Food and health startups get chance to impress in Innovation Challenge

27 Jul 2017 --- Innovative ingredient projects, carried out by startups that have brought something completely new and unexpected to the food and health markets, will be rewarded as part of the Startup Innovation Challenge during the next Fi Europe & Ni show from November 28 to 30 this year.

The first Startup Innovation Challenge took place in 2016 and rewarded two promising projects. The first was sustainable food, fuel and feed technology company 3f Bio. The second was GreenFood 50, which develops, produces & sells innovative quinoa ingredients.

Now Naturex, UBM and Presans are launching the second edition of the event. For this edition, a new partner is also joining the team: Vaucluse Provence Attractivité (VPA) – the economic development agency for the Vaucluse, Southern France. VPA provides customized support for companies wishing to expand and set up their activities in France.

The Startup Innovation Challenge aims to reward innovative ingredient projects carried out by startups that have brought something completely new and unexpected to the food and health markets. Naturex points out that it gives them the opportunity to pitch their idea to the food and beverage industry players that make up Fi Europe’s 1,500 exhibitors and more than 25,000 visitors.

There will be two awards for the winning startups. The winner of the Best Innovation Award will receive a personalized acceleration program to develop their activity, including an expert network of professionals in the area, provided by Vaucluse Provence Attractivité and its partners. The prize will also include either a bespoke lead generation campaign developed by UBM or a stand at Hi Europe 2018 or Fi Europe 2019.

The Best Natural Ingredient Award, sponsored by Naturex, will be awarded to innovative projects promoting new extraction methods (green tech), new plant extracts, innovative ingredients concepts and so on. Naturex points out that it is an appropriate sponsor for the award because it “sources, manufactures and markets natural specialty ingredients for the food, health and cosmetic industries” and that “as the Natural Maker, the company actively supports the global shift to natural.”

The Startup Innovation Challenge rewards the best ingredients projects carried out by startups less than 3 years old or by still-developing companies. Only 10 startups will be invited to pitch at the event. 

Companies that wish to subscribe can do so online before 23 October. The judging panel is on 27 November, and the live pitch session is on 28 November, as is the award ceremony. More information on the Startup Innovation Challenge can be found at the Fi global website.