About

Track4Value is a spin-off company of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens operating in the field of traceability and food authenticity. As a NKUA spin-off, it creates the bridging link between research and industry, offering innovative services that highlight the added value of products and ensure their quality characteristics. On the side to the producers and consumers, it aims to strengthen the agri-food sector by introducing services fully integrated with the established European policies, such as “farm-to-fork”.

Solution & Product

"Track4Value" is an innovative idea, intertwined with the Agrologistics sector, based upon an integrated traceability system that assures authenticity all the way towards the final food product, including all production line information. It is directly linked to the European "Farm-to-Fork" policy, with critical control points being established for each food product to ensure its uniqueness. Track4Value provides a digital solution in the food industry, integrating EU policies and strategies according to established guidelines in each product. Through the "Track4Value" implementation and its holistic traceability system, a unique digital marking will be adopted in terms of nutritional value (NUTRI-4Value), food safety (SAFE-4Value) and environmentally friendly approaches (GREEN-4Value) of the final product. For this reason, there will be a QR code, unique for each product, accessible both by the producer, thus protecting the product name (brand protection), but also by the consumer certifying the quality (safety assurance) of the final product.

Innovation & Scalability

The competitive advantage of Track4Value technology is lied upon its expertised staff and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Our methodologies used are validated while regarding Track4Value idea a EU patent has submitted related to the authentication procedure from the sample deliver in the lab to the final authenticity outcome. Track4Value will be the first spin-off company of NKUA, utilizing all the academia infrastructure. Track4Value will support 3 food categories in the 1st year, our pilot products, olive oil, wine and cheese, which will represent approximately 50% of our product penetration. Gradually, and by the end of the 5th year, the platform aims to fully support 10-food chain categories. With regard to the market to which the company addresses to, for the first years of its operation the domestic market is determined (Greece), while in the future the possibility of entering other EU markets will be evaluated. Sub-licensing to collaborative analytical laboratories, is also considered in order to fully support our services and promote Track4Value scalability.

Traction & achievements

Track4Value has been awarded and gained support from both National and European entrepreneurship competitions (TrophyChallenge, EIT Food, OliveChallenge “ΦΙΛΑΙΟΣ”, NKUA Applied Innovation – Archimedes). Track4Value dissemination activities include participation in food exhibtions (e.g. FoodExpo, Detrop, Agrotica) and scientific conferences, while news & announcements are presented through company's site and social medias. Worth mentioning that Track4Value has co-organized the 1st Food Authenticity Workshop (11/2023), in which the latest scientific achievements in food authenticity have been presented, as well as the cutting-edge methodologies that Track4Value utilize to their fullest.

Team & Why Us

The main members and founders of the team are Prof. Nikolaos Thomaidis, Sofia Drakopoulou and Anastasia Kritikou who are chemists, Ph.D. expertized in food authenticity. Along with our supporting team, dedicated to the business strategy and IT development, Track4Value receives full support from the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, the Center for Excellence in Agri-Food & Food Authenticity of NKUA, as well as the main Greek centers of innovation and business. Our credibility and quality performance is lies upon our specialized technical laboratory staff and state-of-the-art core facility that assure the excellent quality, integrity and reliability of results. Along with Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry joint forces, we count +10 years track record in food authenticity.

Funding Needs

We are currently at the the pre-seed stage, looking for additional funding, in order to cover our patent expenses and finalize Track4Value digital platform.