Afterwork – Conversations, Mocktails, and Insights Shaping Swedish Foodtech

The Foodtech Forum 2025 Afterwork, held from 17:00–19:00, closed the day with exactly the kind of energy our ecosystem thrives on: creative exchange, new connections, and a shared appetite for shaping the future of food. Co-organised by Invest in Skåne and the Foodtech Innovation Network, the afterwork brought together founders, industry leaders, researchers, and investors for a relaxed yet content-rich conclusion to the Forum.

Earlier in the day, the collaboration hosted a dedicated investor gathering featuring roundtable conversations followed by a brunch and mocktail tasting built on ingredients from Skåne-based startups. This session offered a forward-looking snapshot of the investment landscape in Swedish foodtech. Key insights included:

A strong moment for opportunity
High-quality food and agri-tech companies are emerging with more realistic valuations, clearer value propositions, and stronger alignment with industry needs — creating timely entry points for investors.

Innovation with real system pull
Regenerative agriculture, soil health, fermentation technologies, and hybrid proteins are gaining traction as market demand shifts toward solutions addressing concrete food-system challenges.

Ecosystems that accelerate progress
Universities, testbeds, and regional actors in Skåne are increasingly important in bridging R&D and commercial readiness, helping validate innovations and reduce risk for capital-intensive scaling.

These themes echoed throughout the afterwork as participants reconnected over our “future of food” mocktails, developed in collaboration with member companies. The drinks — inventive in both flavour and concept — were exceptionally well received and finished quickly. They created a natural focal point for discussion, and many of the afternoon’s Open Table conversations continued seamlessly into the evening.

The afterwork demonstrated a powerful truth: innovation does not only happen in formal sessions — it also happens in the informal spaces where ideas meet opportunity. Our thanks go to everyone who joined, contributed, and pushed the dialogue forward.

For more perspectives on investment trends and opportunities, follow Invest in Skåne for ongoing updates from the Nordic foodtech frontlines. To explore the broader landscape in depth, read the new whitepaper “Feeding the Future” by Invest in Skåne: Re-engineering the future of food in southern Sweden | Invest in Skåne