When it comes to bridging the gap between food innovation and real-world impact, few programmes are doing it quite like MassChallenge Switzerland, which has carved out a distinct identity in the AgriFoodTech space: one built on access, relationships, and tangible outcomes rather than just pitch competitions and prize money.
We sat down with Matt Lashmar from MassChallenge Switzerland to hear directly about how the programme works, what it’s produced, and why the innovation-to-implementation gap remains one of the biggest challenges in sustainable food today.
Can you introduce MassChallenge Switzerland and its mission, and how the Sustainable Food Solutions challenge came to life within the broader organisation?
Matt Lashmar: MassChallenge Switzerland is part of a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators, with a mission to help innovators solve massive challenges. In Switzerland, we’ve built a strong focus on industries where the country has both expertise and influence, and food is a prime example.
The Sustainable Food Challenge emerged from the need to have more innovation reaching consumers and delivering impact. MassChallenge has access to both startups with innovative solutions and to large global food companies that have the operational know-how and capability to scale. The Sustainable Food Challenge is essentially where that vision comes to life.
Walk us through how the SF Challenge and Accelerator actually work, from application to programme completion. What does a startup’s journey look like?
Matt Lashmar: Both programmes start with a highly competitive global application process, where we look for high-impact, high-potential startups. But the two programmes fulfil different goals.
The Sustainable Food Challenge is targeted to later-stage startups and scale-ups who have data and traction that show their solution is ready to scale. These startups are then assessed and matched to our corporate partners via demo days (pitching sessions) or 1:1s. We usually get 50+ qualitative connections between our partners and startups in this competition. Startups and our corporate partners are looking to work together to validate the startups’ ideas and move towards scaling.
The Accelerator is for early-stage startups. Once selected, 100+ startups join a four-month programme in June, including in-person events, a complete curriculum, tailored mentorship, and they compete for a non-dilutive cash prize pool of CHF 500k. In the accelerator, they gain access to a pool of 400+ mentors, industry experts, and, most importantly, our corporate partners. The programme is very hands-on: startups refine their business models, validate their technology, and actively work toward pilot projects or commercial agreements. By the end, the goal is not just theoretical progress, it’s tangible outcomes: collaborative discussions, POCs, or funding secured.
Corporate partnerships are central to your model. Who are your key partners for the current edition, and what role do they play in the programme beyond just sponsorship?
Matt Lashmar: Our partners include some of the world’s leading food and agriculture companies, and their role goes far beyond financial support. For example: Bühler, Givaudan, LDC, Mars, SIG, DSMF, Novonesis. They actively co-shape the programme and sit on our board.
They help define the challenge areas, contribute mentors and experts, and engage directly with startups throughout the programme. This often leads to pilot projects, procurement opportunities, long-term collaborations, and even investment.
What makes the model powerful is that startups aren’t just pitching at the end, but they’re building relationships from day one.
Looking back at previous cohorts, what are some of the most compelling success stories?
Courtesy: MassChallenge Switzerland
Matt Lashmar: We’ve seen many standout success stories across our programmes. In alternative proteins, Switzerland-based Planted has gained significant traction, while France’s SWAP Food has raised over $100M and entered the US market.
In agtech, Jasberry (Thailand) has brought its ‘super rice’ to supermarkets worldwide, South American ClearLeaf is now operating across five countries and expanding, and Swiss startups like Cotierra and Adastra Sustainability collaborate with corporate partners they met during our programme.
In ingredients, companies such as Cosaic and Seprify (Switzerland) are performing strongly, while MOA FoodTech (Spain) is scaling with MC partners like Bühler and Novonesis. Swiss Food Brewer is also scaling and fundraising successfully, alongside NoPalm Ingredients in the Netherlands.
More broadly, we’ve seen startups raise significant funding, expand internationally, and secure commercial deals with major industry players. What’s particularly exciting is when collaborations initiated during the programme evolve into long-term partnerships, such as Floré and dsm-firmenich around precision probiotics.
These are exactly the outcomes we aim for: not just growth, but lasting, systemic impact across the food system.
How do you measure the impact of the programme for startups, for corporate partners, and for the broader food system?
Matt Lashmar: We look at impact on three levels.
For startups, it’s about growth metrics: funding raised, revenue, partnerships, and market expansion.
For corporates, it’s about innovation outcomes: how effectively they engage with startups and translate that into real business value.
And at the system level, we look at whether these collaborations are contributing to more sustainable, resilient food systems.
Ultimately, success means accelerating solutions that wouldn’t have scaled as quickly otherwise.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you see in sustainable food innovation right now, and how does MassChallenge’s programme address them?
Matt Lashmar: One of the biggest challenges and also the biggest opportunity is the gap between innovation and implementation. There’s no shortage of great ideas, but scaling them within complex global food systems is difficult.
This is where our partners and mentors are able to help. Often, startups lack the knowledge and experience to operationalise their ideas. MassChallenge’s USP versus others is the capability to connect founders with people who can help them bring their ideas to market.
In the next five to ten years, where do you hope the companies coming through MassChallenge SFC or Accelerator will be making the biggest difference?
Courtesy: MassChallenge Switzerland
Matt Lashmar: We hope they’ll be embedded across the entire food value chain, from production to consumption, driving measurable improvements in sustainability, efficiency, and resilience.
Whether it’s reducing emissions, improving nutrition, or minimising waste, the goal is that these companies are not just participants in the system, but key drivers of its transformation.
What has your partnership with Forward Fooding brought to MassChallenge Switzerland?
Matt Lashmar: Forward Fooding has significantly expanded our global reach and visibility within the AgriFoodTech ecosystem. They bring deep industry insight and access to a strong network of startups and stakeholders.
As a result, we’ve seen both an increase in the quantity and, importantly, the quality of applications. It’s helped position the programme as a truly global platform.
What would you say to a founder who is on the fence about applying? What’s the one thing they’d gain that they couldn’t get elsewhere?
Matt Lashmar: Access.
Not just to mentors or content, but to decision-makers in some of the world’s most influential food companies. That level of access, combined with a structured programme designed to convert conversations into real opportunities, is incredibly difficult to replicate elsewhere.
If you’re serious about scaling your solution and making an impact, this is a platform that can accelerate that journey in a very tangible way.
Forward Fooding has been a proud partner of MassChallenge Switzerland, helping connect the global AgriFoodTech ecosystem with one of its most impactful acceleration platforms. If you’re building something that could change the food system, applications are now open. And if Matt’s words are anything to go by, the opportunity on the other side is very real.
Forward Fooding is the world’s first collaborative platform for the Food & Beverage industry via FoodTech Data Intelligence and Corporate-Startup Collaboration – Learn more about our Consultancy and Scouting Services and our Startup Network.
