August 1, 2018

Apply for the Startup Innovation Challenge today!

 

 

As part of Hi Europe & Ni 2018 event, UBM will be showcasing some of the most promising start-ups involved in the F&B industry. Applications for the Startup Innovation Challenge are now open.

Concepts with the most potential will be presented live to a professional audience on the first day of the show. Additionally, three winners will receive extensive coaching from recognised industry experts.

Start-ups often exemplify creative industry pioneers and outstanding innovations. Unfortunately, young companies may lack the budget and support to make their impact on the market.

Hence, UBM launched the Startup Innovation Challenge in 2016 to enable founders or small new enterprises the opportunity to reach a broader and a more specific audience and receive valuable guidance.

Chosen nominees will present their idea or innovation to a jury of experts on 26 November, at the Hi Europe & Ni's Industry Insights Theatre in Frankfurt.

The show is set to receive more than 10,000 visitors and more than 500 exhibitors, making it the central trade event for healthy functional ingredients in the food and beverage industry.

 

All shortlisted start-ups will have access to a Startup Lounge, located in the heart of the exhibition, providing the perfect opportunity to connect, network and demonstrate their products to a highly relevant and influential group.

Those interested must enter one of the following categories before Friday, September 21:

    •  Most Innovative Healthy Food or Beverage Ingredient

    •  Most Innovative Plant-Based Finished Product

    •  Most Innovative Technology or Service Supporting F&B.
 

In addition, the three winners will get individual advice from one of the jury members and can choose from various special prizes – from a fully equipped stand at Hi Europe 2018 or Fi Europe 2019 to a marketing campaign within the Ingredients Network or access to the "Conciergerie" innovation platform from Presans to intensive consultation at Wageningen University & Research.

 

Feedback from proven experts

 

The jury comprises industry experts, investors and company representative from well-known corporations in the health ingredients industry.
 

Thomas van den Boezem, the programme manager at StartLife, an incubator founded by Wageningen University & Research that specialises in coaching start-ups in the food industry and a jury member, shared:

 

"Novel food ingredients that make an environmental and health impact are a major focus for us. Wageningen University & Research performs extensive research on this topic; and, as a result, we see more and more startup activity in this space. But, we recognise that other ecosystems in the world often have creative new solutions that we have never seen before, so for us, this challenge is a great way to stay engaged."

 

Sandra Einerhand from Einerhand Science & Innovation, who helped to implement the first Challenge in 2016, has been a jury panel member from the beginning.

 

"The world is in transition: the climate is changing, the population is growing and there is an increased risk of diet-related diseases. So, we have to do something about the way we produce and consume food. One source of innovation is start-up companies and the Challenge is a great way to support them. Receiving valuable feedback about their business model and product, and with valuable prizes on offer, they can both create awareness and use this opportunity to meet or identify potential investors or venture funds," Einerhand added.

 

To be eligible for application, companies must be less than 5 years old and have a solid business plan. The submission must focus on an exceptional new product or service that promotes health and, ideally, already exists as a prototype or service model.