A Positive Influence on Global Nutrition

Steak and bratwurst are summer cook-out staples, but vegetarian and vegan alternatives are rapidly taking up more and more room on the grill. Whether made of soy, pea protein, or seitan, these meat replacements are not just getting tastier every year—their production is also environmentally friendly. Now, Handelsblatt has placed a spotlight on the most successful German start-ups in the food sector, its “New Food Stars” for 2024. And among them are quite a few businesses founded by alumni of WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, once again underscoring their steadfast commitment to sustainable ways of living.

Consultancy firm Munich Strategy looked at 300 companies to find the top 50 most promising start-ups in the food sector today. These companies were evaluated based on the following criteria: maturity, disruption, and potential. “Our goal is to make nutritious food available to everyone—and to do so in the most environmentally friendly and resource efficient way possible,” says Kai-Markus Hock, Munich Strategy’s “new food expert,” in the Handelsblatt article. These newly founded companies are primarily focused on sparking a fundamental and positive change in the food industry and, on a much larger scale, global nutrition. For example, the production of vegan and vegetarian alternatives means less water consumption and, as there would less need to keep livestock, less land consumption. All this would lead to a more balanced carbon footprint to produce the same amount of food as before.

The WHU Start-Ups Named One of 50 “New Food Stars”

- Apricot Health GmbH, also known as Apriwell, is an advocate of holistic approaches to ensure long-term gut health. The start-up’s offer combines expert consultations, an online therapy program, and supplements. Apriwell works with medical experts, nutritionists, and technicians to develop new and innovative ways of tackling digestion issues and balancing intestinal flora. The company was founded by alumni Fabian Jahr and Alexander Puschilov (both BSc 2010).

- ProteinDistillery, co-founded by Marco Ries (BSc 2019; MSc 2022) in 2021, offers a protein for use in sustainable and healthy meat replacements that equal animal-based foods in both taste and texture. The product—destined for burger patties, dairy alternatives, and more—is currently being finalized for major food manufacturers. In 2023, the company won the Next Economy Award (NEA 2.0) at the 15^th annual German Sustainability Awards. 

- Quazy Foods is a Berlin-based biotech company using microalgae for sustainable and balanced nutrition. Algae are characterized by the large amount of protein they produce and the vitamins, minerals, and fiber they contain. Algae can also be grown efficiently in small spaces. Quazy Foods was founded in 2021 by siblings Arvid Seeberg-Elverfeldt (MSc 2012) and Berenike Zimmer. 

- One further WHU start-up also made the New Food Stars list, albeit indirectly. Aitme, co-founded by Emanuel Pallua (MSc 2014), is a developer of large kitchen appliances and was bought out by featured food-tech start-up Circus Kitchens in 2023. The company will make use of Aitme’s appliances in its kitchens.

The original article was published in Handelsblatt on July 22, 2024, and can be read in full here (in German).