FoodTech & AgriTech Insights

Europe still doesn’t have an answer to powerhouses like Y Combinator, but there are silver linings.

Tech is evolving faster than ever, and in 2025, staying ahead isn’t an option—it’s a necessity. From AI breakthroughs to game-changing startups, Europe’s tech scene is buzzing with opportunities to connect, innovate, and scale. This year, the continent will once again host some of the most influential tech events, where entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders come together to share insights, forge partnerships, and shape the future. Whether you’re a startup founder seeking funding, a corporate leader driving transformation, or an ecosystem builder scouting the next big trend, these must-attend European tech events are where big ideas turn into reality. Don’t miss out! What Are the Top Tech Events in Europe for 2025? MID3M+ 2025 January 24-27 | Cannes, France MID3M+ is a leading music industry event that serves as a neutral platform for discussions, collaboration, and innovation. Held in France, it brings together artists, industry professionals, policymakers, and tech innovators to tackle the current and future challenges of the music industry. With a focus on digital transformation, policy alignment, and emerging trends, MID3M+ fosters meaningful debates and strategic partnerships, shaping the future of music, media, and entertainment on a global scale. GoWest Conference 2025 January 28-30 | Gothenburg, Sweden Held in Gothenburg, West Sweden, this leading venture capital forum serves as a key hub for startups, scaleups, and investors, showcasing the region’s rich industrial heritage and forward-thinking innovation. The event offers a prime opportunity for networking, matchmaking, and presenting cutting-edge research and development, reinforcing Sweden’s role in tech growth and investment. TechChill Riga 2025 February 5-7 | Riga, Latvia One of the Baltic region’s leading tech and startup events, this Riga-based gathering will unite global and local investors, founders, and key ecosystem players. With over 2,300 attendees, 310 startups, and 230 investors, the event will spotlight Frontier Technologies, Startup Growth, and Industry Shifts, while showcasing the latest emerging innovations. Techarena 2025 February 20-21 | Stockholm, Sweden This flagship Scandinavian event will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers in a dynamic setting. With a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, the program features keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, fostering collaboration and forward-thinking solutions. 4YFN & MWC Barcelona 2025 March 3-6 | Barcelona, Spain Taking place side by side, 4YFN (4 Years From Now) and Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona create one of the most significant global gatherings for startups, investors, and technology leaders. 4YFN is the ultimate platform for early-stage companies, focusing on startup growth and fundraising opportunities, while MWC Barcelona serves as the world’s largest mobile and connectivity event, showcasing advancements in 5G, AI, fintech, IoT, and digital transformation. With 100,000+ visitors at once, Barcelona becomes the perfect hub for networking, deal-making, and trendspotting in early 2025. JEC World 2025 March 4-6 | Paris, France JEC World is the leading global event for the composites industry, bringing together innovators, researchers, and manufacturers to showcase cutting-edge materials, technologies, and applications. The event serves as a hub for networking, knowledge exchange, and business opportunities, shaping the future of composites and advanced materials across industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction. A key highlight is JEC Investor Day, where startups and scaleups in the composites sector connect with top investors, fostering funding opportunities and strategic partnerships to drive industry innovation. hello tomorrow Global Summit 2025 March 13-14 | Paris, France Founded in 2011, Hello Tomorrow’s Global Summit is a leading event dedicated to advancing deep tech solutions that drive progress in human and planetary health. The summit brings together startups, investors, corporates, and researchers, with a focus on science-driven and engineering-based innovations. By highlighting breakthrough technologies that tackle global challenges and unlock new market opportunities, it fosters a cross-disciplinary ecosystem beyond traditional industry boundaries. START Summit 2025 March 20-21 | St. Gallen, Switzerland This prestigious event provides 30 early-stage startups with a unique platform to showcase their ventures to industry leaders, experienced founders, and top European venture capitalists. Designed to inspire both current and future innovators, the event builds momentum through Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and a high-stakes Final, making it an exciting highlight for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Tech.eu 2025 March 25-26 | London, UK A must-attend event for European startups, VCs, and ecosystem leaders, Tech.eu Summit focuses on scaling startups, venture capital trends, and deep tech innovations. If you’re looking for data-driven insights into the European startup ecosystem, this is the place to be. 0100 Europe 2025 April 2-4 | Amsterdam, Netherlands A high-level private equity and venture capital conference where top fund managers, investors, and startups gather to discuss trends in the investment landscape. If you’re a founder looking to meet VCs or an investor scouting for promising startups, this event provides exclusive deal-making opportunities. Gitex Europe 2025 April 21-23 | Berlin, Germany Gitex Europe is a massive global technology event, originally from Dubai, now expanding into Europe for the first time. Covering AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and deep tech, this event is perfect for corporates, investors, and startups pushing the boundaries of digital transformation. EU Startups Summit 2025 April 24-25 | Valetta, Malta Bringing together over 2,000 founders, investors, and ecosystem players, EU Startups Summit is one of Europe’s leading startup conferences. The event features pitch competitions, networking opportunities, and insights from top European entrepreneurs, making it an excellent place to connect with early-stage startups and venture capitalists. ChangeNOW 2025 April 24-26 | Paris, France Set to take place in Paris, this influential event aims to accelerate and inspire change for a more sustainable future. Bringing together over 1,000 innovative solutions and 500 speakers, it serves as a meeting point for change-makers from various industries. The event offers a platform to showcase groundbreaking ideas, foster collaboration, and create meaningful impact in tackling global challenges. Turing Fest 2025 May 7-8 | Edinburgh, Scotland Turing Fest is one of Europe’s top conferences for startup growth, product development, and scaling businesses. Bringing together founders, operators, and investors, the event features expert-led talks, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking, making it a must-attend for those looking to build and scale successful tech […]

At the heart of Lithuania's dynamic tech ecosystem are ten venture capital firms that fuel innovation by providing crucial funding to startups.

Now a general partner at pan-European VC firm OpenOcean, Finnish investor Tom Henriksson has been involved with venture investing and startups since the mid-nineties, with some notable successes.

Picsart co-founder Mikayel Vardanyan talked about his journey and lessons learned with the Selected podcast.

The Vilnius TechFusion Awards 2024 highlighted the startup that best contributed to Lithuania's economic growth and reputation last year.

In an interview with the Selected podcast during SIAL Paris 2024, as Carrefour's Innovation and VC Funds Director Hélène Labaume talked about her dual role and what it says of the retailer's approach to startups.

Speaking with us for the Selected podcast during Web Summit 2024, LVMH's Mathieu de Fayet shared insights on his journey.

These 20 finalists will pitch on stage during JEC World 2025 as part of the JEC Composites Startup Booster.

Richie Gray, Vice President and Global Head of SnackFutures Ventures at Mondelēz International, shared insights on driving innovation in snacking.

The idea that our diet affects our appearance is nothing new. For years, foods like carrots have been praised for improving skin tone, while chocolate has been blamed for breakouts. What’s new is the rise of beauty-focused food products. Gone are the days of relying only on natural remedies or consuming large quantities of specific foods. Now, processed, beauty-enhancing snacks are emerging, offering convenience, indulgence, and targeted benefits for skin, hair, and nails. Beauty food: tasting the glow Innova Market Insights has identified “Beauty Food” as a key trend for 2025. They predict that consumers will increasingly seek beauty claims in functional nutrition. From October 2019 to September 2024, product launches with skin-health claims grew by 15%, with Europe accounting for 39% of these launches. This surge in beauty food reflects a cultural shift: younger generations are more aware of how diet impacts their appearance. In response, brands are launching innovative processed foods and snacks that combine beauty benefits with indulgent experiences. Key nutrients powering the beauty food trend Key ingredients in this trend include: Proteins, magnesium, and fibers are often included in these products to deliver well-rounded health benefits. From supplements to snacks The beauty food category has evolved beyond traditional supplements, entering the world of snacks and indulgent treats. Some notable examples include: What’s next for beauty food? As food personalization gains momentum, the beauty food market is set to grow even further. Products could increasingly target specific concerns, such as anti-aging, skin hydration, or acne prevention. Beauty-enhancing claims could potentially expand into new food categories, such as pasta, granola, or even ready-to-eat meals, making beauty-focused nutrition more accessible and seamlessly integrated into daily life. While collagen is likely to remain a key ingredient in this space, we may see other innovative components emerge as this category continues to evolve. What was once a niche concept could now be reshaping both the food and beauty industries, paving the way for a future where beauty and nutrition are more closely linked. Make sure to subscribe to our weekly FoodTech newsletter and get the latest FoodTech insights delivered straight to your inbox!

About 75% of CES attendees say their business is primarily B2B, or both B2B and B2C.