The programme

TrophyΤροφή is a dynamic programme that mobilises the agrifood innovation ecosystem, creating opportunities for new ideas to develop into promising business propositions. It is designed for teams and startups working in agritech, foodtech and agrologistics that are developing innovative products, services and technological solutions, even at the earliest stages.

New Agriculture New Generation has organised TrophyΤροφή since 2019, with the support of a founding grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Over the years, it has built a strong network of partnerships with universities, research institutions, businesses, investors and organisations within the innovation ecosystem.

To date, TrophyΤροφή has supported more than 150 startups and business ideas, providing access to mentoring, specialist advisory services and an extensive network of contacts in Greece and abroad. The aim is to help teams test, refine and strengthen their business propositions while developing solutions that address current challenges in the agrifood sector.

Who it is for

The programme is designed for teams of students, researchers, farmers and agrifood professionals, as well as startups with an idea or an early-stage business proposition, or those at the pre-seed stage, seeking to move to the next stage of development.

Programme duration and structure

The programme includes five Meet-ups across Greece, in Corinth, Larissa, Athens, Thessaloniki and Florina. Through panel discussions and fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs, academics and industry experts, participants gain practical knowledge, explore different experiences and approaches, and expand their networks.

Hands-on ideation exercises are a central part of each Meet-up. Participants work on challenges facing the agrifood sector, generate new ideas and develop them into business propositions.

One team is selected at each Meet-up to receive advisory support from the Hellenic Volunteer Managers Centre (KEMEL), through its longstanding collaboration with TrophyΤροφή, to further develop its proposition.

The teams selected at the Meet-ups advance to the final stage of TrophyΤροφή and compete for the overall award 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 the BE Future Ready programme, to purchase products or services related to implementing its business idea.

In addition, with the support of Envolve Entrepreneurship, the winning team will gain direct entry to the bootcamps of EnvolveXL, an accelerator programme for early-stage startups.

TrophyΤροφή 2026 Meet-up schedule

• Friday, 2 October | Port of Corinth | Corinth | Supported by DS Smith
  
  
• Wednesday, 7 October | Agricultural University of Athens | Athens | Supported by the Citi Foundation
  
  
• Wednesday, 14 October | Research Dissemination Centre (KEDEA), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Thessaloniki | Supported by DS Smith
  
  
• Thursday, 5 November | University of Western Macedonia | Florina | Supported by the Citi Foundation
  
  
• Early November | University of Thessaly | Larissa | Supported by the Citi Foundation

The final event and the award ceremony for the winning idea will take place in Thessaloniki in early December.

Supporters

The programme is supported by Grow, an initiative of the European Union’s EIT Food. The Citi Foundation, through the BE Future Ready programme, supports three Meet-ups and the award ceremony, while DS Smith supports two Meet-ups.

The Hellenic Volunteer Managers Centre (KEMEL) and Deloitte provide advisory support. The Chamber of Corinthia hosts the local Meet-up, while Envolve Entrepreneurship supports the overall winning team.

The programme is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence.

Benefits of participation

TrophyΤροφή offers more than an opportunity to present an idea: it provides a setting in which to test it, refine it and bring it closer to market. Participants engage in a hands-on process of ideation, experimentation and collaboration. They work on real-world challenges, generate new ideas, turn them into concrete solutions and receive direct feedback from people with experience in entrepreneurship and the agrifood sector.

Through the Meet-ups, teams have the opportunity to validate key assumptions, strengthen their value proposition and business model, present their proposition to industry executives and experts, and build meaningful connections within the ecosystem. Standout ideas gain access to targeted advisory support, while the winning teams from each Meet-up receive support from KEMEL to further strengthen their business propositions. In addition, Envolve Entrepreneurship supports the programme by awarding the overall winning team a place in the bootcamps of EnvolveXL, its accelerator programme for early-stage startups.