Call open for the 8th edition of Business Factory Food

Business Factory Food (BFFood) has opened the application period for its 8th edition, offering a unique growth opportunity for food-sector startups looking to accelerate their market consolidation. The accelerator, promoted by the Xunta de Galicia through the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape) and the Closed-End Investment Entity Management Company (XesGalicia), is coordinated by the Galician Food Cluster (Clusaga) and supported by leading companies in the sector.

With the aim of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sphere, BFFood helps transform promising, high-potential projects into viable and scalable businesses. From Monday, February 2, interested entrepreneurs can access the application form available on the program’s website and submit their candidacy to join this initiative, which connects talent, industry, and strategic resources to grow the food ecosystem. Over its previous seven editions, BFFood has supported 86 projects from around 75 companies. Projects applying for the incubation phase may submit applications until March 11, while those applying for the consolidation phase may do so until June 10.

Benefits for selected projects

Projects selected for this new edition of BFFood will enjoy a range of benefits designed to drive development and maximize their chances of success in the market. One of the program’s core pillars is personalized mentoring, with each initiative receiving support and guidance from a leading company in the food sector. Participants will also receive specialized training to strengthen their business models, as well as access to infrastructure and technical services to support the development and improvement of their products or services.

Another major value of BFFood is its strong focus on networking, enabling entrepreneurs to connect with the agri-food ecosystem, build strategic relationships, and unlock new opportunities for collaboration and growth. On the financial side, projects entering the acceleration phase may benefit from a non-repayable grant of €25,000 awarded by Igape. In addition, XesGalicia may provide financial support through participatory loans of up to €50,000 for the acceleration phase and up to €250,000 for the consolidation phase, helping ensure stability and expansion for the most promising startups.

Who is the call aimed at?

The 8th edition of Business Factory Food targets innovative projects in the food sector at different stages of development. This includes pre-seed initiatives—those with a business idea aiming to turn it into a minimum viable product within a formally established company. Seed-stage projects may also apply: companies already incorporated with a product idea and an MVP under development, but without sales yet. In addition, early-stage projects are welcome, with a developed product or service, a defined business model, and initial market traction.

To be eligible, projects must meet certain requirements. For example, they must belong to the food sector or have a clear application within it, address one of the challenges outlined in the call, demonstrate an innovative character, and have their registered office or activity center in Galicia prior to participating in the acceleration and consolidation phases.

A unique opportunity

Entrepreneurs interested in joining this new edition of BFFood can consult the full terms and conditions and access the application form on the accelerator’s official website. It is an exceptional opportunity for food-sector startups seeking to boost their growth and position themselves as key players in the industry.

Now is the time to take the leap and be part of the future of food