Skip to main content
Opportunities

MAD Food Innovation Award 2025

Enquire nowWebsite link

Opportunity for

  • Australian companies with exceptional innovation in the food sector.

Opportunity description

Industry challenge

Global food security is an ever-increasing priority with rising population growth, climate change, and resource limitations. There is an urgent need for innovative solutions to increase sustainable food production and distribution, particularly in regions with high demand such as Asia.

To continue driving Australian food exports and technology, the development and commercialisation of advanced products that meet both domestic and international needs is paramount. The food sector must continuously innovate to enhance Australia’s role in addressing these regional and global food security challenges.

Current opportunity

Now in its second year, the MAD Food Innovation Award is looking for an outstanding Australian company that is bringing exceptional innovation to the food sector.

This competitive award is designed to:

  • Support entrepreneurs & innovators addressing the global problem of food security
  • Support the development or commercialisation of a product that can drive Australian food exports and/or food technology, particularly to the Asian region

It will recognise:

  • Innovation through product development, enhancement or commercialisation in the food sector within Australia
  • Businesses that are actively enhancing Australia’s regional and global role in solving food security

The first-place winner will receive

  • $50,000 grant (sponsored by ACFEA) to assist with a specific project that enhances, improves or commercialises your product/s
  • An in-depth review and analysis of your business by MAD using the Venture Compass™ assessment process to support your capital strategy and funding readiness
  • 6 monthly mentoring calls with the Managing Partners of the MAD Hyperscalers Fund 1 to help you prepare for investors
  • The potential for MAD to invest up to $10m from the MAD Hyperscalers Fund 1 (subject to meeting fund requirements and mandate)

Criteria

  • Is your business in the food sector in Australia?
  • Are you an early-stage, high-growth business?
  • Is your business designed for scale, operating or exporting globally?
  • Are you preparing to expand nationally and internationally?
  • Do you already have revenue and are preparing your business for growth and scale?
  • Do you intend to expand into Asian markets?
  • Do you require funding for an innovative project that enhances Australia’s ability to produce food efficiently and sustainably for domestic and regional export?

Opportunity background

Last year’s winner Agscent, used the award to gain traction in Asian markets.

  • ‘Winning this award funded a demonstration and evaluation trial of our Agscent Air: GHG 2100 methane sensor in Hokkaido, Japan supported by Sumitomo. This has opened doors for our device to be used in methane measurement and abatement validation trials for feed supplements in Japan and elsewhere. The mentoring support from MAD as part of this grant has also been fabulous.’* – Bronwyn Darlington, Agscent Founder.

To apply go to "Visit website" above.

Share