World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards

The World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards 2025, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), is a global competition that highlights youth-led technological innovations aimed at transforming agrifood systems. This initiative is a strategic collaboration between the WFF Innovation Lab and XTC, a platform known for catalyzing innovation among startups, corporations, and governments to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The awards aim to identify, elevate, and scale impactful startup solutions that address complex global food system challenges. Over USD 80,000 in cash and in-kind contributions will be awarded across categories. The 2025 awards are structured to spotlight scalable, inclusive, and investable innovations. The competition includes four core categories: Digital Innovation in Food Processing, Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition, Enhancing Climate Resilience and Water Security, and Driving Innovation in Agrifood Systems. Additionally, there are special recognitions such as the Startup of the Year Award, which is given to the most exceptional startup among the eight category finalists, and the Fighting Malnutrition and Enhancing Food Security Prize by MassChallenge Switzerland. This special prize includes a EUR 10,000 cash award and tailored support, with required attendance at an event in Switzerland. Applicants benefit from numerous opportunities beyond monetary awards. These include the chance to pitch to a distinguished panel of agrifood experts, gain visibility to global investors and stakeholders, receive travel support to Rome, Italy for the WFF flagship event, and ongoing integration into global innovation ecosystems supported by FAO and XTC. The application period opened on April 16, 2025, and closes on May 22, 2025. Semi-finalists will be announced on June 30, followed by finalist selection and invitations on July 24. The finals will be hosted at the FAO headquarters in Rome on October 15, during the WFF’s flagship event taking place from October 13 to 17, 2025. Eligibility extends to youth-led startups creating technological innovations in agrifood systems. There is no explicit restriction by geography, indicating global applicability. However, specific award conditions, such as attendance at related events, apply. Application questions and exact eligibility criteria should be reviewed on the WFF platform. For updates, applicants are encouraged to subscribe to the WFF newsletter. Though direct contact information for specific coordinators is not provided, the WFF and Extreme Tech Challenge websites serve as the primary portals for information and application submissions.