Puratos Innovation Challenge: Pioneering Gut Health for a Better Tomorrow

Puratos Innovation Challenge: Pioneering Gut Health for a Better Tomorrow

Future Food-Tech has announced its partnership with Puratos, a global leader in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients and services, to run an exclusive Innovation Challenge at the summit in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025.

Believing in the power of food innovation to create a better world, Puratos is on a mission to develop groundbreaking food solutions that not only delight customers but also promote health and well-being and steadily move businesses, customers, people, and the planet forward.

Puratos is seeking innovative solutions that can modulate the gut microbiome and its impact on:

• Physical Health: How can we improve digestion, boost immunity, and enhance overall physical health through gut health?
• Mental Well-Being: How can we leverage the gut-brain axis to support mental health and emotional well-being?

  

Commenting on the challenge, Sara de Pelsmaeker, Group Health & Well-Being Director, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Future Food-Tech for this Innovation Challenge. At Puratos, we believe that the future of food lies in harnessing the power of the gut microbiome to improve both physical and mental well-being. We are excited to see the innovative solutions that start-ups and scale-ups will bring to the table, and we look forward to collaborating with them to create a healthier and more sustainable future.”

Who should apply? This challenge is open to start-ups and scale-ups that are developing novel ingredients related to postbiotics, prebiotics or fermented ingredients that benefit the gut microbiome. It is also open to health data platforms that can help measure and improve the impact of gut health on consumers.

Particular areas of interest include:

• Postbiotics: Novel ingredients that support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
• Prebiotics: Innovative (plant) fibers that can be incorporated into our products to promote gut health.
• Health data platforms: Platforms or tools that can measure and improve the impact of gut health on consumers.
• Fermented Ingredients: Ingredients that harness the power of fermentation to benefit the gut microbiome.

Participants are invited to enter before Friday, January 3 at www.futurefoodtechsf.com/innovation-challenge. All finalists will be invited as guests to join the summit for two days of valuable networking and insights.

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health, influencing everything from physical well-being to mental health through the gut-brain axis. By modulating the gut microbiome, we can unlock new pathways to enhance health and well-being.

Learn insider tips on how Puratos is looking to revolutionize gut health through innovation, the types of companies and solutions the team are looking to work with, and more!

The Innovation Challenge Winner will:

• Pitch to Sparkalis: Have the opportunity to pitch your innovative solutions to Sparkalis, the Food-Tech investment fund that focuses on innovative technologies to create a healthier and more sustainable world.
• Receive Senior Leadership Coaching: Spend at least two immersive days with Puratos leaders, benefiting from personalized coaching in areas such as marketing, regulatory affairs, innovation, consumer insights, and technology guidance.
• Media and Communication Exposure: Be prominently showcased through Future Food-Tech and Puratos media channels, amplifying your visibility and reach.

With Access to:

• Puratos R&D Capabilities: Utilize one of 119 state-of-the-art Innovation Centers of Puratos, including testing facilities at Puratos’s Headquarters in Belgium or a local subsidiary close to you.
• Global Application Resources: Leverage extensive resources in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate applications to further develop and refine your solutions.

All selected finalists will also enjoy PR visibility to the Future Food-Tech global audience and pitch live on stage in the Challenge Final at the Future Food-Tech summit in San Francisco on March 13-14, with complimentary passes to access both days of the summit’s networking and insights.

• Entries close on Friday, January 3
• After shortlisting and review, the finalists will be announced Tuesday, January 29
• The Innovation Challenge Final will take place live on stage at Future Food-Tech San Francisco on March 13-14, to its global audience.