FoodTech Use Cases - DigitalFoodLab

Use Case #1: IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES ON AN EMERGING MARKET

Challenge

To stay ahead of the increasing competition, a global food company was seeking to identify opportunities by understanding the development of startups in the protein alternatives ecosystem.

Method

1 – Inspiration: using its proprietary database and insights, DigitalFoodLab mapped key startups, corporations involvements and technologies in clusters.
2 – After a first inspiration workshop, DigitalFoodLab worked on various scenarios from light to deep implication of the client in this new ecosystem.
3 – After the selection of a winning scenario, DigitalFoodLab worked with the client on an action plan, notably involving scouting of startups for a partnership.

Outcome

DigitalFoodLab keeps working with the client on developing internally a range of products based on inspiration taken from startups and partnerships with some of them.

Use Case #2: FOODTECH BRIEFINGS FOR A RETAILER

Challenge

The client, a leading food retailer in several European countries was looking to stay ahead of innovations on food retail and to find new ideas about products and services for its virtual and physical stores.

Method

Once every quarter, DigitalFoodLab builds a FoodTech briefing dedicated to the client with two key elements:
– a FoodTech watch: an analysis of the most relevant news on the client’s ecosystem
– a live briefing with the innovation team on the above news but most of all on a selected trend that could matter. In one hour, we deep dive on it, the key startups and how the client could work with them.
The goal of each session is simple: is this trend something that should be active right now.

Outcome

After one year of these FoodTech briefings, we continue to work with the client on a second year. Experimentations with startups and new fields of innovation have been identified and are now explored.

Use Case #3: INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR A CVC

Challenge

The client, a leading food and beverage company was looking for the best means to support and benefit from the thriving FoodTech ecosystem on its domain.

Method

1 – Inspiration: using its proprietary database and insights, DigitalFoodLab mapped initiatives from the client’s competitors. We recommended key areas to investigate where startups would benefit from the client’s reach and expertise
2 – After a first inspiration session, DigitalFoodLab worked on various scenarios from light to deep implication of the client in this new ecosystem.

Outcome

DigitalFoodLab worked with the client on establishing a list of startups to invest in through a Corporate Venture Capital fund (CVC) and indirectly by investing in existing VC firms (in foreign geographies and where technical expertise was key).
After the ignition period, DigitalFoodLab keeps working with the client’s CVC team to provide them with insights on new areas to explore and to do due dilligences.