Nanotech startup Metalchemy wins Web Summit Qatar PITCH Competition to solve food waste crisis
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Metalchemy Co-Founder and CEO Federico Trotta received the PITCH trophy on Web Summit’s Qatar Centre Stage after winning the final round of judging by Amin Matni from Jusour, Yalda Aoukar from Bracket Capita, Rashmi Gopinath from BAM Corner Point and Magnus Grimeland from Antler.
The UK-based startup won in the PITCH final against Nigerian edtech startup Earlybean and UAE sustainable and cleantech startup Fortyguard. A total of 35 startups competed in group rounds that were held across the three days of the event.
Metalchemy is on a mission to fight food waste by extending the shelf life of perishable food. Their patented silver nanoparticle suspension, made with natural ingredients like oregano, works as anko antibacterial shield. When applied to plastics, paper, and bioplastics, it prevents harmful bacteria from growing, keeping food fresher for longer and reducing spoilage.
Looking ahead, Metalchemy is expanding into the health sector, with ongoing research in collaboration with University College London.
“We want Web Summit to help us bring nanotechnology to society—so step into the nano world with us!”, said Metalchemy Co-Founder and CEO Federico Trotta. “Our goal is to educate the public about this breakthrough technology, which goes beyond food preservation. We see potential in health, cosmetics, and more. Coming to Web Summit Qatar will help us spread awareness and raise funding to bring this vision to life.“
“The experience at Web Summit has been amazing. We did not expect to get this far as we do not work with software. This has been amazing,” Federico Trotta continued.
Metalchemy is currently supported by investors such as G-Force Venture Capital, Katapult Venture Capital, and Innovate UK Grant Funding.
PITCH finalists included FortyGuard, from the UAE, which helps cities track and improve cooling efforts by providing real-time heat data, and Earlybean from Nigeria which creates an app to help kids and teens develop smart money habits through hands-on money management.
Both startups were excited for the opportunity to present on the Web Summit Qatar stage.
“This will give us a good edge and bring attention to help us raise our pre-seed. I believe Web Summit opens doors with investors and possible collaborations in the region”, said Earlybean CEO Biebele Oyibo. “We want people to know that Earlybeen is on a mission to dominate the youth banking space and we are working towards that.”
According to Foryguard Founder and CEO Jay Sadiq, “We are obsessed with temperature and we are working really hard to make this world a cooler place. We won’t be able to do this without people knowing about the problem and engaging with us.”
Web Summit Qatar 2025 highlights
Web Summit Qatar 2025 sold out with 25,747 attendees from 124 countries, making it the largest startup gathering in the Middle East. With 1,520 startups – including 228 from Qatar – the event showcased the region’s growing innovation scene.
AI took center stage, Web Summit Qatar highlighted how the Middle East is shaping the AI revolution, bringing together global leaders. Key debates focused on who will drive AI’s future – Big Tech, open-source developers, or policymakers – and its ethical and economic implications.
As highlighted by Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave, “On opening night, Felix from Axios asked Alexandr Wang whether America or China would win the AI race. Out of about 1,500 people, only two raised their hands for America. Outside the U.S., it seems few believe America will come out on top, which is a fascinating story in itself.”
Leveraging the power of AI
Web Summit is also leveraging the power of AI. At Web Summit Qatar, more than 120 AI-powered meetups were facilitated through Web Summit software. By analysing attendee profiles – like interests, job title, industry, and location – the system groups people and suggests meetups, making sure attendees make the right connections to spark new ideas, discussions and business.
Top Meetups Included:
- Qatar Founders & CEOs meetup
- Telecoms & IT Enthusiasts
- Ads & Marketing Enthusiasts
- Education Enthusiasts meetup
- Women in Tech meetup
Top talks included:
- Redefining success in Hollywood and beyond with Will Smith and Jay Shetty
- Running in circles: How the old has become new
- The Global AI Race
- Shaping the future: Investing in transformative sectors
- Making products that people love
With a sold-out event floor, Web Summit fostered meaningful connections, investment opportunities, and groundbreaking collaborations in tech.
Top investors, including Global Ventures’ Noor Seid, Greycroft’s Kevin Gasque, and Qatar Investment Authority’s Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hardan, engaged with leading startups. Meanwhile, global partners like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, TikTok, Cloudflare, and Huawei showcased their latest innovations alongside Qatari and global startups.
Web Summit will return on February 1-4 2026.
