Agrifoodtech accelerator StartLife celebrates its 15th birthday
From humble beginnings to a European powerhouse in agrifood innovation, Wageningen's StartLife celebrates its impact with new partnerships.
Published on October 14, 2025
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The hall was buzzing with entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and policy makers, all gathered in Ede to celebrate 15 years of StartLife, the Netherlands’ leading agrifoodtech accelerator. What began in 2010 as an initiative to spark entrepreneurship at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has since become a cornerstone of the European food and agri-tech ecosystem.
StartLife CEO Dr. Nikki Harrison, who joined the organization just months ago, opened the anniversary program by reflecting on its reputation abroad: “In the UK, working in horticulture and agri-tech, we looked to Wageningen with great respect. StartLife and Foodvalley have long been inspirational models. To now be part of this community feels incredibly special.”
“So much to celebrate”
One of the first congratulatory messages came by video from Prince Constantijn of Orange, a long-time supporter of the Dutch startup scene. “Congratulations, StartLife and the StartLife community, on 15 years of success,” he said. “With 450 companies supported, 3,500 jobs created, and €750 million in investment raised, you’ve truly become a cornerstone of the food and ag ecosystem in the Netherlands and Europe.”
Startlife's director of marketing, Bram van Beek, could immediately correct that amount: "With the recent developments, we've already created more than 825,000 euros for our startups."
Constantijn recalled co-founding the F&A Next conference a decade ago together with StartLife. “Still a proud moment in the annual calendar for food and agri activities,” he said, before looking to the future: “The Netherlands as a powerhouse for food and agri should have institutions like StartLife generating the next Unilevers. There’s so much ahead, but today, there’s so much to celebrate.”
From Wageningen campus to Europe
To explore how StartLife reached this point, Harrison invited two board members to the stage: Sebastiaan Berendse, Director of Value Creation & Impact at WUR and chair of the StartLife board, and Marjolein Brasz, CEO of Foodvalley.
Berendse traced the early days: “Fifteen years ago, Wageningen University wanted to build a thriving network around entrepreneurship. We had research and ideas, but few viable startups. With StartLife, we created the strong entity that was needed to translate science into business. And we could only do that jointly.”
Brasz agreed, highlighting the collaborative spirit that has shaped the ecosystem: “It’s a thriving network built on trust and proximity: WUR, StartLife, Foodvalley, OostNL, the province. Together we’ve built something that is national, European, and even global in reach. For StartLife to evolve into a leading agri-tech accelerator in just 15 years is remarkable.”
Lessons from the journey
Both speakers emphasized adaptability as a key to success. Initially focused on spinning out companies from WUR research, StartLife soon widened its scope. “That proved difficult,” Berendse admitted. “So we set out as a national accelerator, and later European. Since 2018, startups from all over Europe have joined our programs to be coached, mentored, and connected here.”
Brasz added that additional public support was pivotal: “In 2019, new funding from the province of Gelderland allowed us to strengthen the cluster, set joint KPIs, and define clearer roles. Foodvalley and StartLife learned to complement each other, supporting both founders and the wider community.”
The collaboration has yielded practical initiatives: Fastlane, to help fast-growing scale-ups succeed; Heroes, a peer-learning network of successful alumni like Revyve and Rival Foods; and lobbying efforts to secure better financing instruments for agrifood ventures.
A global community on campus
The Wageningen campus itself has mirrored this growth. “We now have more than 230 organizations on-site, from startups to corporates,” said Berendse. “StartLife plays a key role in bridging those worlds, helping large companies find innovation while giving entrepreneurs the connections to scale.”
For Harrison, this underlines the future direction: “We will deepen our links in the Netherlands, strengthen partnerships with Foodvalley, OostNL and the province, and increasingly engage globally, connecting this ecosystem with others across the agrifood space.”
Announcements for the future
True to the celebratory spirit, StartLife used the occasion to unveil new milestones. Three new partners are joining: Suntory, the Japanese beverage multinational; Evonik, a leader in animal nutrition; and Invest International, an impact investor focused on sustainable growth.
StartLife also announced a strategic partnership with EIT Food, Europe’s largest food innovation community, giving startups in its flagship program access to up to €2 million in investment funding.
Finally, Harrison revealed the launch of the Hortiscience Innovation Centre Venture Studio, the first venture studio dedicated to greenhouse horticulture. “This is where entrepreneurs and scientists will build startups from scratch to make the greenhouse sector more future-proof,” she said.
Startlife CEO Dr. Nikki Harrison, Sebastiaan Berendse, Director Value Creation & Impact at WUR, and Marjolein Brasz, CEO of Foodvalley, after receiving the first Startlife 15 magazine on stage.
Looking ahead
In closing her contribution, Brasz summed up the day’s spirit: “Every time we’ve seen a gap, we’ve built something new together. That culture of trust, adaptability, and collaboration is what makes this ecosystem thrive.”
With its track record and new momentum, StartLife seems ready for the next chapter. Or, as Prince Constantijn put it: “I wish you all the best for the next 15 years. Congratulations!”