STARTUP DAY 2025 turns Valencia into the epicenter of agri-food innovation

With a great success in participation and with high-level content offered by different professionals from the agri-food sector, STARTUP DAY 2025, organized on May 28, 2025 by AgrotecUV and BIOVEGEN, with the support of entities such as CONTROLTECNICA BIO SL and CULTEK – DD BioLab, brought together more than 170 professionals from more than 110 organizations. of the agri-food sector.

The meeting presented the most cutting-edge initiatives in agro-food 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 for the 3rd AgrotecUV Call for Proposals were presented, showcasing disruptive technologies in areas such as biofertilizers, biocontrol, edible coatings, plant vaccines, and plant metabolites. Success stories from AgrotecUV startups were also presented, and innovation, financing, and collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders were discussed during the Roundtable "AgrotecUV Community: Innovation and Collaboration."

Discover AgrotecUV!

In closing, specific investment opportunities and R&D support were offered by entities such as CDTI and SWANLAAB. In addition, The event included more than 210 bilateral meetings, which demonstrates the dynamism and potential of the agrobiotechnology sector in Spain.

This was STARTUP DAY 2025

PROGRAM AND PRESENTATIONS

9:30 a.m. Institutional opening

• Rosa María Donat. Vice-Rector for Innovation and Transfer of the University of Valencia
• Pedro Carrasco. Director of AgrotecUV and Director of the UV Science Park
• José Pellicer. President BIOVEGEN 

9:50 a.m. AgrotecUV: incubating the future of the sector

• Eva Bataller. Business development manager at AgrotecUV and innovation agent at IVACE+i

10:00 a.m. X-ray of the Spanish agrobiotechnology sector 

• Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN Manager

10:10 a.m. AgrotecUV Startup Pitches: 3rd Round. Moderator: Eva Bataller. Business development manager at AgrotecUV and innovation agent at IVACE+i

• Agrotan Natura: production of biofertilizers and products for quality, profitable and sustainable agriculture. Miguel Angel Gonzalez. Co-founder and CEO of Agrotan Nature

• Ajax DNA: Production of customized microorganisms for the scalable production of novel food ingredients and bioactive compounds. Alexander Atienza. Co-founder and CEO of Ajax Biosciences

• Bio2Coat: production of natural 100% edible coating films that preserve, protect and extend the 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 protecting crops in an efficient and ecological way. Andrea Bernardos. Scientific Advisor Agraris BioTech

• Guennetikos Gen: biotechnology company dedicated to the production of secondary metabolites from plants. Miguel María López. Founder and CEO of Guenentikos Gen

• Karat Foods: development of innovative and sustainable products based on carob, promoting local agriculture, biodiversity and healthy consumption. Luis Borja García. Founder of Karat Foods.

• Modoru biotech: development of plant vaccines for pathogen control and nano-encapsulation of active ingredients for use in agriculture. 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 a.m. AgrotecUV startup success stories. Moderator: Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN Manager

• 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 agrobiotech startups
  • Federico Grau. CEO and founder of Madeinplant

11:30 a.m. Coffee break

12:15 p.m. Roundtable. AgrotecUV Community: Innovation and Collaboration. Moderator: Pedro Carrasco. Director of AgrotecUV and Director of the UV Science Park

• Angel of the Pine Anecoop Production and Innovation Department
• Joaquin del Rio. Director of Quality and R&D at Vicky Foods
• Juancho Escobar. Founder & CEO of Q'Omer
• Pepe Castro. Innovation agent for the CV. Project manager at the Unió Llauradora y Ramadera

12:45 p.m. Research by the University of Valencia in the agri-food sector. Moderator: Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN Manager

• Bionutest-UV: design and evaluation of healthy and sustainable foods. Amparo Gamero. 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 transformation of agriculture. Belén Franch. 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

1:30 p.m. CDTI supports technology-based entrepreneurship

• Carlos Franco. Technical Advisor at CDTI. Expert in the evaluation of national and international R&D&I projects in the agri-food sector

1:45 p.m. Closure

• Jerome Mora. Regional Secretary for Innovation. Regional Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism