KBC's thematic accelerator "Scale it Agro" for Sustainable Agro scale-ups Qorus-Infosys Finacle Banking Innovation Awards 2025 - Winner

Under the umbrella of 'Start it @KBC which has been KBC's accelerator and innovation branch for more than ten years, we felt the need to support the theme of sustainable agriculture.

'Scale it Agro' is a pan-European accelerator for scale-ups in sustainable agriculture. We focus on companies with a turnover of 250k EUR - 3m EUR, already validated by the market, helping them maintain and grow that momentum, and navigate the critical growth phase, known as the 'valley of death' for young companies. Our program combines mentorship from other founders and industry specialists, expert masterclasses and direct access to decision-makers.

What sets us apart is our backing: from an exceptional consortium which includes KBC Bank & Insurance, CERA (Belgium's largest cooperative); Boerenbond, Agri-investment Fund and Arvesta. These partners bridge the full agricultural value chain, providing everything from finance and insurance to inputs and farmer networks.

The program has been designed jointly by a former climate-finance entrepreneur and 'Start it@KBC' staff. It is high-touch, zero-fluff.

The EU-wide focus makes we can tap into regional specializations and are able to contribute to a more integrated EU innovation space. Our focus is on the whole chain, because the different ends of our food systems speak different languages, and cross-chain alignment is key.