Articles

2026 is a reset year across the food-tech landscape. The industry is shifting toward disciplined execution, capital efficiency, and a sharper focus on technologies that solve operational bottlenecks while delivering measurable health and sustainability outcomes.

Ahead of Future Food-Tech San Francisco, we caught up with leading investors including Steven Gamo, Head of Science at McWin Capital Partners, Ashley Hartman, Managing Partner at Bluestein Ventures, Matteo Leonardi, Investment Manager at Grey Silo Ventures and Blair Tritt, Vice President of Corporate Ventures & Digital Labs at Schreiber Foods to outline where capital will flow next and what founders must prove to win it.

The industry landscape

Three themes stand out: automation and AI moving from pilots to productivity, precision ingredients and alt fats maturing into cost-effective building blocks, and a decisive investor preference for founders who can prove traction, unit economics, and scalable processes early. The tone mirrors industry analysis that has emphasized a shift from vision to verified outcomes and consumer trust as a primary KPI.

Capital is tighter, timelines are scrutinized, and investors are gravitating to technologies with near-term operational gains and credible paths to profitability. That emphasis aligns with broader market narratives that call for innovations which are science-led, transparent, and engineered for healthier food systems, not just compliance.

“The “growth at all costs” era is behind us,” says Steven Gamo.

“Founders need to show not just a bold vision, but operational excellence, a validated process, cost curve visibility, and a clear path to viable unit economics. Investors increasingly reward teams that pair deep technical know-how with commercial pragmatism and capital-efficient models.”

For Grey Silo Ventures, Matteo Leonardi’s broader investment lens is clear. Overpromising and underdelivering has bred caution. He notes that:

“Good founders, with technical and industrial knowledge and a compelling product at hand, are still able to raise capital and create category-defining businesses.”

Automation, robotics, and AI: From pilots to productivity

Investors see momentum in automation, machine vision, and field-proven robotics across the value chain, from agriculture to restaurants. The aim is to reduce labor constraints, improve consistency, and lower costs in environments where thin margins and operational variability have historically stalled scale. In parallel, AI is being applied to scheduling, quality control, demand forecasting, and formulation, shifting “smart” tools from slideware to real-world ROI.

Gamo highlights McWin’s focus on technologies that tackle labor challenges end to end “from farms to restaurants” and on best-in-class alt protein players pragmatically advancing to mass-market readiness despite fundraising headwinds.

“We look for founders who understand manufacturing as a competitive moat, who can partner strategically across the value chain, and who know how to evolve from R&D mode to industrial execution,” he says.  

Corporate venture teams echo the need for AI and robotics to drive measurable performance. Blair Tritt at Schreiber Foods comments:

“The future of food relies on technologies that make systems smarter, stronger, and more sustainable. AI, robotics, next-gen biology, and digital platforms are changing how food is made and moved. Consumers want more than scale, they expect clean labels, health, and longevity. But food systems don’t change overnight, which is why collaboration matters”

He adds that “Investors want more than big ideas, they expect traction, solid economics, and realistic timelines. Vision still matters, but disciplined execution and proven demand ultimately win.”

Precision ingredients and alt fats: Function, cost, and clean labels

Ingredient innovation is moving beyond novelty to necessity. Leonardi points to alt fats as the backbone of taste, structure, and mouthfeel, with real opportunity where processes can deliver functionality without compromising nutrition or cost-in-use. Upcycled, functional ingredients that match animal-based performance are gaining traction when they demonstrate superior cost-in-use and cleaner labels.

At the intersection of biology and formulation, precision design in lipids, proteins, and bioactives is enabling targeted performance outcomes. This aligns with the industry’s broader pivot toward science-driven development and proof of positive health impact, not just removal of “bad” ingredients.

Personalization, metabolic health, and the GLP-1 effect

A new wave of consumer health innovation is forming at the intersection of AI, biology, and behavior. Ashley Hartman (Blue Stein Ventures) points to AI-powered personalization that turns gut health from guesswork into actionable intelligence, and to metabolic health platforms designed for the cascading effects of GLP-1 medications. She believes digital-first brands that operate at social speed while maintaining clinical rigor will shape the next set of winners. “The future isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s radically personal, backed by biology, and delivered before you know you need it.”

Hartman’s bar for performance reflects investor sentiment: momentum must be matched by fundamentals.

“We need to see companies accelerating at unprecedented speeds: real traction, strong unit economics, and a clear path to profitability. Capital efficiency isn’t optional anymore, but an entry ticket. Companies that blend momentum with operational discipline are the ones breaking through.”

The investor mindset in 2026: Unit economics over narratives

Across the board, investors are converging on a common checklist: validated processes, cost curves that bend favorably, and evidence of sustainable demand. “ESG-centric pitches resonate far less than sound business proposals.” Game notes. Meanwhile, corporate investors like Schreiber are balancing upstream patience with downstream pragmatism, teaming up with partners to turn smart ideas into scalable, sustainable solutions that deliver for both the market and investors.

The Road Ahead: Trust, evidence, and scalable impact

Leonardi advises founders to plan fundraising early and back it up with tangible results and traction points. Founders should also reverse due diligence their list of potential investors based on their capital needs and strategic focus.

Tritt’s call for testing in the real world suggests founders should allocate budget and bandwidth to pilots designed with buyer involvement. Those pilots should define explicit success criteria and decision gates that convert to supply agreements or strategic investments when met.

Gamo’s emphasis on manufacturing as a competitive moat underscores the need for founders to invest early in the competencies and partnerships that make scale predictable.

Hartman’s focus on personalization and tech-driven health signals a future where AI turns gut health into actionable insights and metabolic health platforms adapt to GLP-1-driven shifts. Her vision frames food as radically personal, validated by biology and delivered ahead of demand.

The market is aligning around three pillars: precision, proof and partnership. Automation and AI will rewire operations. Ingredient innovation will be judged on performance and economics. Personalized nutrition will evolve from buzzwords to biomarker-backed utility.

Founders who bring scientific depth, industrial discipline and collaborative instincts will find the capital they need. As Hartman puts it, “The bar is higher, but that’s healthy.”

Be part of what’s next

The conversation will continue March 19-20 when Future Food-Tech San Francisco brings together leaders from across the value chain to shape the future of food. This year’s summit spotlights the breakthroughs driving nutrition, adaptability, and growth – and the challenges of scale, investment, and consumer adoption.

Explore the full program, featuring 100+ expert speakers from international brands to exciting start-ups. Register now