Green Tech B’ZEOS is the first startup supported by the FIT Food Tech. The new program is part of the Vaud foundation’s just launched Food & Hospitality Vertical, alongside the FIT Hospitality & Food by EHL. The venture will be working with the Institute of Packaging Sciences of Nestlé Research and was granted a CHF 100’000 loan.
With 275 million tons of plastic waste generated globally each year, and half of them coming from packaging, B’ZEOS’ sustainable packaging alternative has strong potential. Originally from Norway and Spain, the startup established a Swiss subsidiary in Lausanne in June. It develops a novel solution based on seaweed extract that is flexible and can be used in many current packaging processes. The material comes from sustainable sources – kelps, a type of brown seaweed that can provide a sustainable feedstock for biopolymers through both cultivation and harvesting. The manufacturing process of the material does not use harsh chemicals and does not rely on land-based crops. Furthermore, B’ZEOS’ final product is fully bio-based, marine biodegradable and 100% home compostable.
The FIT Food Tech aims at initiating potential investments and bringing together food-industry and start-ups. As part of the program, the FIT will allocate CHF 100’000 loans to start-ups in Western Switzerland that have an innovative, sustainable and scalable business idea in the field of food and nutrition. The program launched in partnership with Nestlé is open to other companies in the sector that might want to join. The corporates participating in the new FIT Food Tech will have the option to invest in the start-ups. The new program targets start-ups active in areas such as plant-based food & beverages, personalized nutrition, affordable and healthy nutrition and sustainable packaging.
This week Nestlé officially inaugurated its largest R+D Accelerator at its fundamental research center in Vers-chez-les-Blanc, close to Lausanne. The accelerator located in the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley provides a unique platform for startups, students and Nestlé intrapreneurs to bring highly differentiated innovations to the market fast through its six-month immersive ‘idea to shop’ program. Up to 10 teams can be hosted simultaneously.
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The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
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