IDEA COMPETITION
Green Leap Challenge 2025
Empowering Early Agrifood Founders with Moonshot Ideas
Do you have an idea that could make a real difference for our planet while also creating a sustainable business? In partnership with Potter Clarkson, Rockstart Agrifood and BioInnovation Institute, we present The Green Leap Challenge - your chance to turn that idea from vision into reality and to win 50,000 DKK to help bring your idea to life.
At Food & Bio Cluster Denmark, we believe that entrepreneurs are important innovators and sustainable changemakers to our agrifood system. That is why we launch the Green Leap Challenge 2025 - a competition that gives entrepreneurs and researchers a platform to test and pitch their business ideas to experts and potential collaborators.
Beyond invaluable feedback, the most promising ideas also have the chance to win a prize of 50,000 DKK, which can be used directly to help bring the project to life - not to mention the exposure it will bring to the project!
Think of it as your opportunity to take the first big step: from laboratory concept or sketch to a solution that could change the way we produce and use resources.
This year, we welcome applications within these three themes:
- Biotechnology-based Food Solutions
- Responsible & Circular AgriFood Value Chains
- Sustainable Land & Ocean Management and Use
And you will not be alone - you will become part of a community of innovative entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry professionals committed to green transition and the bio-based economy.
Application details and key dates
Access everything you need to know about the Challenge – application criteria, how to submit, important deadlines, and the highlight of the competition: the award event.
The Prize
Three prizes of DKK 50,000 each will be awarded.
The prizes are personal and will be paid regardless of the subsequent commercialisation of the business idea. The prize money is subject to taxation.
The three winners will also be offered:
- Sparring and guidance on their business plan
- Access to contacts through our network
- Valuable input to support securing further funding from other sources
Who Can Apply?
Anyone with a novel business idea in the bio-based economy (agriculture, food, bioresources, bioenergy and environmental technology) may apply, provided no commercial sales have been made at the time of submission. Crowdfunding and similar activities are not considered sales. The idea should have a certain level of expertise.
You do not need a registered company to apply, and you are welcome to contact Claus Gunge Ellegaard Mortensen if unsure about eligibility.
Submission Date
Deadline: 31 October 2025 at 11:59 PM
Food & Bio Cluster Denmark ensures that all submitted projects are handled confidentially and stored securely. Participants will be notified once their project has been successfully received and registered.
How to Apply
To be eligible to win the competition, you must download the application form below, fill it out and submit it to us as a PDF by 31 October 2025.
The total description must not exceed five A4 pages. Appendices may be included.
The idea must be formulated as a business model (a visualisation of how the applicant will make money), and no sales should yet have been registered for the business concept.
Evaluation Criteria
All received proposals will be assessed based on the following:
TOPICALITY
Is your idea relevant to the bio-based economy, and does it address a current industry challenge?
TECHNOLOGICAL AND KNOWLEDGE BASED NEWS VALUE
Does the project introduce new knowledge or technology that can create added value?
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL
Is there a viable market, and can the idea be positioned among competitors?
FEASIBILITY
Can the idea be implemented technically and economically within a reasonable timeframe?
Important Dates
19 September:
Green Leap Challenge 2025 is live!
31 October:
Deadline for Green Leap Challenge applications
24 November:
The nine finalists will be informed
1 December:
Pitch feedback workshop (online)
10 December:
Green Leap Challenge Pitch & Awards Event in Axelborgsalen in Copenhagen
Celebrating the winning ideas
The winners of the Green Leap Challenge 2025 will be announced at the Awards Event on 10 December 2025 in Axelborg Salen, Copenhagen.
Finalists will present their ideas live on stage, and the audience will play an active role by selecting one winner in each category after the pitches.
The event will celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the ambition to shape a greener future!
250M+ EUR raised by participants since 2005
- 4Life Solutions
- Agrain
- Agrointelli
- Aminic
- Beyond Leather Materials
- Cellugy
- Chromologics
- Consibio
- Decameal
- Enorm Biofactory
- Farrowtech
- Faunaphotonics
- Faunasmart Technologies
- Fieldsense/Cordulus
- FÆRM
- HPNow
- Kaffe Bueno
- LactoLink
- LED Lifestock
- Lyras
- Nordetect
- Plantjammer
- Porcovision
- SBT Instrument
- Spectro Inlets
- SymbioMatch
- Tracezilla
- True Gum
- Unibio
- Upfood
- Visibuilt
- Wholi food
- BerryFresh
- Yngvik
- NanoGuard
- ...2025??
- Winning the prize was a great encouragement. It helped us advance our green solution for PFAS destruction and reinforced our commitment to delivering safer water and more sustainable agriculture.
Submit your application here
Deadline for submission: 31 October 2025 at 11:59 PM
Want to know more?
If you have any questions about the Green Leap Challenge 2025, please contact:
Claus Gunge Ellegaard Mortensen
In partnership with
