Tate & Lyle partners with MassChallenge to accelerate food innovation in UK and Switzerland
Global ingredient solutions provider Tate & Lyle has announced a strategic partnership with MassChallenge UK and MassChallenge Switzerland to support early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs through the accelerator’s established innovation programmes.
The collaboration, announced on 10 September 2025, positions Tate & Lyle as a foundational corporate partner in the UK programme whilst also joining the established Swiss initiative. Both programmes focus on addressing critical challenges within the food system, including nutritional enhancement, sustainable farming practices, food processing optimisation, and waste reduction.
Strategic focus on sustainable innovation
The partnership aligns with Tate & Lyle’s Open Innovation programme, designed to complement the company’s internal R&D capabilities through external collaborations. Participants in both MassChallenge hubs will benefit from access to Tate & Lyle’s innovation expertise alongside the accelerator’s comprehensive support framework, which includes mentoring, market insights, legal guidance, and funding expertise.
Karen du Plessis, Head of Open Innovation at Tate & Lyle, explained: “This new partnership provides us with access to some of the most dynamic start-ups and early-stage companies working to develop the novel ingredients, process innovations and sustainability solutions that our food system needs to continue to thrive.”
Proven track record in Switzerland
The MassChallenge Swiss model has demonstrated significant impact over the past decade, supporting nearly 1,000 start-ups that collectively raised €2 billion in funding and generated more than 55,000 jobs. This success framework is now being adapted for the UK market through the East London Royal Docks location.
David Kinsella, Managing Director of MassChallenge UK, highlighted the partnership’s potential: “The Swiss model of MassChallenge has been hugely successful, accelerating nearly 1,000 start-ups, who went on to raise €2 billion in funding, and creating more than 55,000 jobs in a ten-year period. With Tate & Lyle’s help, we’re working to replicate this success in the UK.”
Enhanced innovation capabilities
Through the collaboration, Tate & Lyle’s innovation teams will work directly with MassChallenge’s regional specialists to identify start-ups aligned with the company’s innovation priorities. The partnership is expected to enhance Tate & Lyle’s ingredient innovation capabilities whilst accelerating time-to-market for new solutions.
The initiative represents a structured approach to external innovation sourcing, providing start-ups with corporate partnership opportunities whilst offering established food companies access to emerging technologies and sustainability solutions.
For more information, visit: www.tateandlyle.com
