Pitching & Call for Pitch Abstracts
Are you a TECHNOLOGY OWNER (to-be-start-up, start-up, SME) looking for finance, partners and/or end-users or are you a pilot facility planning new investments or new to the Pilots4U Network? Seize the opportunity and apply for a 7 minutes pitch to present your innovative solution in front of an exclusive audience of potential partners and investors.
New in 2025 is the REVERSE-PITCHING by INVESTORS on the opening day of the conference. We aim at an attendance of about 50 investors and herewith invite them all to present their fund and investment thesis (focus industries, ticket size, geographies, potential added-value…) during a pitch. Investors with a desire to pitch can contact [email protected] to request a pitch slot.
Pitch Sessions Topics for TECHNOLOGY OWNERS
The event will host 2 pitch sessions for investor pitches on the opening day of the conference (24 November 2025) and 9 pitch sessions of 90 minutes each for technology owners on the second day of the conference (25 November 2025).
This means that, next to the investor pitches, we are looking for at least 99 inspiring technology pitches. Each of these sessions will have a specific focus:
- Four sessions (min. 44 pitches in total) will be dedicated to “Start-ups/SMEs looking for finance”, pitches will be grouped by pitchers early stage investment (pre-seed/angel/seed) or later stage investment (Series A, B or C).
- One session with focus on microbial protein & microbial oils transition players (pitch session supported by The ProteInn Club).
- One session with focus on emerging innovative technologies: novel fermentation and novel downstream processing innovations.
- This pitch session is reserved for companies developing bioprocesses using novel fermentation and/or downstream processing technologies or developing novel fermentation and/or downstream processing technologies as such. One could think of e.g. continuous fermentation, in situ product recovery, artificial intelligence or machine learning for bioprocessing application, novel reactor design, novel DSP methods …
- One session with focus on emerging innovative technologies: alternative & unconventional feedstocks
- This pitch session is reserved for companies developing bioprocesses using alternative and unconventional feedstocks such as e.g. plastic waste, food waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste gasses …
- One session with focus on leading pilot facilities for the bioeconomy (pitch session supported by “Pilots4U powered by CoPilot“).
- One session allowing “bottom-up” pitch topics.
- Your pitch does not fit into any of the session mentioned above? Submit it anyway, we can be very flexible if the proposed topics are relevant.
Coaching
Selected companies in the Start-ups/SMEs looking for finance sessions will benefit from online coaching to prepare the perfect pitch. A webinar entitled “Think big, pitch smart: Get investor-ready in one hour” is scheduled for November 4th, 2025 at 4 pm CET. We strongly recommend all pitching companies to attend this online session. You can register by ticking the relevant box on the registration form.
In the meantime, valuable tips, tricks and recordings can be found below:
- !!!Attention!!! After careful consultation with our investors, we recommend C-level representation for a “looking for finance” pitch.
- A looking for finance pitch should contain, in only 7 slides, the elements below. This is the key information investors want to see:
Available webinar recordings:
- Click here to watch our “What do investors really want” webinar (Nov 2024) and prepare the perfect pitch.
- Click here to watch a “Pilots4U powered by CoPilot” webinar entitled “Pitch Training for Start-ups in Biosolutions (May 2025), organised by BIO2CHP. Website Pilots4U – Website CoPilot CBE-JU Project.
- Click here to view a pitch training presentation by biotopeby VIB incubator.
Call for Abstracts
The call for pitch abstracts will open on June 1st, 2025 and close on November 3rd, 2025 (Midnight). Submit your abstract timely and become one of the selected technology pitchers that will shape our 2025 program.
Questions?
For questions regarding the submission of an abstract or about the status of your submitted abstract, you can always contact Katrien Molders ([email protected]).
Remarks
- All pitches will last a maximum 7 minutes, we will NOT deviate from this strict timing!
- The exact time slot and pitch room might be subject to change until the final program will be confirmed on November 7th, 2025. We cannot take personal travel schedules into account when granting the pitch slots, therefor, pitchers should be available to pitch at any moment between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on November 25th, 2025.
- When the number of pitches exceeds the number of available pitch slots, a waiting list will be established with the aim to replace confirmed pitches that are cancelled.
- Pitchers can use a PowerPoint presentation in 16:9 format of max. 7 slides (including title slide and acknowledgement slide or slide with contact details). These presentations should be sent at the latest by November 7th, 2025 to [email protected].
- Pitchers pay a reduced registration fee (detailed info on our “registration” page).
- After careful consultation with our investors, we recommend C-level representation for a pitch in the “looking for finance” sessions.
Networking
The Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy event goes far beyond “simply” matching promising start-ups and SMEs with investors in an international context. In addition to the industry and investors, present in large numbers (see figure below), various other type of stakeholders that support companies along the innovation chain participate: pilot facilities, research institutes, potential public project partners, services providers, SME helpdesks, clusters, funding bodies, consultants and even policy makers.
The networking is supported by a dedicated B2B tool (SWAPCARD) and a concise but spacy, well-structured venue, based on a large central “Atrium” hosting all breaks, catering and exhibition and a number of meeting and matchmaking rooms directly connected to the central “meet-up” space.
To get an idea of the international bioeconomy network we bring together, check out the figures below.
Satellite events
Webinar: Scaling your bio-innovation with the EU Funding
Europe is investing heavily in the bioeconomy transition — from low-carbon materials and circular processes to sustainable agriculture and biotechnology. Join our expert session to discover the key EU funding programmes that can help scale your innovation.
This 90-minute webinar will cover three of the most important opportunities for bioeconomy startups and innovators:
- EU Innovation Fund – supporting pilot and demonstration projects for low carbon technologies with an annual €4 billion budget
- EIC Accelerator – funding breakthrough technologies from TRL5 to market readiness and beyond with up to €2.5 million in grants and €10 million in equity
- LIFE Programme – accelerating market uptake of nature- and climate-positive solutions
What to Expect
🔍 Expert Insights – Specialists from Zaz Ventures will explain:
- Which EU programmes can fit your company
- Required maturity and preparation to be a strong candidate
- Practical application tips and success factors
❓ Interactive Q&A – Ask your questions directly to our experts and get hands-on advice for your next application.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how leading EU programmes can accelerate your bio-innovation journey.
🔗 Register on this registration link here !
Zaz Ventures is the leading EU funding consultancy working exclusively on a success-fee basis — with 180+ funded clients since 2021. We focus on the most attractive programmes for high-impact deeptech, covering topics such as clean energy, biotech, food & agri, semiconductors & quantum computing.
Webinar: Think big, pitch smart: Get investor-ready in one hour
Objectives of the Session
- Understand what makes a bioeconomy scale-up plan attractive to investors
- Learn how to present your roadmap clearly, realistically and convincingly
- Discover success stories and learn what worked
- Gain practical tools to prepare for investor matchmaking with confidence
Agenda
4:00 – 4:05 | Welcome & Framing the Session
by the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation
Why investability matters and how to make the most of upcoming investor introductions.
4:05 – 4:20 | What Investors Look For in Scale-Up Projects
Speaker by Irish Bioeconomy Foundation
- Key expectations in financial and technical plans
- Red flags and how to avoid them
- What gets attention (and what doesn’t)
4:20 – 4:35 | The Perfect Pitch: Convincing Investors to Back Your Innovation
[Speaker TBD]
- What investors really want to hear
- Structuring a compelling pitch deck
- Dos and don’ts during your investor presentation
4:35 – 4:50 | Success Cases: What Made the Difference
[Speaker TBD]
- Stories from successful innovators
- What convinced investors
- Key takeaways you can apply
4:50 – 5:00 | Q&A and Final Tips Before Matchmaking
[Speaker TBD]
- Your checklist before meeting investors
- Final recommendations for pitching with confidence
🔗 Register by checking the webinar checkbox on the Pitch Perfect registration form
This webinar is open to any bioeconomy stakeholder and part of the COPILOT/PILOTS4U “Scale-Up & Growth” Programme.
The ProteInn Club Industrial Sounding Board Meeting
The ProteInn Club is a collaboration between Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Ghent University, the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (ILVO), and CAPTURE. The club’s ambition is to facilitate innovations and accelerate the development of a unique fermentation-based protein ecosystem. Members of the Industrial Sounding Board are positioned at various points within the value chain of fermentation-based proteins. On the one hand, there are companies developing fermentation processes, while on the other, there are companies producing side streams that can be used as feedstock for these processes, and companies interested in incorporating fermentation-based proteins into their end products. The overall goals of the club are to connect the partners along this value chain, foster the developing ecosystem, and raise awareness about fermentation-derived proteins.
During this event, the core team of The ProteInn Club will link up with the full Industrial Sounding Board to discuss the latest developments in the fermentation-based protein landscape. Topics can include updates on ongoing projects, interesting upcoming funding calls, policy briefs, and the presentation of new ProteInn Club members.
This is a private event. Attendance by invitation only, limited to members of:
Bioaromatics on the Rise: Why you should get on board with this innovative biobased material
Biorizon, the shared research center on bioaromatics initiated by VITO and TNO, invites you to explore the exciting world of lignin-derived bioaromatics. This innovative and sustainable approach to chemistry is poised to transform industries with new, greener alternatives to fossil-based materials.
What to Expect
Biorizon, the shared research center on bioaromatics initiated by VITO and TNO, invites you to explore the exciting world of lignin-derived bioaromatics. This innovative and sustainable approach to chemistry is poised to transform industries with new, greener alternatives to fossil-based materials.
Why Aromatics Matter
Aromatics are everywhere — from coatings and composites to insulation and construction materials. They don’t just improve performance — they also offer essential features like fire resistance and UV protection.
The Challenge
Traditional aromatics are primarily fossil-based, raising issues related to strategic dependency, carbon emissions, and chemical safety. With increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact, the need for renewable and non-toxic alternatives is more urgent than ever.
By using local residue streams, companies reduce reliance on fossil resources, improve resource efficiency, and lower their carbon footprint. Developing lignin- and sugar-based bio-aromatics offers both economic and sustainability advantages, while opening opportunities for innovation in high-performance, circular materials.
Lignin-Derived Bio-aromatics
Lignin is an abundant, renewable feedstock that contains the necessary building blocks to create biobased, functional, and safer alternatives to traditional aromatics. However, lignin’s complex structure requires advanced processing.
That’s where VITO’s LignoValue Pilot Plant comes in — a state-of-the-art industrial-scale platform that enables companies to:
- Upscale lignin-based innovations
- Develop real-world applications
- Test performance under industrial conditions
Sugar-Derived Bio-Aromatics
There is a world-wide abundancy of residual sugars that are not valorized to their full economical and chemical potential. These residual sugars are excellent feedstock for versatile platform molecule furfural. Furfural is widely recognized as the basis for a broad portfolio of biobased chemical building blocks that have to potential to make our day-to-day applications more sustainable, safer and better performing.
With it’s expertise, know-how and pilot facilities, TNO develops and enables the scalable production of drop-in and novel sugar-derived chemical building blocks by:
- Development of scalable production technologies for biobased drop-ins (e.g. maleic anhydride, phenol, adipic acid, etc.)
- Application focused development of novel biobased building blocks, prioritizing agility and scalability (e.g. for polyesters, surfactants, coatings and adhesive applications)
Agenda
The agenda will be communicated in due time.
Join us to learn how your company can be part of this cutting-edge transition to sustainable chemistry.
Biorizon is a shared research center on bioaromitics initiated by VITO and TNO.
Seeing is believing: Start-up, SME and (Corporate) Investor Day @ Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
Hop on the shuttle bus from Sheraton Brussels Airport to the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant and discover what scale-up is, looks like, feels like and smells like! Why do we need scale-up (facilities)? What is the cost of scale-up and why? What are the challenges? What collaboration opportunities do start-ups and SMEs have at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant?
This visit is part of the “Scale -up & Growth” programme offered by the “Pilots4U powered by COPILOT” project and will comprise of scale-up related several presentations and a guided tour of the facilities.
Click here to DOWNLOAD the PROGRAMME in PDF format
Programme
9:00 – 10:35: Study Visit to the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
9:00 – 9:10 am: Welcome
9:10 – 9:50 am: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant: Scale-up and so much more!
9:50 – 10:35 am: Seeing is believing: Guided tour of the facilities
10:35 – 10:55: Networking coffee break
10:55 – 15:00: Scale-up workshop: The art of scaling – How to design your cost-effective bioprocess in the most efficient way.
10:55 – 11:00: Introduction: Framing the aim and content of the workshop, By Hendrik Waegeman, Head of Business operations, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
Part 1: Scale-Up Accelerator Network meets Due Diligence
When is the right time to scale-up? How should I set my priorities? What should I be prepared for when starting to talk to investors?
11:00 – 11:08: Help, where do I start? Introduction to the Scale-Up Accelerator Network (SAN), By Esthèle Goure, SAN Responsible, BBEPP
11:08 – 11:16: Why do I need an external expert view on my process? By Michael Helmut Kopf, formerly BASF and SAN Expert, tbc
11:16 – 11:24: Taking the Due Diligence hurdle with grace, By Joeri Beauprez, Founder and CSO, Inbiose, tbc
11:24 – 11:32: The Investors POV, By Mariam Cherifi, Associate at Sofinnova Partners
11:32 – 12:00: Interactive Panel Discussion / Q&A, Moderated by Sam Nejame, CEO, Presence-Promotum
Part 2: Does my scale-up plan make sense and how can I implement Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) across TRL scales?
12:00 – 12:08: Why you need to think of TEA early on – TEAs and process modeling with SuperPro Designer, By Vassilis Parisis, Application & Consulting Engineer, Intelligen
12:08 – 12:16: TEA across TRL scales, from early development to installation design choices, By Iancu Avram, Project Manager, BBEPP
12:16 – 12:40: Interactive Panel discussion / Q&A, Moderated by Sam Nejame, CEO, Presence-Promotum
12:40 – 13:20: NETWORKING LUNCH
Part 3: Breaking the cost barrier in biomanufacturing
13:20 – 13:28: Cost advantaged fermentation with DAB.bio technology, By Eric van der Meer, CEO, DAB.bio
13:36 – 13:44: Solvent Impregnated Resins, By Sinah Tönjes, R&D Engineer, BBEPP
13:44 – 13:52: Autonomous and decentralized follow-up of fermentation processes thanks to smart sensors, By Amir Atabaki, Co-Founder and CEO, Perceptra, tbc
13:52 – 14:00: Ready-to-Use starter cultures for scalable and reliable biomanufacturing, By Troels Prahl, Co-Founder and CEO, Swan Neck Bio, tbc
14:00 – 14:30: Interactive Panel discussion / Q&A, Moderated by Sam Nejame, CEO, Presence-Promotum
Part 4: Roundtable: Reflections on what Pitch Perfect brought us this year.
14:30 – 15:00: 2 inspiring start-ups and the 2 inspiring investors, tbc, Moderated by Hendrik Waegeman, Head of Business Operations, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.
15:00: DEPARTURE shuttle bus for Brussels Airport
16:00: ARRIVAL at Brussels Airport
The “Pilots4U powered by COPILOT” project is a CBE-JU CSA project that will update, expand and make the database of Open Access Pilot and Demo Infrastructures for the European Bioeconomy future-proof and self sustainable through co-creation. Furthermore the project will grow, train and nurture the stakeholder communities linked to this database by means of the “Scale-up & Growth” and the “Connect & Exchange” Programmes.
A shuttle bus will depart from Sheraton Brussels Airport at 8am sharp on Wednesday November 26th, 2025 and will be back at Brussels Airport around 4pm.
More information and registration: [email protected].
More information and registrationExhibition
We reserve a limited number of booths for companies, funding agencies, incubators, clusters, service providers, SME helpdesks & other innovation related organisations to present their activities.
A booth is available at a rate of € 995 (excl. VAT) for a booth on both 24 and 25 November 2025. This rate includes one free registration for 24 and 25 November 2025 as well as a table, two chairs and electricity upon request.
Please contact [email protected] for more information or to book your booth.
Pay a visit to the booth of:
Visit the booth of EXHIBITOR Analis sa/nv Belgium and connect with Kurt Bello, Sales Engineer Bioprocessing, Cellular and Centrifugation.
Visit the booth of EVENT ORGANISER Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant and connect with the Business Developers and Project Acquistion team.
Visit the booth of EXHIBITOR Bioeconomy For Change and connect with Anne Kokel, European Project Manager.
Visit the booth of EVENT CO-ORGANISER BOM (Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij) and connect with Pieter Meuwissen, Venture Developer.
Visit the booth of EVENT CO-ORGANISER Danish Industry and connect with its industrial members attending the event.
Visit the booth of EXHIBITOR Elements Advisory and connect with Tineke De Wilde, Managing Director.
Visit the booth of SUPPORTING PROJECT “Pilots4U powered by COPILOT“. The project kindly financed the 30 travel vouchers, worth €500 each to facilitate the participation of BioInnovators to the event. Connect with Stef Denayer, Pilots4U Stakeholder Relations Manager, and Yang Zou, Pilots4U Platform Manager or any of the 30 pilot facilities attending the event.
Visit the booth of EVENT CO-ORGANISER Planet B.io. and learn more on the open innovation hub.
Visit the booth of SUPPORTING PROJECT The ProteInn Club and connect with its industrial members and/or founding fathers.
Partners
The Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy event is a co-organization of the following innovation platforms:
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP) is an independent, multi-purpose and state-of-the-art pilot facility operating from laboratory to multi-ton scale. It is a service provider for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes.
BBEPP also provides engineering services, public project application advice & assistance, a scale-up accelerator network, advocacy and much more. As the driving force behind the Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy events, it also provides ample networking and matchmaking opportunities with potential partners incl. investors.
More information Pilots4U powered by COPILOT
Pilots4U maps all existing open access pilot and demo-infrastructures across Europe, creating one, very visible and easily accessible community for the European bio-economy. The community of 100+ European facilities helps innovators, companies and research institutions operating in the bio-economy sector to gain easier access to testing facilities and scale-up their technology faster and cheaper towards the market.
More informationThe ProteInn Club
In the shift towards more sustainable proteins, the interest in alternative, fermentation-based proteins is growing massively. The ProteInn club provides knowledge and answers to those who want to grab opportunities and tackle the challenges of this transition. The ProteInn Club is a successful collaboration between Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, Ghent University, CAPTURE and ILVO and identifies, connects, support and inspires the entire value chain.
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Entrepreneurship is the driver of innovation – from sustainable food sources to a healthy future, climate-neutral energy, and developing promising key technologies. The Brabant Development Agency (BOM) ensures that startups playing a role in these fields receive the right support and funding to get off to a flying start and grow into scaleups, and that companies that aspire to go global can actually do so. Every year BOM works with dozens of companies to create this impact. BOM is an executive body of the Province of Brabant and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
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DI Biosolutions is Denmark’s largest and strongest industry community for biosolutions companies, engaged in Copenhagen, Brussels and other European capitals.
We are founding members and hosts of the European Biosolutions Coalition, with extensive experience in ensuring political and public support for breakthrough biosolutions innovations. On behalf of our members, we actively work to influence legislation and regulations that impact the biosolutions industry and our advocacy has proven effective in ensuring that the interests of our members are represented at both national and international level.
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At the heart of the Biotech Campus Delft, Planet B.io offers world-class labs, flexible office space, pilot and production facilities, and a high-impact network to transform bold ideas into commercial success. Our thriving ecosystem connects you with leading scientists, engineers, and established corporates to accelerate R&D and scale-up. We fast-track growth through investor access, direct subsidies, and expert guidance to help secure additional regional, national, and EU funding. International companies benefit from dedicated landing support, ensuring a smooth relocation and a rapid start.
Whether you’re launching your first lab or expanding into new markets, Planet B.io is where industrial biotech companies grow faster, scale smarter, and achieve more.
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BioInvest Europe – Connecting innovative foodtech and biotech startups to investors, our mission is to bridge the gap between sustainable solutions and venture capital.
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biotope by VIB provides access to labs, a network of experts and money to move things fast. They strengthen your startup together, focusing on your biotechnology first, transforming your idea into a business ready for seed funding.
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The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) is a non-profit organisation representing a broad range of industries, as well as research organisations, academia and trade associations. Its mission is to transform bio-based feedstocks into novel sustainable products and applications, and create circular bioeconomy ecosystems through investments, innovation, and know-how. BIC has more than 350 industry members (large companies, SMEs and micro-companies) and 250 associate members (research organisations, academia and trade associations) from across the bio-based value chain. Members represent multiple and diverse sectors, such as agriculture and agri-food, aquaculture and marine, chemicals and materials, forestry, pulp and paper, technology providers, waste management and treatment, and brand owners.
BIC also represents the private sector in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the European Commission, called the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
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