This program helps you explore the US AgriFood ecosystem through various activities such as pitching in front of curated audiences, meeting high-level stakeholders of large food and agriculture companies, visits to companies across the food value chain (growers, retailers, food manufacturers, etc.) & tailored meetings.

The program includes 5 preparation sessions in The Netherlands and a 1 week program in Chicago, including a visit to the IFT or Cultivate in Ohio. 

Chicago is the heart of America’s food value chain, with a high density of food, beverage, and agricultural companies. They leverage the region’s vast transportation, distribution and logistics ecosystem to get their products to market. When it comes to food, the city has a deep talent pool, a vast landscape of corporate partners, and an accessible entrepreneurial ecosystem.

More than 70 incubators and accelerators, 24 corporate innovation centers, and more than 60 VCs call Chicago home. 

Mondelez, McDonalds, Kraft Heinz, ADM, Conagra, Kellanova, and MillerCoors are among the food and beverage giants that call Chicago home area, along with large footprints from companies like Mars, PepsiCo, and Beam Suntory. Agricultural companies such as Syngenta, with Gotham Greens, and MightyVine are also strongly represented in Chicago. 

This makes the city a natural landing spot for scaleups with a solution or market interest in the agrifood industry.

Get ready to expand your network and learn how to successfully grow your business in the US AgriFood Industry – apply now to join Chicago AgriFood Scaleups Program! Choose one of two tracks:

Track A: IFT Annual Meeting and Expo 

Track B: Cultivate'24

The Chicago AgriFood Scaleup Program is for tech scaleups incorporated in the Netherlands. Your scaleup must be working on sustainable agrifood solutions, have proven traction in the home market, and explore a potential product/market fit in the US.

The program is free of charge. Each participant is responsible for their own accommodation and travel costs to the US. We expect commitment throughout the preparation training in the Netherlands, as well as the full US business trip. 

Our goal is to help you validate your US market fit and prepare to do business in the US. Only 10 scaleups will be selected to participate. The program will start with 5 preparatory sessions (approx 1,5 hour per session) over the course of 5 weeks in the Netherlands, followed by a week in Chicago where you’ll attend either the IFT FIRST international trade show or Cultivate’24, meet with personalized matches, visit companies, and network with VCs.

*The program below is an example of what the final program might look like. The program is still under development, it may be possible to change or add new program components, or to shift program components.

If you have any questions, please contact Tiffany Meijer or Andreea Bota