TrophyΤροφή 2026: Five meet-ups for agri-food innovation
This year’s programme features five meet-ups in Corinth, Larissa, Athens, Thessaloniki and Florina, beginning on Friday, October 2. It gives teams and startups the opportunity to develop and test their ideas and connect them with the market and the wider innovation ecosystem.
TrophyΤροφή is aimed at teams of students, researchers, farmers and agri-food professionals, as well as startups with an idea or early-stage business proposal—or those at the pre-seed stage—that want to take the next step in their development.
The programme is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence.
The meet-ups are a central part of TrophyΤροφή. Through panel discussions, fireside chats and hands-on ideation exercises, participants meet experienced entrepreneurs, academics and industry specialists, gain practical knowledge and expand their networks.
They also work on real challenges facing the agri-food sector, develop new ideas and turn them into fully formed business proposals.
How it works
One team is selected from each meet-up. As part of its ongoing partnership with TrophyΤροφή, the Hellenic Volunteer Managers Center (KEMEL) provides that team with advisory support to help it develop its proposal further.
The teams selected at the meet-ups advance to the final stage of TrophyΤροφή and compete for the overall distinction at TrophyΤροφή – The Event, which will take place at the end of the year.
The overall winning team will receive a €1,200 prize, supported by the Citi Foundation through its BE Future Ready programme, to purchase products or services related to putting its business idea into practice.
Thanks to the support of Envolve Entrepreneurship, the winning team will also gain direct entry to the bootcamps of EnvolveXL, an accelerator programme for early-stage startups.
TrophyΤροφή 2026 meet-ups
The final event and the presentation of the award for the winning idea will take place in Thessaloniki in early December.
First stop: Corinth
The first TrophyΤροφή meet-up will take place on Friday, October 2, from 17:00 to 20:30, at the Corinthia Chamber of Commerce. Its theme is:
“Circular Customer Experience: How the Circular Economy Adds Value for Customers.”
Anyone with an idea or business proposal in the agri-food sector can join the TrophyΤροφή meet-ups and become part of an ecosystem that connects knowledge, collaboration and innovation with practical business development.
Information and meet-up registration are available on the programme page. Apply to participate here.
Supporters
The programme is supported by EIT Food’s Grow initiative. Through BE Future Ready, the Citi Foundation supports three meet-ups and the awards ceremony, while DS Smith supports two meet-ups.
KEMEL and Deloitte provide advisory support. The Corinthia Chamber of Commerce hosts the local meet-up, and Envolve Entrepreneurship supports the overall winning team.
More than 150 ideas supported
The programme was established in 2019 through a founding grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Since then, it has built a strong network of partnerships with universities, research institutions, businesses, investors and organisations across the innovation ecosystem.
To date, TrophyΤροφή has supported more than 150 startups and business ideas, providing access to mentoring, specialised advice and an extensive network of contacts in Greece and abroad.
The programme aims to give teams the tools and opportunities they need to test, develop and strengthen their business proposals while creating solutions to today’s challenges in the agri-food sector.
Venue and date check: The supplied text lists the Port of Corinth in the schedule but the Corinthia Chamber of Commerce in the “First stop” section. The linked programme page lists the Chamber as the Corinth venue and gives Tuesday, October 6 for Larissa, rather than “early November.” Confirm those details with the organisers before publishing or travelling.
