Eatable Adventures launches equity-free deeptech accelerator for agrifood startups in Bilbao

Eatable Adventures has opened applications for NOVO Agrifoodtech, a 12-week equity-free accelerator based in Bilbao that aims to bring deeptech innovations from sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, and defense into agriculture and food production. Supported by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and developed with Basque technology center AZTI, the program will select ten international startups with proof-of-concept-level technologies in areas including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, advanced materials, and quantum computing.

"Deep technologies are transforming every industrial sector, and food should be no exception. Many of the most promising solutions for agriculture and food were originally developed elsewhere, and turning them into real businesses means testing them in real market conditions. That's exactly what NOVO is built for."

—Mila Valcárcel, Managing Partner and co-founder, Eatable Adventures

• The program targets startups developing technologies originally built for non-food sectors—such as biopharma, automotive, logistics, and finance—that could address challenges in agriculture and food production.
• Deeptech now accounts for 32% of all agrifoodtech investment, up from 22% a decade ago, with seed-stage deeptech startups raising funding at a 78% premium over non-deeptech peers, according to AgFunder's 2026 report.
• Selected startups will receive technical validation from AZTI, opportunities for pilot projects with Basque agrifood companies, access to Eatable Adventures' investor network, and post-program support.
• Applications are open until September 2026, with further details available at novoagrifoodtech.com.