Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and MassChallenge Switzerland are pleased to introduce the LDC Climate Resilience Prize of CHF 100,000 to support startups working to drive climate resilience in agriculture and food value chains.
A leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods, LDC’s vision is to work toward a safe and sustainable future by contributing to the global effort to provide sustenance for a growing population. As a strategic investor, LDC is looking to connect with and invest in companies with whom it can add value as a cornerstone supplier, customer, or partner. Its corporate venture capital program, Louis Dreyfus Company Ventures, provides equity capital to early-stage companies developing innovative and sustainable products, technologies, processes, and solutions with the potential to transform food and agricultural production, and make LDC's operations more profitable, sustainable, or efficient.
MassChallenge Switzerland is facilitating meaningful connections between LDC and selected startups, with the goal of finding breakthrough solutions to critical challenges in food and agricultural supply chains, adding real value for customers and markets while protecting the environment and safeguarding natural resources.
In line with these goals, the LDC Climate Resilience Prize will be awarded to the food and/or agriculture startup with the biggest climate impact potential.
The winner will be announced on stage at the MassChallenge Switzerland Awards on October 26th.
“Through this partnership with MassChallenge Switzerland, LDC is excited to connect and collaborate with innovative and like-minded startups looking to tackle climate resilience challenges in supply chains from farm to fork, aiming ultimately to help shape a more sustainable future of food and agriculture, while creating fair and sustainable value for the benefit of current and future generations.” – Michael Gelchie, Chief Executive Officer, Louis Dreyfus Company.
We are looking for startups, with proven solutions or technologies in the areas of:
We are looking for startups that:
Have impactful products, technologies, processes, and solutions that can contribute to climate resilience in food and ag-tech, by decarbonizing the food value chain. Startups will be asked to quantify their solution’s impact in relation to CO2e removed/avoided over the next 10 years until 2034. For example: How many tons of CO2e will you avoid emitting, or sequester per ton of your product per annum, how many cubic meters of fresh water will you save per annum, how many tons of waste material will you prevent from being emitted each year, or how many tons of natural resources will you recover or prevent from being wasted each year.
Have a viable idea. Startups must be able to demonstrate traction amongst those participating in their solution, as well as how their idea is financially sustainable. For example: data showing sales to consumers or manufacturers or farmers, or the size of their supply base (ie farmers); their business model.
Have a scalable idea. Startups must be able to show how their solution scales and that their pricing is market competitive. Scaling could involve LDC, but this is optional. For example: reach millions of farmers, be sold to millions of consumers, be applied in manufacturing plants.
Are from Pre-seed to Series C+. We encourage both early and late stage startups to apply. What’s important is the impact, viability and scalability of your idea and how it contributes to climate resilience in Food and Ag-tech.
Are from any geography. However, as physical accelerator events are in Switzerland, so startups should ensure they are able to travel to Europe. The selection process will be carried out online.
Any questions?