GOe – Gastronomy Open Ecosystem, the new international hub for science, innovation, and gastronomic entrepreneurship promoted by Basque Culinary Center, launches one of its main lines of activity: comprehensive support for entrepreneurship in foodtech. This initiative positions GOe as a leading node for startups aiming to transform the food system through innovation, knowledge, and collaboration.

GOe’s entrepreneurship ecosystem emerges as the natural evolution of over a decade of work carried out under the Culinary Action! brand to support foodtech startups. Now, this ecosystem strengthens its commitment to fostering transformative projects by embracing a comprehensive model that includes incubation, acceleration, and the creation of new startups. Through its proprietary methodology and the backing of strategic partners such as the Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government through Hazi Fundazioa, GOe offers entrepreneurs access to national and international mentors, unique infrastructure, global connections, and financial support.

A unique environment for startups seeking to transform the sector

Startups based at GOe will have access to coworking spaces and on-site residences, and may take part in programs such as the GOe Incubator, which in 2025 will host at least four startups in residence. These will benefit from access to prototyping kitchens, laboratories, specialized mentoring, and financial aid. Simultaneously, the in-residence Accelerator will support four additional early-stage startups each year, offering seed capital, real-context testing, residential support, and a personalized acceleration fund through GOe Tech Center — Basque Culinary Center’s technological innovation hub in gastronomy.

Among its flagship initiatives is the On The Road program, celebrating its fifth edition this year after traveling to over a dozen international cities including New York, Boston, Copenhagen, Tokyo, London, and Buenos Aires. This competition has become a benchmark platform for identifying disruptive global foodtech startups, connecting with innovative ecosystems, and attracting entrepreneurial talent to GOe.

To date, On The Road has hosted more than 18 international events, featured over 150 speakers, and identified more than 100 high-potential startups, many of which have gone on to participate in Basque Culinary Center programs.

Starting in 2026, the GOe ecosystem will expand to include a Venture Builder aimed at creating new science- and technology-based startups, as well as a Gastronomic Incubator designed to support innovative concepts in restaurant models and food experiences.

A vibrant and international community

GOe is more than a space — it is a vibrant, global community driving change. A meeting point where entrepreneurs, researchers, chefs, investors, companies, and industry stakeholders collaborate to imagine and build the gastronomy of tomorrow. From this ecosystem, transformative projects will emerge to tackle major food challenges through a multidisciplinary and creative lens.

Entrepreneurship at GOe is the engine of the future of gastronomy: more sustainable, more delicious, more healthful, and more global.