Updated: Apply for DIG EAT ALL’s 2nd Food Tech Startup Accelerator Class

Editor’s Note: On April 30, DIG EAT ALL provided the following updates: 

1. An earlier version of this article stated that DIG EAT ALL would provide VC funding for select startups. The program will offer long term collaboration opportunities for select startups rather than VC funding. 2. At least two startups from the first cohort received long term collaboration proposals, rather than funding offers (as previously stated), through the program’s culminating demo day. 

DIG EAT ALL, the world’s first food tech startup accelerator, is accepting applications for its second class.

A collaboration between Altazor Ventures, Mugaritz, Mapamundi and the Basque Culinary Center, DIG EAT ALL aims to “help startups become truly global leaders while innovating in any part of the value chain,” reads its website.

Hosted in the Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastian, Spain, the 5 week program welcomes food tech, ag tech and health tech companies from around the world to apply. Up to 10 companies will be selected to participate in the program, which includes mentoring from top chefs, corporate food executives and food investors and entrepreneurs, R&D and technical support, access to the Basque Culinary Center’s kitchens, labs and food tech experts, networking events, co-working space and an investor demo day. (see Editor’s Note). Similar to Expo Milano’s accelerator program Feeding the Accelerator, DIG EAT ALL does not take equity in the startups it accelerates.

“We believe that one of the key assets of our program is our extensive network of exceptional professionals who are engaged with the program and with our entrepreneurs,”executive director Leire Mancisidor tells me. DIG EAT ALL’S network includes mentors and lecturers from 30+ countries including: Andoni Aduriz – Chef at Mugaritz and co-founder DIG EAT ALL, José López – Executive Vice President Operations Globe at Nestlé, Roland Sieker – VP Global Strategy and Business Development Foods at Unilever, Joxe Mari Aizega – General Manager Basque Culinary Center, Ali Partovi – Angel investor, startup advisor and entrepreneur, Javier Santiso – Founder DIG EAT ALL and Start up Spain, Chris Muscarella – Co-founder Kitchensurfing and Iker Marcaide – Founder PeerTransfer. Check out the full list here.

“We understand that being an entrepreneur is a 24/7 job and we want to make sure that our entrepreneurs don’t lose sight of their businesses,” Leire says. That’s why the program is not jam-packed with activities all day long. Instead, each day features a morning activity, like a lecture or a field trip, and then startups are free to work on their businesses for the remainder of the day. They can use the time to arrange one-on-one mentorship sessions, utilize the Culinary Center’s kitchen and labs, etc.

The program’s first class included Ambronite, Anyting But Salads, Bitbrain Technologies, Blue Pacific, Chefxchange, Feastly, Natural Machines, Pledge Fitness, Splitngo, Sugardrop and Yo Compro Sano. A least two startups received long term collaboration proposals through the program’s culminating investor demo day, but funding details have not been disclosed yet, Leire tells us (see Editor’s Note). Based on feedback from the first class, DIG EAT ALL will be offering more tailored mentorship and will facilitate longer term collaboration opportunities with its second class startups, she says.

You can learn more about the program and apply here. Applications are due by May 15. Also, make sure to also check out the video below to learn more about the first class!