeño, Co-Founder at Poseidona (#201 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Laura Stork-Wersborg, Co-Founder at PreciTaste (#288 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Pranjuli Garg, Co-Founder at ProMeat (#359 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Jaclyn Schnau, Founder & CEO at Pumpkin Organics (#345 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Elisa Violeta Bertini, Co-Founder & CSO at Puna Bio (#113 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Carolina Belfiore, Co-Founder & COO at Puna Bio (#113 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

María Eugenia (Mariu) Farías, Co-Founder & CRO at Puna Bio (#113 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Gittan Schiöld, Co-Founder at Re:Meat (#455 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Claire Schlemme, Co-Founder & CEO at Renewal Mill (#145 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Birgit Dekkers, Co-Founder & CEO at Rival Foods (#236 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Carolin Ackermann, Co-Founder & CEO at SEAWATER Cubes (#256 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, Co-Founder & CEO at Senara (#443 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ayashi Das Mujumder, Co-Founder & COO at Sensegrass (#202 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) 

Reena Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO at Shandi Global (#246 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Jasmin Hume, Founder & CEO at Shiru (#66 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Kalina Stancheva, COO & Projects Lead at Smart Farm Robotix (#252 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Olivia YA Dung, COO at Sophie’s Bionutrients (#428 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Emily Malina, Co-Founder & President at Spoiler Alert (#174 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Kiki Wu, Co-Founder & CEO at STARFIELD (#7 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Inka Liljeström, COO at SuperGround (#470 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Susan Payne, Co-Founder & COO at Sustainable Planet (#351 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Guadalupe Murga, Co-Founder & CEO at Sylvarum (#423 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Julia Roulet, Co-Founder at Syocin (#397 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Isabel Hoffmann, Founder & CEO at Tellspec (#303 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Maggie Kavalaris, Co-Founder at Terviva (#6 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Laura Hoogland, Founder at The Banana Factory (#407 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Joanna Bromley, Co-Founder at The Better Meat Co. (#100 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Lara Hussein, Co-Founder & CEO at The Waste Lab (#322 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Saskia Tersteeg, Co-Founder & R&D Manager at Time-travelling Milkman (#237 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Angela Tsetsis, Chief Science and Commercial Officer at TrueAlgae (#260 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Fengru Lin, Founder & CEO at TurtleTree (#81 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Claudia Casalongue, Co-Founder at Unibaio (#355 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Kitiya Vongkamjan, Founder & CEO at UniFAHS (#169 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Bhavna Tandon, Co-Founder & CSO at UnReal Milk/ Brown Foods (#225 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Kianti Figler, Founder & CEO at Upstream Foods (#404 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Ankita Garg, Co-Founder and COO at Varaha (#16 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Marie-Alexandrine Burrows, Co-Founder & Chief People Officer at Vertical Future (#33 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Nona Yehia, Co-Founder & CEO at Vertical Harvest Farms (#77 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Mercedes Iborra, Co-Founder at Visualnacert (#290 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Carrol Plummer, Co-Founder & CEO at Vivent Biosignals (#482 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Jenny Lemieux, Co-Founder & CEO at Vivid Machines (#391 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Lilach Iasur Kruh, Co-Founder & Director of Technology at Wonder Veggies (#490 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Betty Schwartz, Co-Founder at Wonder Veggies (#490 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

Parini Kapadia, Co-Founder & CSO at Zero Cow Factory (#250 in the 2024 FoodTech 500)

 

The Future of Food is Female and Diverse

The women featured in the 2024 FoodTech 500 and beyond are not just participants in the AgriFoodTech revolution; they are its architects. Their unique perspectives, innovative approaches, and unwavering commitment are shaping a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system, proving that the future of food is indeed female and diverse.

To continue supporting and celebrating these vital achievements, the Modern Agriculture Foundation is launching the 2025 Leading Women in FoodTech Award to recognize the very women shaping the future of food. Submission of nominations until April 30, 2025: https://wkf.ms/4iztjFK

 

 

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