Rosewood Seeds Returns for Fourth Year, Calling on F&B Innovators to Tackle Waste Across Hospitality's Value Chain
Rosewood Foundation, the corporate philanthropic arm of Rosewood Hotel Group, has officially opened applications for the fourth edition of Rosewood Seeds, a global accelerator programme dedicated to advancing circularity and reducing waste across the hospitality food and beverage (F&B) value chain.
Delivered in partnership with global innovation platform Brinc, and supported by Rosewood Hotel Group, the programme continues its mission of connecting early-stage entrepreneurs with the funding, mentorship, and industry access needed to scale real-world solutions.
A Sharper Focus on Circularity
Building on last year's spotlight on sustainable food practices, Rosewood Seeds 2026 broadens its scope to address waste at every stage of the F&B value chain. The programme is actively seeking start-ups working across five key focus areas:
Food Waste Reduction – from sourcing and preparation to storage and consumption
Sustainable Packaging – reducing environmental impact across the packaging lifecycle
Supply Chain Efficiency – building transparent, resilient F&B supply chains
AgTech Innovation – advancing resilient, efficient food production and sourcing
Circular Economy Solutions – extending the value and lifecycle of materials and resources
For brand owners, suppliers, and entrepreneurs across Asia's food and hospitality ecosystem, this represents a timely opportunity to align innovation with an industry increasingly under pressure to operate more sustainably.
Proven Impact: Last Year's Winners
Rosewood Seeds' 2025 edition, themed "Sustainability in Food," demonstrated the programme's global reach and real-world impact. The competition drew more than 100 applications from 37 countries across the foodtech and agritech sectors, with submissions ranging from bio-based coatings that extend fruit and vegetable shelf life to upcycled ingredients and smart food inventory management systems.
From this competitive pool, eight finalists were selected to pitch: Dapibuset, Gaia Software, Green Connect, Jaikla Pet, Kitocoat, Mottainai Food Tech, Nat4Bio, and Nibs etc. — representing some of the most promising innovation in circular food systems worldwide.
Rosewood Seeds' 2025 - Top three awardees
KITOCOAT (1st Place)
Dapibuset (2nd Place)
Jaikla (3rd Place)
As Brinc's team put it: "Buzzwords don't reduce waste — real circular solutions do." Winners gained not just prize funding, but visibility through Brinc and Rosewood Hotel Group's global networks, along with the opportunity to explore pilot collaborations within the hospitality sector — proof that Rosewood Seeds delivers tangible pathways from pitch to partnership.
From Application to Pitch Day
Applications open August 12, 2026 and close September 14, 2026. Eligible companies should be incorporated entities with at least two full-time founders, a market-validated solution (TRL 5+), a scalable business model, and between two to five years of operating history.
From the applicant pool, eight shortlisted start-ups will be selected to receive one-to-one coaching from senior business leaders across Rosewood Hotel Group's global properties — including guidance from executive chefs, F&B excellence directors, and sustainability leaders — helping refine their propositions ahead of a virtual Pitch Day at the end of October 2026.
Cash Prizes and Pilot Potential
Three standout innovators will be recognised with cash prizes: US$10,000 for first place, US$5,000 for second, and US$3,000 for third. Beyond funding, finalists gain a global brand spotlight, direct engagement with Rosewood Hotel Group's senior leadership, and access to Brinc's extensive partner network — opening the door to potential pilot projects and strategic collaborations across the Group's international footprint.
Why It Matters for the Region
With last year's cohort drawing more than 100 applicants, Rosewood Seeds has identified a recurring challenge: promising sustainability innovations often remain hyper-localised, lacking the industry connections needed to scale globally. This year's programme aims to close that gap — offering Asian F&B innovators, in particular, a direct route to international hospitality markets, mentorship, and visibility among decision-makers actively seeking circular solutions.
Applications are free. Food and beverage entrepreneurs, packaging innovators, AgTech developers, and supply chain solution providers are encouraged to apply before the September 14 deadline.
Learn more and apply at brinc.io/rosewood-seeds.
Comments