AgriFoodTech Startups Face Sleep Disruptors Heading Into 2026

As we approach 2026, many agrifoodtech startups are wrestling with sleepless nights filled with worries. To gain insights, we reached out to a selection of companies previously featured in AgFunderNews to understand their greatest fears in an unsettled market. The predominant themes sent back to us included a grim funding landscape, regulatory challenges, and various other pressures from Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues to trade complications and the rapid evolution of AI.

👉 If reading this leaves you feeling down, don’t forget to check out the positive reflections in part one of our vox pop, where founders and CEOs share their excitement for the future.

Key Concerns from Industry Leaders

Tony Martens, Co-founder and CEO of Plantible: Fundraising remains a top concern given the complete lack of funding in the space. Two years ago, we discussed the end of winter, but it now feels like we’re entering an ice age. M&A and exit pathways must be established for the industry to regain momentum.

Eric Smith, Founder and CEO of Edacious: The mismatch between the capital required for the innovations that the market demands and the valuations necessary to support that capital keeps me awake at night.

Ibrahim Ashqar, Co-founder and CEO of Lumi AI: We recently hired a capable head of marketing to address our top-of-funnel issues. However, I worry about our ability to effectively capture demand, as user expectations for immediate results may lead to stalled revenue growth. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Frank Jaksch, CEO of Ayana Bio: Fundraising is a universal struggle, but for us in foodtech and agtech, the capital environment for high-tech fermentation and cellular agriculture has slowed drastically. This deceleration allows other countries, like China and India, to forge ahead with significant investments in bioeconomy infrastructure.

Renuka Karandikar, Co-founder and CEO of BioPrime: Regulatory issues keep me awake at night, as fragmented and inconsistent frameworks globally slow innovation and adoption. We hope for a shift towards harmonized regulatory standards in the coming year.

Michael Fox, Co-founder and CEO of Fable Food: Consumer interest in balanced proteins is high, yet I worry that rushing to market could lead to unsatisfactory product performances. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Viraj Puri, Co-founder and CEO of Gotham Greens: Finance structures within capital-intensive industries, like high-tech greenhouses, pose a long-term challenge. This sector, while proven, requires suitable financial models for effective growth.

More Voices from the Field

George Peppou, Founder and CEO of Vow: My primary concern is balancing production expansion and market growth.

Paul Shapiro, Co-founder and CEO of The Better Meat Co: Scaling our fermentation process cost-effectively while ensuring customer readiness for our product is my ongoing focus.

Louise Parlons Bentata, Co-founder and CEO of Bluemethane: Slow-moving customers like utility companies strain our cash flow, and the unpredictable political climate around climate solutions complicates our path.

David Henstrom, CEO of Unibio: I’m focused on expediting our technology’s large-scale buildout while seeking ideal strategic partnerships.

Michelle Ruiz, Co-founder and CEO of Hyfé: The momentum of our extraction technology across various industries excites me, though I stress about connecting with sectors that may benefit but remain uncontacted.

The Road Ahead

Despite the myriad of challenges that keep these leaders awake at night, there is hope for a brighter future in the agrifoodtech sector as its stakeholders continue pushing for innovation and adaptation in the face of changing demands and regulatory landscapes.

👉 Read part 1 of our vox pop.

👉 Watch the editorial team’s festive roundup video.