PC
International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court (UAE) & Tamkeen

FoodTech Challenge 3.0

Pays early-stage foodtech startups a share of $2 million to scale in the UAE and beyond.

Tamkeen and the UAE's International Affairs Office run FoodTech Challenge 3.0 with a panel of agri-food-tech and commercial experts who score submissions to pick the shortlist, and a separate panel of finale judges who review the top ten finalists' pitches and make all award decisions; those decisions are final and not open to dispute. Applicants are judged against six criteria: how deployable the

FoodTech Challenge backs early-stage, tech-driven agri-food start-ups working on solutions tied to the food-water-energy nexus, for hot, arid and increasingly difficult environments like the UAE. Every eligible start-up must address at least one of two named focus areas: Food Loss & Waste, or Food Production. It's a global competition with an explicit path for winning solutions to scale first in the UAE, then into markets across the Global South.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Prize
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.$2M

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