Supporting agrifood innovation: How Sales Booster guides startups into new EU markets

Editor’s Note: This post was created in collaboration with and with financial support from EIT Food.

From smarter farming tools to next-generation food products, agrifood innovation is accelerating across Europe, and startups are playing a key role in this shift, bringing practical solutions that respond to both market demand and environmental challenges. Yet they face many challenges as they try to grow and scale their ideas.

The EU’s AgriFood Industrial Ecosystem plays a major role in Europe’s economy. To give some context, it generates around €603 billion in value added and provides jobs for about 16 million people. The food and beverage industry alone produces €227 billion and employs more than 4.6 million workers, with SMEs making up over 99% of all companies.

Despite this strong foundation, young companies face real obstacles: High production costs, different regulatory frameworks across countries, and the impacts of climate change create pressure throughout the value chain. Consumer expectations are also shifting quickly, pushing the sector towards more transparency, sustainability, and efficiency. For startups that want to enter several European markets, navigating different rules, distribution models, and cultural habits can be demanding.

To support these companies, the European Union and organisations such as EIT Food continue to introduce programmes that help them scale across borders and access new opportunities.

Sales Booster: Helping agrifood startups grow across Europe

Sales Booster is an EIT Food initiative designed to help agrifood startups explore and enter new European markets. The programme offers tailored support to each participating company, helping founders build a practical and well-structured expansion plan.

Every startup works with a dedicated Growth Advisor who helps assess needs, identify opportunities, and define a clear market entry strategy. Startups also take part in online workshops and connect with key stakeholders across the EIT Food network, including distributors, retailers, and industry experts.

By the end of the programme, each startup has developed a concrete action plan for its chosen markets and has already formed valuable connections across Europe. This combination of personalised support and access to a trusted ecosystem gives early-stage companies a stronger foundation for cross-border growth.

Some of the standout startups supported by Sales Booster

Sales Booster has supported a diverse group of agrifood innovators. These examples show the variety of ideas and the impact of tailored guidance:

• Agritrack SA: a platform that automates post-harvest value chains to reduce losses and improve traceability.
• Cynomys: IoT solutions that monitor farm environments to improve resource use and animal welfare.
• EarthAutomations: autonomous robots that support agricultural tasks and make automation more accessible for smaller farms.
• BuzzUp: technology that analyses the sound of bees to help farmers understand hive conditions and improve pollination.
• Agricolus: a precision agriculture platform that uses satellite maps, sensors, and predictive tools to optimise crop production.

These startups highlight how Sales Booster supports companies with strong potential to transform the agrifood sector. By helping them prepare for international expansion, EIT Food contributes to a more resilient, sustainable, and well-connected European food system.

Looking ahead

A new edition of Sales Booster will open for applications next year. For agrifood startups planning to expand across Europe, the programme offers a valuable opportunity to receive tailored guidance, increase visibility, and build the right partnerships for long-term growth.

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