What Forward Fooding does

Forward Fooding is a London-based, privately held AgriFoodTech data and intelligence organization founded in 2015. It operates the FoodTech 500, an annual global ranking that evaluates and recognizes companies at the intersection of food, technology, and sustainability. The ranking uses a proprietary 300-point scoring methodology co-developed with academic experts, applied across three pillars: Business Size, Digital Footprint, and Sustainability Impact, with the sustainability dimension explicitly aligned to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 2025 cycle drew over 11,700 applicants from 87 countries, with 500 finalists selected.

Beyond the flagship ranking, Forward Fooding produces thematic and regional research reports, including a South American AgriFoodTech landscape study profiling 21 finalists and AI-powered food formulation analyses covering companies such as Brightseed, Journey Foods, and Ginkgo Bioworks. Its content is distributed through digital platforms, press releases via PR Newswire and GlobeNewswire, and coverage in outlets including Morningstar and industry trade publications.

The company's go-to-market is anchored in the FoodTech 500 as a brand and visibility asset for AgriFoodTech startups, corporates, and investors. Pricing, revenue model, and ownership structure are not publicly disclosed, and there is no disclosed venture funding. Leadership comprises co-founders Alessio D'Antino (CEO) and Max Leveau (COO), CTO Enrico Rivara, and CMO Lesley Bambridge. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees.

Name

Forward Fooding

Website

https://forwardfooding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forward Fooding is a London-based AgriFoodTech data and intelligence platform that publishes the annual FoodTech 500 ranking using a proprietary 300-point scoring methodology aligned with UN SDGs, serving startups, corporates, and investors across 87 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Forward Fooding operates a global AgriFoodTech ecosystem platform that ranks, profiles, and connects the world's top foodtech and agritech startups with corporates and investors. Its flagship offering is the annual FoodTech 500 ranking, powered by a proprietary 300-point scoring system aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), combined with corporate-startup matchmaking and open-innovation services.

Product overview

Forward Fooding operates as a food technology data and intelligence organization, publishing the FoodTech 500 — a flagship global ranking that evaluates and recognizes innovative companies at the intersection of food, technology, and sustainability. The FoodTech 500 uses a proprietary 300-point scoring methodology across three pillars (Business Size, Digital Footprint, and Sustainability Impact) aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond the ranking, Forward Fooding produces regional and thematic research content covering the global AgriFoodTech landscape, AI applications in food production, and circular food economy topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FoodTech 500 Ranking Annual curated ranking of the top 500 global foodtech and agritech startups, evaluated on a proprietary 300-point scoring system aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Used by startups for visibility and credibility, by corporates for startup scouting and open innovation, and by investors for deal-flow sourcing.
• Corporate Open-Innovation & Startup Scouting Services Consulting and curated engagement services that help food, beverage, and retail corporates identify and partner with foodtech and agritech startups for innovation, R&D, and sustainability initiatives. Built on Forward Fooding's proprietary startup database and FoodTech 500 ranking.
• FoodTech 500 Corporate Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program enabling corporates and ecosystem partners to underwrite the FoodTech 500 ranking in exchange for brand association, access to ranked startups, and participation in the annual FoodTech 500 program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 7% placement for leading AgriFoodTech companies (top 35 of 500)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Academic ExpertscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025Collaboration with academic experts in developing the FoodTech 500 scoring methodology and evaluation criteria for the 300-point scoring system across Business Size, Digital Footprint, and Sustainability Impact pillars
• United Nations (SDG Alignment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025FoodTech 500 scoring methodology aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, incorporating sustainability impact metrics into company evaluations
• AgFunderminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Forward Fooding references AgFunder data for Latin American AgriFoodTech investment figures ($421M in 2024) and regional company statistics

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• AgTechNavigator: AgTechNavigator is an editorial platform covering agricultural technology innovation globally, with strong ties to European and North American audiences. It is a comparable media/intelligence peer in the adjacent AgriFoodTech ecosystem.

Emerging players

• The Spoon: The Spoon is a media outlet covering foodtech innovation, including AI, alternative proteins, and agtech. It overlaps with Forward Fooding's editorial and industry-insights content products covering the same ecosystem.
• GreenQueen Media: GreenQueen Media is an APAC-focused media and ecosystem platform covering foodtech, agtech, and climate-aligned innovation. It is comparable to Forward Fooding as a regional ecosystem publisher with overlapping editorial coverage.

Broad incumbents

• CB Insights: CB Insights provides market intelligence on technology companies, including coverage of foodtech and agtech. It is a broader incumbent offering intelligence, rankings, and data services that overlap with Forward Fooding's AgriFoodTech intelligence offering.
• FoodNavigator: FoodNavigator is an established B2B media brand covering the food industry with extensive editorial, events, and data products. It is comparable as a broader food industry intelligence incumbent relative to Forward Fooding's AgriFoodTech focus.
• PitchBook: PitchBook provides comprehensive private market data, including detailed foodtech and agtech coverage used by institutional investors. It is a broader incumbent in private-company intelligence relevant to Forward Fooding's investor and corporate audiences.
• Crunchbase: Crunchbase is a leading startup and investment data platform covering foodtech and agtech companies. It is a broader incumbent comparable in offering structured, data-driven intelligence on innovation ecosystems.

Direct peers

• FoodHack: FoodHack is a global community and intelligence platform for foodtech and agtech founders, investors, and corporates, producing reports and curated content. It is comparable to Forward Fooding's role as a connector and intelligence publisher in the foodtech ecosystem.
• AgFunder: AgFunder is a venture capital firm and intelligence platform focused on AgriFoodTech, publishing widely cited investment reports and sector data. Forward Fooding references AgFunder's investment figures for regional analyses, making AgFunder a directly comparable AgriFoodTech intelligence counterpart.
• StartUs Insights: StartUs Insights provides data-driven startup discovery and ranking platforms across industries, including foodtech. It competes in the same 'global startup ranking/data platform' category as Forward Fooding's FoodTech 500.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forwardfooding
• Facebookfacebook.com/forwardfooding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forward Fooding