Entries are now open for the 2022 Fi Global Startup Innovation Challenge. The awards give innovative young companies the opportunity to present their concepts, products and ideas to a broad industry audience.
Beginning in 2016, the Startup Innovation Challenge has been a platform for introducing startups and young entrepreneurs to major companies, investors and a global audience, where they can showcase exciting ingredients and concepts. Startups that have been active for no more than five years can submit entries online for one or more of the following categories:
- Most Innovative Food & Beverage Ingredient
- Most Innovative Plant Based or Alternative Ingredient
- Most Innovative Processing Technology
- Most Innovative Service, Technology or Digital Solution Supporting F&B
Innovation is key in the food and beverage industry, in order to provide a growing global population with nutritious and sustainable food and drink. Many ideas for healthier and eco-friendly food production come from startups, but they don’t have the funds to bring their ideas to market or scale up.
Awards give finalists and winners with much needed exposure. At Fi Europe 2022 which is being held in Paris this year, startups will have access to the Startup Lounge, where they can meet with industry stakeholders and present their ideas on stage at the Innovation Hub. On top of that, startup pitches and the award ceremony will be streamed to a wider global audience through the Fi Europe online platform.
Winners will be able to choose an exhibition stand at next year’s Fi Europe, a comprehensive marketing package or an individual mentoring programme which could include coaching, pilot work or access to corporate collaborations and accelerator programmes.
“It is extremely important to nurture innovative young companies at a very early stage,” said Albrecht Wolfmeyer, Jury member and Head of ProVeg International Incubator. “The Startup Innovation Challenge is an invaluable opportunity for young entrepreneurs to validate their businesses and extend their networks. The prizes we offer are far more than just feedback and recognition: They provide crucial business support, including invaluable specialist mentoring.”
“It helped us in so many ways,” stated Gerit Tolborg, CEO and Co-Founder of Chromologics and the 2017 award winner. “It gave us a lot of exposure and industry connections, the confidence to pursue our goal because it validated our innovation, and also helped us to raise additional non-dilutive funding.”
Entries will close on 30 September, 2022. The awards ceremony will take place on site at Fi Europe, which will run from 6-8 December at Porte de Versailles in Paris, and the online version from 28 November – 8 December 2022.
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Editor, International Bakery
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920
Email: editor@in-bakery.com
