Our new report, Winners in the Foodtech Startup Industry, highlights the top 20 countries and 40 cities leading worldwide in the full report. Additional data on 195 cities and 33 countries is available to StartupBlink Pro users.
Using extensive data from sources like Semrush and Crunchbase, this report uncovers the leading ecosystems, most promising startups, notable unicorns, and major exits in the Foodtech sector. We also analyze funding trends and regional dynamics to provide a comprehensive overview of this industry. Below, we present key insights from the top cities & countries for Foodtech startups. Download the full report for a detailed analysis.
Foodtech Startup Ecosystem Analysis
This section identifies the top-performing cities and countries worldwide for Foodtech startups and shows their growth since 2023. The full report offers an expanded analysis covering 20 countries and 40 ranked countries excelling in Foodtech. StartupBlink Pro users can access the full rankings for 195 cities and 33 countries in Foodtech, as well as rankings for 1,200+ locations across 100+ industries.
Top Countries for Foodtech Startups Worldwide
We rank 20 countries leading the Foodtech industry in the full report. Below are highlights from 10 of those countries excelling in the Foodtech industry:
- The US leads the Foodtech rankings with a score 1.4 times higher than Singapore. However, the score gap between the two in general rankings is nearly 4 times greater.
- Singapore is ranked 2nd in Foodtech, three places higher than its general startup ecosystem ranking. Its score is more than double that of the UK, even though the UK ranks higher in the overall startup ecosystem rankings.
- Israel (4th) and Canada (5th) both moved up one place since 2023 but remain one spot below their general startup ecosystem rankings.
- Spain is the top Foodtech country in the EU, ranking 6th globally. This is 9 places higher than its general startup ecosystem ranking.
- Switzerland rose 2 places to 7th in Foodtech, which is 3 spots higher than its general startup ecosystem ranking. It is also the 3rd top Foodtech country in Europe, ahead of France and Germany.
Top Cities for Foodtech Startups Worldwide
We rank 40 cities in the full report. Below are highlights from some of the top Foodtech cities globally:
- San Francisco Bay has maintained its position as the global leader in Foodtech for 2024, with no changes in ranking compared to its general startup ecosystem rank. The gap between San Francisco and New York is smaller in Foodtech (1.3 times) compared to their general startup ecosystem rankings (3 times).
- New York remains steadfast in 2nd place, with a Foodtech score 1.4 times lower than San Francisco Bay and consistent with its overall ecosystem ranking.
- Los Angeles has made a notable rise to 3rd place, climbing two spots from 2023 and ranking one position higher than its general startup ecosystem rank.
- Boston experienced a slight drop to 4th place in Foodtech rankings, though it continues to outperform its general startup ecosystem ranking by one position.
- London has slipped to 5th place in the Foodtech rankings, scoring 10% lower than Boston and now ranking two spots lower than its overall ecosystem position.
- Singapore City remains at 6th place globally in Foodtech for 2024, demonstrating its leadership in the Asia Pacific region and outperforming its general ecosystem ranking by an impressive 10 spots.
- New Delhi has climbed two spots to 7th, surpassing key competitors like Bangalore and Shanghai, and ranking four positions higher than its general ecosystem rank.
- Chicago dropped one spot to 8th but still showcases significant overperformance in Foodtech, ranking seven places higher than its general startup ecosystem position.
- Bangalore rose three positions to secure 9th place in the Foodtech rankings, though it remains one spot below its general ecosystem rank.
- Shanghai fell two positions to 10th in Foodtech for 2024, ranking three places lower than its general startup ecosystem performance while still holding its place in the global top 10.
Top Foodtech Unicorns
The Foodtech industry is home to 19 unicorns globally, making it the industry with the lowest number of unicorns in our database, representing only 1.5% of all unicorns worldwide. Below, we present the top 5 unicorns with the highest SB Scores. Download the full report for the rest.
- GoPuff SB Score: 769
Location: Philadelphia, United States
An on-demand delivery platform that specializes in delivering convenience store items, such as snacks, drinks, household essentials, over-the-counter medications, and in some markets, alcohol, directly to customers’ doorsteps.
2. Kurly SB Score: 749
Location: Seoul, South Korea
An online grocery platform offering premium food products and same-day delivery services, focusing on quality and convenience for urban consumers.
3. Licious SB Score: 662
Location: Bangalore, India
Licious is an online platform for ordering fresh meat and seafood, offering a seamless end-to-end experience. Customers can easily browse and purchase high-quality products for convenient delivery to their doorstep.
4. BrewDog SB Score: 659
Location: Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
A multinational brewery and pub chain known for its craft beers and innovative brewing techniques, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and community engagement.
5. Rebel Foods SB Score: 627
Location: Mumbai, India
A cloud kitchen operator managing multiple virtual restaurant brands, leveraging technology to optimize food delivery and expand culinary offerings.
Top Foodtech Startups
The Foodtech industry is home to more than 6,000 startups globally, making it the industry with one of the lowest shares of startups in our database, representing only 3.4%. Below, we present the startups with the highest SB Scores as of January 2025. Download the full report for the top 10.
1. 7shifts SB Score: 653
Location: San Francisco, United States
A labor management platform designed for restaurants, offering scheduling, communication, and time-tracking tools to streamline operations.
2. CookUnity SB Score: 649
Location: New York, United States
A chef-to-consumer meal delivery service offering a variety of handcrafted, ready-to-eat meals prepared by independent chefs.
3. Petpooja SB Score: 645
Location: Ahmedabad, India
An Indian restaurant management platform providing point-of-sale solutions, inventory management, and analytics to streamline restaurant operations.
4. Oda SB Score: 636
Location: Oslo, Norway
A Norwegian online grocery retailer providing home delivery services, focusing on a wide selection of products and efficient logistics.
5. KoRo SB Score: 634
Location: Berlin, Germany
KoRo is a growing FoodTech startup known for its healthy, sustainable, and long-lasting food products. They are a leading brand in the industry, offering innovative and delicious options for health-conscious consumers.
Top Foodtech Exits
Below, we list the top 5 foodtech exits around the world, based on the highest acquisition amount as of January 2025. You can find out about the top 10 foodtech exits in the full report.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Acquisition Amount: US$ 9.6B
An online food delivery service that partners with restaurants and grocery stores to deliver meals and essentials to customers’ doors.
2. Ele.me
Location: Shanghai, China
Acquisition Amount: US$ 9.5B
A leading online food delivery platform in China, headquartered in Shanghai, connecting users with local restaurants for meal deliveries.
3. Wolt
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Acquisition Amount: US$ 8.1B
A Helsinki-based technology company offering a platform for discovering and ordering food, groceries, and other goods, with delivery services in multiple countries.
4. Blue Apron
Location: New York, United States
Acquisition Amount: US$ 7.4B
A meal kit delivery service providing fresh ingredients and chef-designed recipes, enabling customers to cook meals at home.
5. Grubhub
Location: Chicago, United States
Acquisition Amount: US$ 7.3B
An online and mobile food ordering and delivery platform connecting diners with local restaurants across the United States.
What awaits you in the full report?
The insights in this article are just a preview of the full report, Winners in the Foodtech Startup Industry. Download the report today to access:
- Rankings of 40 cities and 20 countries in Foodtech.
- Initiatives for Foodtech startups such as Pepsico Open Innovation Portal.
- Top startups, unicorns, and exits in the industry, ranked by SB Score.
- Comprehensive analysis of funding trends and industry growth.
About Our Data Partners
Crunchbase
Crunchbase is a prospecting platform powered by best-in-class proprietary data. It helps over 75 million dealmakers discover, qualify, track, and engage with the right opportunities so they can search less and close more.
Semrush
Semrush is a trusted data provider whose data on search volume, correlations, website traffic, and digital trends is used by media outlets around the world. Comprising over 50 products, tools, and add-ons related to online visibility management, and collecting search data for 140 countries.
