FoodBytes! San Francisco Convenes Food and Agriculture Changemakers

Innovative food, food tech and agriculture startups are invited to apply for
15th edition of global pitch competition

SAN FRANCISCO (December 3, 2018) -- FoodBytes! by Rabobank, a global pitch competition and networking platform that connects innovative food, food tech and agtech startups with corporate leaders and investors, returns to San Francisco March 27 and 28, 2019. New this year, fifteen startups will compete directly on the FoodBytes’ stage at Terra Gallery and participate in a mentorship immersion that provides knowledge and connections to help scale their businesses. Startups that aim to impact the future of food can apply here by Sunday, December 16 at 11:59 pm PST.

The 2019 SF pitch competition will mark the 15th FoodBytes! showcasing global food, food tech and agriculture changemakers creating sustainable new ways to feed the world’s growing population. More than 250 companies are part of the FoodBytes! alumni community, including Imperfect Produce, ReGrained and HarvestPort. This year, FoodBytes! is specifically targeting supply chain food tech startups and agtech startups, including innovations in waste reduction, packaging, transparency, food safety and sustainable production. Sustainable CPG startups are also invited to apply.

“For entrepreneurs who want to accelerate their early stage traction and make a real impact on the future of food, FoodBytes! is a powerful opportunity,” said Ben Simon, CEO, Imperfect. “Since winning the People’s Choice Award at FoodBytes! SF in 2016, Imperfect has gone on to save 40 million pounds of food, 91M pounds of CO2 and $12 million in grocery bills for consumers. The validation, connections and insights we gained at FoodBytes! were an important part of our early stage growth trajectory as we work to eliminate food waste in America.”

Why Apply: Connections, Knowledge and Resources for Startups
Fifteen selected startups will participate in the two-day San Francisco program, and become part of the FoodBytes! alumni community. Resources for participating startups include:

• A full-day mentorship immersion led by industry experts on fundraising, branding, research trends, legal and go-to-market strategy
• One-on-one conversations with mentors and direct feedback on products, technologies and pitches
• Valuable in-person networking opportunities with corporate leaders, investors, influencers and peers
• Ongoing support from Rabobank Food and Agriculture (F&A) experts
• Access to the community of FoodBytes! alumni

Prizes and Benefits for Winning Startups
The 15 companies selected to pitch at FoodBytes! will compete to win:

• Valuable business consultation services
• Access to Rabobank research reports
• The opportunity to pitch and network with leading F&A executives at Rabobank’s Annual Food & Agriculture Summit in New York City in November 2019.
• Innovation experiences in New York in conjunction with Rabobank’s Summit

Apply to FoodBytes! San Francisco before Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Keep up with FoodBytes! by joining the newsletter and following on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, or view content via the hashtag #foodbytes.

About FoodBytes! by Rabobank:
Rabobank, a premier global food and agribusiness bank, first launched FoodBytes! in San Francisco in 2015 as part of its Banking for Food (B4F) strategy. Rabobank believes that sustainability and innovation are critical in promoting a thriving food and agricultural industry that will feed the increasing global population, expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. Since launching in 2015, 250 startups have pitched on the FoodBytes! stage, 1,700 startups have applied from 59 countries and more than 4,100 people have attended events in North America, Europe and Australia. Rabobank is a leading global food and agriculture bank, providing sector expertise, strategic counsel and tailored financial solutions to clients across the entire food value chain.

Media Inquiries
For press information, interviews or photography, please contact Alicia Balkrishna
Alicia.balkrishna@gmail.com | 415-336-1712