Meet the judges: 2026 Startup Innovation Awards round two assessment

In the second selection round for the 2026 WFF Startup Innovation awards, 67 judges from around the world came together to dedicate their expertise to evaluating 47 youth-led startups driving agrifood systems transformation.

Powered by MassChallenge Switzerland and supported by The Seeding the Future Foundation and the Smart Solutions for Agri-food Innovation Hub (SS4AF),  SIA is a global competition that elevates young entrepreneurs using technology to transform agrifood systems.

The evaluation of participating startup was strengthened by a diverse cohort of judges:

• Over 25 countries were represented on the judging panel, the majority from the Global South;
• The panel reflected a strong gender lens, with women representing over 50 percent of judges; and
• Judges’ profiles spanned sectors, ranging from FAO experts to private sector representatives, agrifood system researchers, local community leaders and experienced entrepreneurs.

Our sincere gratitude to the judges for their time, expertise and commitment to supporting the Startup Innovation Awards 2026 and the next generation of agrifood innovation.