CHICAGO — The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announced the enhanced return of the Startup Pavilion and Pitch competition to IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, set for July 13-16.
The Startup Pavilion is a showcase of up to 100 global food and food tech startups from pre-seed to growth stages and spotlights their potential to transform the food system with their innovations.
This year’s Startup Pavilion — in partnership with venture capital firm PeakBridge — gives exhibitors the opportunity to make short presentations on the expo floor in front of attendees and investors as part of the Startup Showcase.
PeakBridge collaborates with global leading food corporations, investors, knowledge institutions, and food tech hubs to invest in pioneers with scalable and health-focused technologies in the food sector.
“At IFT, we believe that innovation is key to shaping the future of food,” said Christie Tarantino-Dean, IFT’s CEO. “That’s why we’re proud to provide a platform like the Startup Pavilion, where entrepreneurs can showcase their ideas, bring real-world, lasting impact to the food industry, and drive positive change for a more sustainable and accessible food future.”
The Pitch’s return to the expo will also feature a new format. Rather than the full competition taking place at IFT FIRST, participants are now able to upload a video submission to The Pitch portal prior to the show.
Submissions are open now and will close on May 1. Finalists will be announced in June and go on to compete on the Taste of Science stage at IFT FIRST on July 16. The virtual semifinal round and the live final round of the competition will be judged by a panel of professionals representing the global food ecosystem.
This year’s grand prize winner will also appear on IFT’s podcast, Omnivore, and receive coverage in IFT’s Food Technology magazine.
The Pitch is sponsored by the Seeding the Future Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides seed funding and support to high-impact innovations to improve global food systems.
In partnership with IFT, the Seeding The Future Foundation also funds the annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge, which invites scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams to submit their innovations and compete for a portion of the $1 million that is awarded to Grand Prize, Growth Grant and Seed Grant winners.
“It is imperative that we invest in transformative solutions to help us create a safer and more accessible food system,” said Bernhard van Lengerich, PhD, founder of the Seeding The Future Foundation. “The companies spotlighted in the Startup Pavilion, The Pitch and the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge represent the innovative thinking our world needs to ensure equitable access to safe and nutritious food for everyone, everywhere.”
Submissions for this year’s challenge closed on January 6, with attendee registration for IFT FIRST opening in March. For more information, visit the IFT FIRST website.
