BioBoosters by Jamk accelerator supports companies in the bioeconomy and agritech. It provides a unique environment for testing and validating the new products and services in a real user environment, increasing the companies’ customer and end user understanding, as well as their readiness for external financing.
“The accelerator focuses on creating innovative, digital solutions to tackle climate change and strengthen business networks. It fosters business growth through sustainable innovation and increases industry knowledge,” explains chief specialist Annimari Lehtomäki from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
Building bridges is the key to success
Ten startup companies were selected for the BioBoosters accelerator programme 2024 from a high-level pool of applicants. The duration of the accelerator programme is four months, the language is English, and participation is possible both virtually and on-site. Participation is free-of-charge and equity-free for the startup companies.
“During autumn 2024, a series of workshops and mentoring sessions have been organised with the startup companies. Feedback has been collected after each encounter, and it has been mostly very good”, says Lehtomäki. Lehtomäki finds important that concrete steps are taken during the autumn season:
“We want to see concrete cooperation between the participating startups and corporate partners, as well as cooperation between the participating startups and research and education organisations. It is also important that the startups have access to networking with investors active in the sector and that investment negotiations are initiated”.
Location data can help solve sustainability problems
BioBoosters offers the attendees not only a tailored growth plan, but also access to valuable industrial partnerships, investor contacts and unique testbed environments. The programme offers coaching and mentoring by top mentors to crystallize the business model, increase customer/end user understanding and readiness for external financing.
“An important part of the programme is the possibility for validation of products and services in the virtual and physical testbed environment of the Bioeconomy Campus, as well as on partner farms”, Lehtomäki explains.
From an innovative use of location data and technology perspective, interesting companies in the accelerator programme include for example PerPlant, which uses software and tractor-mounted AI sensors to improve plant health, and Lensor, which uses satellite data and AI to reduce and optimise nitrogen use in agriculture.
“Both companies are great examples how location data and technology can solve sustainability challenges in agriculture, and we are eager to see if we are able boost their journey during 4-month programme”, Lehtomäki says.
The next call will open in early 2025.
“We are happy to invite new bioeconomy and agritech startups and early-stage growth companies to join us in cooperation”, Lehtomäki encourages.
Read more: bioboosters.fi/en
BioBoosters Business Accelerator is part of the Finnish Future Farm project, co-funded by European Union via the Regional Council of Central Finland. Project partners are Valtra, AGCO Power, Neste, City of Saarijärvi, as well as Innovestor.
BioBoosters is the event partner on Location Innovation Hub’s Slush side event “Supercharging Green Business: AI and Location Intelligence in the Bioeconomy”. View the programme and register for the webinar by 17th of November. Also if you are in Helsinki during the Slush week, welcome to register for the BioBooster’s Slush side-event “Harvest or Die: The AgriTech Revolution” onsite.
