With a great success in participation and high-level content offered by various professionals from the agrifood sector, the STARTUP DAY 2025 organized on May 28, 2025, by AgrotecUV and BIOVEGEN, supported by entities like CONTROLTECNICA BIO S.L. and CULTEK – DD BioLab, gathered over 170 professionals from more than 110 organizations in the agrifood sector.
The meeting presented the most innovative initiatives in agrifood biotechnology, connecting startups, research centers, investors, and leading companies in the AgrotecUV community to promote sustainable and technological solutions.
During the day, eight startups selected in the 3rd AgrotecUV Call were presented, showcasing disruptive technologies in areas such as biofertilizers, biocontrol, edible coatings, plant vaccines, or metabolites in plants. Success stories from AgrotecUV startups were also shared, and there was a discussion about innovation, funding, and collaboration among stakeholders in the ecosystem during the Round Table “AgrotecUV Community: Innovation and Collaboration”.
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As a conclusion, concrete investment and R&D support opportunities were offered by entities like CDTI and SWANLAAB. In addition, the event included more than 210 bilateral meetings, demonstrating the dynamism and potential of the agribiotechnology sector in Spain.
This was STARTUP DAY 2025
PROGRAM AND PRESENTATIONS
9:30 h. Institutional opening
- Rosa María Donat. Vice-Rector for Innovation and Transfer at the Universitat de València
- Pedro Carrasco. Director of AgrotecUV and Director of the UV Scientific Park
- José Pellicer. President BIOVEGEN
9:50 h. AgrotecUV: incubating the future of the sector
- Eva Bataller. Business Development Manager of AgrotecUV and innovation agent of IVACE+i
10:00 h. X-ray of the Spanish agrobioengineering sector
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. Manager BIOVEGEN
10:10 h. Startup Pitches of AgrotecUV: 3rd Call. Moderated by: Eva Bataller. Business Development Manager of AgrotecUV and innovation agent of IVACE+i
- Agrotan Natura: production of biofertilizers and products for quality, profitable, and sustainable agriculture. Miguel Ángel González. Co-founder and CEO of Agrotan Natura
- Ajax DNA: production of customized microorganisms for the scalable production of new ingredients and bioactive food compounds. Alejandro Atienza. Co-founder and CEO of Ajax Biosciences
- Bio2Coat: production of 100% natural edible coating films that preserve, protect, and extend the commercial shelf life of fresh fruit. Farayde Matta. Co-founder and CRO of Bio2Coat
- Agraris BioTech: development of sustainable encapsulations with controlled release, reducing chemicals and efficiently and ecologically protecting crops. Andrea Bernardos. Scientific advisor Agraris BioTech
- Guennetikos Gen: biotechnology company dedicated to the production of plant secondary metabolites. Miguel María López. Founder and CEO of Guennetikos Gen
- Karat Foods: development of innovative and sustainable products based on carob, enhancing local agriculture, biodiversity, and healthy consumption. Luis Borja García. Founder of Karat Foods.
- Modoru biotech: development of plant vaccines for the control of pathogens and nano-encapsulation of active ingredients for agricultural use. José María Delgado. Founder of Modoru biotech.
- Veganic nature: development of biosolutions for the sustainable and conscious exploitation of crops, allowing for healthy and profitable harvests. Carlos Ledó. Founder of Veganic Nature and CEO.
11:00 h. Success cases AgrotecUV startups. Moderated by: Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. Manager BIOVEGEN
- First pilot trial of phages in Spain for the treatment of Xylella fastidiosa
- Pilar Domingo. Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Evolving Therapeutics
- Diego Olmo. Official Plant Health Laboratory of the Balearic Islands (LOSVIB)
- Incubation program as a driver of agrobiotechnological startups
- Federico Grau. CEO and founder of Madeinplant
11:30 a.m. Coffee break
12:15 p.m. Round table. AgrotecUV Community: innovation and collaboration. Moderated by: Pedro Carrasco. Director of AgrotecUV and Director of the Scientific Park of UV
- Ángel del Pino. Production and Innovation Department of Anecoop
- Joaquín del Río. Director of quality and R&D+i at Vicky Foods
- Juancho Escobar. Founder & CEO of Q’Omer
- Pepe Castro. Innovation agent for CV. Project director at Uniò Llauradora and Ramadera
12:45 p.m. Research by the University of Valencia in the agri-food sector. Moderated by: Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. Manager of BIOVEGEN
- Bionutest-UV: design and evaluation of healthy and sustainable foods. Amparo Gamero. Associate professor at the University of Valencia in the area of food technology
- CBP-UV: biotechnological pest control for more sustainable crop protection. Salvador Herrero. Professor at the University of Valencia in the Department of Genetics at the Biotecmed Institute
- UCG-UV: remote sensing as a tool for sustainable management and the transformation of agriculture. Belén Franch. Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Physics and Thermodynamics at the University of Valencia and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland
13:15 h. Trends, disruptive technologies, and strategic investment in the agri-food sector
- Xana Belastegui. General Partner of the Agri-Food Tech Fund, SWANLAAB VENTURE FACTORY
13:30 h. CDTI support for technology-based entrepreneurship
- Carlos Franco. Technical Advisor at CDTI. Expert in evaluation of national and international R&D&i projects in the agri-food sector
1:45 PM. Closing
- Jerónimo Mora. Regional Secretary of Innovation. Department of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism