A Treasure Called the Truffle: From the Agrofood Accelerator Agrofood Noáin Incubator

Some business ideas take shape gradually, after years of observing and spotting opportunities where almost no one else looks. María Ugarte, founder of Truffino—a company that recently set up shop at the Noáin Innovation Incubator—started out that way.

Before launching his own venture, he had been working in gourmet food distribution since 2019. He wanted to introduce the market to unique, lesser-known products he discovered on his travels, and over time, a different ambition began to take shape: to create something of his own.

“I started to feel the urge to have my own brand, my own product,” he explains. That’s how Trufino was born, an initiative based on one of Navarre’s greatest culinary treasures: the truffle. And with that goal in mind, he participated in Agrofood Accelerator. 

Enjoy truffles all year round

Although Navarre is known for produce such as asparagus, peppers, and artichokes, María realized that truffles were difficult to come by and very limited due to their seasonal nature.

“Truffles are harvested between December and March. Outside of that period, they practically disappear,” he says. The main challenge lies in preserving them. Fresh truffles retain their aroma and flavor for only a few days, and they lose their intensity when frozen or exposed to high temperatures.

Based on this challenge, the goal was to develop a technology capable of encapsulating and preserving the aroma of truffles, making it possible to work with them year-round and even use them in industrial processes. The aim was to make this ingredient accessible to households, restaurants, and the food industry alike.

From the Agrofood Accelerator Agrofood Noáin Innovation Incubator

During the course of the project, Truffino participated in Agrofood Accelerator, a program designed to promote innovative projects in the agri-food sector and help them turn their ideas into viable business models.

Since completing the accelerator program, the project has continued to grow and is currently based at the Noáin Innovation Incubator, a space designed to support startups and innovative companies in their early stages of development. Furthermore, as one of the companies in our ecosystem, María has had the opportunity to participate in trade shows such as Advanced Factories and Alimentaria, one of the largest trade shows in this sector. At these events, she has been able to connect with investors and, above all, customers from all over the world.

For María, having support throughout the process has been key to moving forward and establishing Truffino. That’s why, when she talks to people who are thinking about launching their own project, she advises them not to go it alone. “Don’t lose your enthusiasm, and reach out to CEIN as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the more they’ll be able to help you with your project.”