Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare select three sustainable food startups

The cohort was chosen from 83 applicants across 33 countries, with nearly half of the interest originating from the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s selection process prioritized commercial maturity over early-stage concepts, reflecting a shift toward supply chain integration. The selected ventures include Poland’s EcoBean, which processes industrial coffee grounds; India’s Loopworm, a specialist in silkworm-derived proteins; and Taiwan’s Space Ark Biomedical, which utilizes enzyme technology to upcycle grain waste.

These firms will receive $15,000 in prize money alongside access to R&D facilities and professional mentorship from corporate partners including AAK, Bühler, Givaudan, and Ingredion. The program is set to conclude at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore this October, where the participants will present their scalable solutions to a global panel of industry leaders and investors.