Generate, an innovation hub by Nexture that empowers next-generation ingredient development, has joined forces with URIKA Partners to select the three winning startups of the Generate Program 2025.
The announcement was made at the dedicated event “The Ingredient Revolution: Meet the Innovators” at FI Europe 2025. This was attended by the founders of the selected startups, who discussed how emerging ingredient technologies such as cellular agriculture, Power-to-X technologies, and upcycling processes are revolutionizing the future of food.
The three winners are:
- Green-On — A startup making edible oils and fats from CO2 using a resource-efficient patented technology. The process uses water, carbon dioxide, and electricity to produce fatty acids and triglycerides, bypassing traditional agricultural production. Green-On can replicate both animal and tropical fats, including palm oil, dairy fat, cocoa, and shea butter.
- Kokomodo — This startup produces real cacao through cellular agriculture, making the ingredient available year-round without land use, pesticides, or volatile supply chains. Kokomodo recently partnered with Coop Switzerland to explore the integration of cultivated cacao into confectionery.
- Yeap — A company upcycling spent yeast into healthy and allergy-friendly food proteins and supplements. The proteins are said to have outstanding emulsification properties and the ability to hold texture and flavor even in high concentrations. This makes them suitable as clean-label emulsifiers and protein enrichments in various foods.
Bold, science-driven solutions
The Open Call for Startups was first launched in December 2024. Selection criteria included the relevance of the innovation for applications within Nexture’s portfolio of solutions, as well as the possibility of scaling it using the expertise and market proximity of Nexture’s brands. These include CSM Ingredients, HIFOOD, Vitalfood by Italcanditi, Comprital, and Prodotti Rubicone.
Generate will now begin tailored 12 to 18-month partnership programs with the selected startups, providing access to cutting-edge facilities, technical expertise, and industrial scale-up applications.
“Green-On, Kokomodo, and YEAP perfectly embody the type of breakthrough ideas we strive to partner with and transform into future successes,” said Emanuele Pizzigalli, Chief Innovation Officer at Nexture. “Their solutions are bold, science-driven, and fully aligned with our open innovation pillars, addressing some of the most pressing needs of the ingredient landscape. With Generate, our goal is not just to identify high-potential innovations, but to actively nurture them, accelerating the path from idea to market impact. We look forward to advancing future-ready ingredient technologies together.”
