BENEFITS FOR SELECTED STARTUPS
- Two winners will share a 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 program.
- Startups will participate in workshops and receive resources & coaching to help them propose a proof of concept or pilot to LDC and quantify their solution.
- Startups will connect and collaborate with investors looking to positively 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 will benefit from publicity at the final judging event in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the MassChallenge Switzerland Awards Ceremony 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:
Climate Resilience
- Impact on Land Use: solutions that enhance resource efficiency, such as smart farming, optimized irrigation and water management, agronomic decision-support tools or remote/AI-enabled crop monitoring.
- Traceability: end-to-end supply chain visibility solutions, including digital traceability, satellite or remote sensing, and advanced product identification technologies.
- Upcycling: valorization of food, feed or ingredients benefiting from LDC side-streams into higher‑value-added products or materials.
- Biofuel Value Chain: innovations related to low carbon feedstocks, cultivation or collection of non food crops, feedstock preparation or pre treatment, and advanced biofuel production technologies.
- Financial Solutions for Farmers: inclusive financial tools such as payment solutions, risk management instruments, or insurance tailored to agricultural contexts.
- Logistics: solutions improving operational efficiency, including voyage planning, route optimization, or overall transport performance.
The Future of Manufacturing and Industry
- Cleaning Solutions: technologies that enable automated or remotely operated cleaning, including autonomous systems, CIP automation, confined space robotics, AMR-based cleaning, high-pressure solutions, corrosion-resistant equipment, and technologies suitable for ATEX or other hazardous environments.
- Handling Solutions for Heavy or Repetitive Tasks: collaborative and industrial robotics, palletizing/depalletizing systems, AGV/AMR platforms, end-of-arm tooling, exoskeletons and warehouse automation technologies.
- Solutions for Security, Safety, Health & Environment: robotic or sensor-based monitoring, SLAM-enabled navigation, thermal imaging, gas detection systems, LIDAR technologies, and predictive analytics that enhance workplace and process safety, and risk prevention.
- Grading and Quality control: automated sampling and inspection systems, inline or hyperspectral measurement technologies, machine vision quality control, and robotic or automated grading solutions.
- Stock Management Solutions and Technologies: tools for accurate quantification of stored materials, including volumetric assessment, LIDAR-enabled systems, drones, photogrammetry, RTK-based positioning and inventory monitoring solutions with high accuracy capabilities.
- Carbon Capture Methods: technologies applicable to thermal energy or combustion systems, including those integrated into coal-fired or co-fired boilers, natural gas systems and drying equipment.
Startups & scaleups should have the following characteristics:
- Series B to C+ funding stage: we encourage late-stage startups and scaleups to apply. What’s important is the characteristics above.
- Strategic fit with LDC business lines and activities: startups must demonstrate strong strategic fit with LDC activities, crops, supply chains, or assets.
- Viable business model: startups must be able to demonstrate a strong business model, and commercial traction. For example: data showing sales to consumers, manufacturers or farmers, or the size of their supply base (i.e. farmers), or their business model.
- Articulate clear business benefits for LDC: for example, impact on revenue, loss avoidance, yield/stability, margin creation or improved operations. Startups accepted will receive guidance and coaching on how to do this.
- Capability to demonstrate value creation via a PoC/pilot: startups must propose a concrete, feasible PoC aligned with LDC priority use cases, demonstrating sufficient technical readiness, scalability from PoC to industrial level, and compliance (or a clear pathway) with regulatory, certification and food safety requirements. For sustainability solutions, startups must also be able to credibly quantify impact, supported by access to MC’s impact calculator and expert guidance. Startups accepted will receive guidance and coaching on how to do this, including access to MC’s impact calculator to quantify their impact.
TIMELINE 2026
IN THE NEWS
Press Release 2026
The LDC Impact Prize applications are now open. Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and MassChallenge Switzerland continue their commitment to supporting startups and scaleups building innovative solutions for food and agriculture value chains.
Discover how this year’s edition aims to accelerate impact across global value chains.
Read the full press release here.
LDC Climate Resilience Prize Winner 2025: IBISA
IBISA, a global climate InsurTech, was awarded the CHF 100,000 of the LDC Climate Resilience Prize 2025, recognizing the potential of its satellite-based parametric insurance solution to insulate farmers, agricultural businesses, and wider supply chains from climate risks, contributing to more resilient and sustainable food and agriculture value chains. Discover More Here.
Meet the 4 Late-Stage Pre-Finalists 2025
Through the LDC Impact Prize and the participation of early and later-stage startups, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and MassChallenge Switzerland are working together to drive meaningful, scalable impact in agriculture and food value chains. Discover More Here.
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