Applications for Growing Further 2024/2025 are now open! This exciting competition seeks to identify and support groundbreaking innovations aimed at transforming the grocery retail supply chain. This initiative encourages startups and companies to develop solutions that improve sustainability, efficiency, and innovation across the food supply chain, from production to waste management. By providing a platform for creative ideas, Growing Further hopes to foster advancements that will contribute to a more sustainable and efficient future for the grocery industry.
With a total prize fund of €100,000, Growing Further invites companies from around the world to showcase their ideas and compete for financial support to further develop their projects. The competition is open to startups that are innovating in various aspects of the grocery industry, including food production, distribution, retail, customer engagement, and the built environment.
Who’s it for:
The competition is divided into the following categories:
- Production: This category is open to startups focused on innovations in agriculture technology (AgTech) and food processing (FoodTech). The goal is to drive improvements in primary production and the processing of food and ingredients.
- Distribution & Retail: Startups working on new ways to transform packaging, distribution, and product sales are welcome to apply. Solutions that reduce costs, speed up delivery, enhance product presentation, or improve supply chain management will be considered.
- Built Environment: This category looks at startups innovating in the infrastructure of grocery and retail stores. Companies working on solutions that improve building efficiency and sustainability are encouraged to submit their ideas.
- Customer Engagement: Startups that create new ways for retailers to interact with customers are eligible for this category. Technologies like ad-tech, augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) that analyze customer behaviour and enhance personalization will be evaluated.
Key Dates:
- 4th October 2024: Application deadline
- 1st November 2024: Announcement of shortlisted candidates
- November 2024 (TBC): The interview process begins
- 29th November 2024: Finalists announced
- 30th January 2025: Final judging and awards ceremony in Dublin
Previous Winners:
Last year’s Growing Further Innovation Awards highlighted exceptional startups that are shaping the future of grocery retail. Spore.bio, the overall winner in 2024, developed an instant pathogen detection device that reduces food contamination on factory floors, minimizing food waste. In the Packaging & Production category, Nerit’e stood out with its real-time soil nutrient monitoring technology, which integrates seamlessly into existing farming processes, helping farmers optimize fertilization. Optiwiser.de, the winner in the Distribution category, is revolutionizing the food and beverage industry with AI-powered demand planning and inventory management. The Retail category winner, Hibyrd.io, offers an intelligent energy consumption and CO2 emissions management platform for optimizing power use in retail properties.
For more information and to apply, visit www.growingfurther.io. This is a unique opportunity for innovators to contribute to shaping the future of the grocery retail industry and gain valuable recognition and support.
