Awards

Livoo wins MassChallenge Sustainable Challenge 2025: Upcycling on the Global Stage

A Major Milestone for Livoo Foods

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from Livoo Foods! Our mission to revolutionize the food industry through upcycling has received global recognition at MassChallenge Switzerland 2025. Being selected among the 7 winning startups from over 570 global applicants is a major milestone for our young company.

What is the Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge?

The Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge, powered by MassChallenge Switzerland, is a globally recognized platform dedicated to identifying and accelerating startups that are driving innovation in sustainable food production, food security, and circular economy practices. The Challenge is backed by major industry leaders, including Nestlé, Bühler, Givaudan, and DSM, who are actively seeking collaborations with startups capable of delivering scalable, impactful solutions to some of the biggest challenges in the global food system.

Out of hundreds of applicants worldwide, only a small group of companies were selected as winners, each offering groundbreaking solutions for a more sustainable food future. We are honored to be part of this group.

The Challenge We Address: Upcycling as a Solution

The global food industry generates millions of tons of nutrient-rich side-streams every year, particularly from the booming plant-based dairy sector. Ingredients like oat okara and soy okara are often discarded or downcycled into animal feed due to their instability and perishability. However, these by-products contain valuable proteins, fibers, and functional compounds that could significantly contribute to human nutrition and planetary health if properly valorized.

At Livoo Foods, we have developed a proprietary low-temperature drying technology that stabilizes these highly perishable wet streams, converting them into shelf-stable, food-grade powders rich in nutrients and ready for use across multiple food categories. Our technology preserves the natural goodness of these materials while unlocking entirely new value chains.

Why This Award Matters for Livoo Foods

Winning the Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge validates our approach and opens valuable doors to:

  • New Corporate Collaborations with major food producers actively searching for sustainable ingredient solutions.

  • Access to Industry Expertise from MassChallenge’s extensive partner network.

  • Visibility in Global Sustainability Conversations around food systems transformation.

  • Acceleration of Our Commercial Scale-Up as we deploy new installations and grow our ingredient sales platform across Europe and beyond.

The Global Impact of Upcycling

Food waste and inefficient resource use are among the biggest environmental challenges of our time. By rescuing plant-based side-streams that would otherwise go to waste, Livoo Foods directly contributes to:

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to food waste.

  • Maximizing the use of agricultural resources like land and water.

  • Providing clean-label, high-quality protein and fiber sources to meet global nutritional needs.

According to recent LCA studies, upcycling plant-based dairy by-products into food-grade ingredients can reduce climate impact, land use, and water consumption by up to 90% compared to conventional protein sources.

A Global Community of Changemakers

The Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge has connected us with a powerful network of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations who share our passion for transforming the food system. The collaboration opportunities that emerge from this community are already fueling new ideas and partnerships.

The Journey Ahead for Livoo Foods

This award is just the beginning. At Livoo Foods, we are committed to:

  • Scaling our drying installations across new markets.

  • Growing our Livoo Ingredients portfolio for global food brands.

  • Driving further innovations in ingredient valorization.

  • Expanding our B2B and B2C product lines.

  • Strengthening our impact on sustainability, food security, and nutrition.

Thank You to Our Partners and Team

We want to sincerely thank the entire MassChallenge Switzerland team, the industry partners behind the Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge, and all the inspiring startups we met along this journey. Most of all, we thank our dedicated Livoo Foods team who live and breathe our mission every day.

Stay tuned for more updates—Livoo Foods is just getting started on this global mission to transform waste into value!

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