ABOUT THE PRIZE
Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and MassChallenge Switzerland are pleased to introduce the third edition of the LDC Climate Resilience Prize - an unconditional and non-dilutive CHF 100,000 cash prize to support startups working to drive climate resilience in agriculture and food value chains.
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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 partner, 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 startup with the biggest climate impact potential on food and agriculture value chains and biggest scale opportunity with LDC.
The winner will be announced on stage at the MassChallenge Switzerland Awards on October 30th, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“We’re pleased to once again sponsor the LDC Climate Resilience Prize, established in 2023 with MassChallenge Switzerland to support visionary startups whose ideas, technologies and solutions have the highest potential for lasting positive climate impact in food and agricultural supply chains. We look forward to connecting and collaborating with more innovative and like-minded entrepreneurs who are helping to shape a more sustainable future for the benefit of current and future generations.”
– Michael Gelchie, Louis Dreyfus Company's Chief Executive Officer.
BENEFITS FOR SELECTED STARTUPS
- One winner will receive this no-strings-attached, non-dilutive cash prize of CHF 100,000, in addition to any cash prizes they might win through MassChallenge Switzerland’s accelerator.
- Startups participate in workshops and receive resources & coaching to help quantify their climate resilience solution.
- Startups connect and collaborate with investors looking to positively and sustainably impact food and agricultural value chains, including a direct connection to LDC decision-makers and, if relevant and desired, potential discussions about scaling their solution.
- Startups benefit from publicity at the final judging event in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the MassChallenge Switzerland Awards attended by over 400 people, and through various related communications.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Overall, we are looking for proven solutions or technologies in the areas of:
- Impact on land use - regenerative agriculture, smart farming, water reduction, pesticide and fertilizer reduction, crop health and yield increases, biodiversity protection.
- Traceability - end-to-end supply chain traceability, from farm to consumer.
- Upcycling - upgrading low value agri commodities, side-stream utilization.
- CO2 reduction - applications in agriculture value chains, including feed, processing, land and maritime transportation.
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Biofuel value chain – non-food crop, low carbon emission feedstocks; feedstock preparation and pre-treatment; biofuel production technologies.
We are looking for startups that:
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Have impactful products, technologies, processes, and solutions that can contribute to climate resilience in food and agriculture production, by decarbonizing value chains. Startups will be asked to quantify their solution’s impact in relation to CO2 removed/avoided over the next 10 years until 2035 using the MassChallenge Impact Calculator. For example: How many tons of CO2 will you avoid emitting, or sequester per ton of your product per annum? How many m3 of fresh water will you save per annum? How many tons of waste material will you prevent from being emitted each year? How many tons of natural resources will you recover or prevent from being wasted each year?
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Have a viable idea. Startups must be able to demonstrate traction among those participating in their solution, as well as how their idea is financially sustainable. For example: data showing sales to consumers, manufacturers or farmers, or the size of their supply base (ie farmers), or their business model.
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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.
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Are from Series B to 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.
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Are from any geography. Startups from around the world can apply. However, as physical accelerator events are in Switzerland, startups should ensure they are able to travel to Europe. The selection process will be carried out online.
HOW CAN YOU WIN THE PRIZE?
- You are a later-stage startup (> $2M Funding or annual sales) and want to compete for the prize, apply here and we will follow up with you in April 2025.
- Successful startups will be invited to participate in a physical event with MassChallenge Switzerland in early July, participating in workshops and receiving resources/coaching to help them quantify their climate resilience solution.
- Startups who have successfully quantified their impact using MassChallenge’s guidance will pitch to a jury at a semi-final online, and a final in Lausanne, to determine the winner.
- The winning startup will be announced on stage at the MassChallenge Switzerland Awards, in Lausanne, on October 30th.
