RootCamp Program Highlights

WE ENABLE YOU TO IMPLEMENT KICK-ASS DISRUPTION IN THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

Top Level Know-How

The learning process for every company never ends. We provide on-site and virtual workshops and on-demand e-learning resources. Moreover, we have an extensive network of experienced startup coaches and industry experts.

RootCamp’s program proposes close interaction with our strategic partners. A dedicated intrapreneurial team of our partner K+S waits to share their expertise.

Being backed by one of the best-ranked accelerators, the SpinLab, and a worldwide player in the fertilizer and salt field, K+S, we provide the best support for scaling solutions within the AgriFood-Tech sector.

Even if you are a later stage startup or established company, tell us about your solution – we will help you to implement it within the European markets.

THE Support Network you need

24/7 Office Access

Our program grants you 24/7/365 access to our lofty innovation hub in the heart of Hannover. Hannover is the Capital of the State Lower Saxony – the biggest AgriFood center in Germany. Moreover K+S offers lab space in Wunstorf at the Innopark Sigmundshall.

We offer an intense program that is customizable according to your needs.

For early-stage startups, we have an acceleration program of 3 months and a subsequent incubation program up to 12 months.

For later-stage startups, we are accepting rolling applications so there is no deadline and you can apply all year long.

Customizable program and flexible duration time

100% Free Program + acceleration grant up to 50k

We want you to focus on your solution. For every phase of our program we will grant financial support, so you focus just on disruption. No matter if it runs 3 or 12 months.

No equity, no shares, no fees. The acceleration grant can reach up to 50k euro.

Our program focuses on scaling your idea at it's full potential and helps you build an international network with top VCs, business angels, and top-class corporate partners

What kind of startups are we looking for?

Click on any of the tiles below to reveal more information

TEAM

We expect all applying startups to have a complete founding team of 2-4 founders, with all crucial skill sets and necessary experience, already in place.

IDEA

Your startup's idea and concept should be truly outstanding, unique, and most importantly, scalable. We're looking for companies and teams that have the potential to disrupt the AgriFood Tech segment.

MOTIVATION

We're not looking for startups who want things to come to them easy. We're going to invest 100% into you, so we expect you to have the passion, energy, willingness, and drive to make your startup come to life.

PHASE

We accept startups from all stages. Pre-seed and seed startups will first join the acceleration phase of 3 months and enlarge their networks. Later stage startups will directly jump into the integration project up to 12 months to implement solutions within the corporate environment.

TECHNOLOGY

The RootCamp has a focus on AgriFood-Tech startups providing solutions on the so-called upstream area of the value chain. We focus on solutions that will leverage the industry rather than customer focused variants of existing products. Check our field of interests below.

GEOGRAPHY

We accept startups from all around the world. Teams must have business level fluency in English.

We're looking for the world's best solutions from the AgriFood-value chain from all stages and locations

Program breakdown

For early-stage startups:

The program entails a 3-months acceleration phase including access to the ecosystem, all learning resources, and funding to make you investor-ready.

After that, you will have the possibility to get additional 9 months to further define, develop and pilot your product/technology in cooperation with our corporate partners.

For later-stage startups:

You will get a 3 to 12 months period to get real market validation. The goal is to have your solution implemented within the corporate real-world environment through pilot projects and accelerate your growth. You profit either from a new variant of your product/technology or from new customers to enter the European market.

Pilot outcomes include:

product co-development
commercial partnership
licensing agreements
extension of customers base
additional investments

CLICK ON ONE OF THE TWO TILES BELOW TO REVEAL MORE INFORMATION

EARLY STAGE STARTUP

PHASE 1: ACCELERATION PHASE
3 Months

Accelerating towards investor readiness

PHASE 2: INTEGRATION PROJECT
up to 9 Months

Implement the innovation as a marketable solution

LATER STAGE STARTUP

INTEGRATION PROJECT
3-12 Months

Pilot your solution within our partners' corporate environment

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OUR FLEXIBLE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT YOU IN WHATEVER YOU NEED. ALSO, WE CONTINUE TO HELP FOUNDERS IN THEIR JOURNEY ALSO AFTER THE PROGRAM THANKS TO OUR NETWORK OF ALUMNI AND MENTORS.

Fields of Interest

RootCamp is interested in finding solutions for the so-called upstream area of the Agri-Food Tech value chain.

We are specifically interested in the following 9 verticals but feel free to apply if your startup operates in a related field.

The following taxonomy is based on AgFounder.

AG-BIOTECHNOLOGY

It includes inputs for crops (including seed, fertilizer, pesticides), genetics, microbiome, breeding, input for animals and animal health.

AGRIBUSINESS-MARKETPLACES

It includes commodities trading platforms, online input procurement, and equipment leasing platforms.

BIOENERGY & BIOMATERIALS

It includes non-food extraction and processing, feedstock technology, agriculture-related pharmaceuticals (like cannabis) and industrial biotechnology.

FARM-MANAGEMENT-SOFTWARE, SENSING & IoT

It includes agricultural data capturing devices, decision support software solutions, and big data analytics.

FARM-ROBOTICS, MECHANIZATION & EQUIPMENT

It includes on-farm machinery, sensors, automation, drone manufacturers, grow equipment, and smart irrigation.

INNOVATIVE FOOD

It includes cultured meat, novel ingredients, and plant-based proteins.

SUPPLY CHAIN & PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

It includes food safety tech, food traceability tech, logistics & transport, food processing tech, waste recycles tech, packaging solutions, and sustainability tech.