The Food Waste Challenge: Empowering Latin American Startups

The program focuses on embedded consumer waste reduction, process optimization at food centers, climate-resilient production and distribution, food loss and waste data infrastructure, and redistribution and circular utilization.

Globally, nearly one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted each year, resulting in an estimated cost of almost USD 1 trillion, reduced farmer incomes, higher food prices, and increased food insecurity, particularly for vulnerable populations. Food loss and waste occur across the entire value chain, from harvest and post-harvest handling to processing, distribution, retail, and final consumption, while also representing wasted land, water, energy, labor, and capital, and significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Latin America accounts for approximately 20% of global food losses, with an estimated 223 kilograms of food wasted per person annually. Addressing this challenge in the region requires integrated, system-level solutions that tackle structural inefficiencies while strengthening food security, climate resilience, and economic inclusion.

The Food Waste Challenge supports startups by providing access to expert advice, including 1:1 coaching with investment analysts to build financial models, identify unit economics, and use financial metrics to guide both business growth and investor diligence. Participants also engage in mock board meetings with representatives from financial institutions, corporations, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors who can help scale their ventures. Startups gain connections to a diverse and inclusive network of mentors and founders within the agriculture and food sectors, as well as access to live and asynchronous sessions tailored to virtual learning environments to help companies identify milestones and prepare for expansion. The program also includes an in-person summit in Mexico City, offering networking opportunities with stakeholders in the impact ecosystem, including potential clients and investors, along with exposure on Village Capital’s program website and other communications channels.

Mentorship opportunities allow startups to meet with prominent potential strategic partners, investors, customers, and other founders from Latin America and the United States, strengthening their network and growth potential. Eligible startups must be legally incorporated and operating as a for-profit entity in at least one Spanish-speaking Latin American country, have a market-based solution addressing food loss or waste, employ at least one full-time founder based in Latin America, comply with local fiscal and business law, have a minimum viable product, and have raised less than USD 1M in equity. Additionally, they must demonstrate meaningful customer or business validation, which can include successful pilot studies, number of users, or strategic partnerships.

For more information, visit Village Capital.