The second annual IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge™ kicks off next summer, and it’s not too late to apply. The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is accepting applications for the competition through January 10, 2019.
About IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge™
The IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge™ offers emerging and investment-ready startups the chance to showcase their innovative ideas to a group of experienced influencers and receive expert guidance along the way. IFT’s mission? To discover businesses and entrepreneurs with the ingenuity to make positive — and disruptive — impacts on the food industry and supply chain.
How the challenge works
In the first part of the competition, six companies will be selected to participate in a six-week mentor-guided program. Finalists from the first round will be invited to share their ideas at a pitch competition at IFT19.
The winner will be selected by a group of influential industry leaders to receive $25,000. Also, the audience will choose another winner to take home the $5,000 people’s choice award. Both cash prize winners will also receive products and services to help propel their business forward.
Businesses and entrepreneurs need to meet the following criteria to participate:
- Must be focused on advancing the food science or technology field.
- Must be a proprietary firm, partnership firm, limited liability partnership, or private limited in the country they represent.
- Must be in business, have a clearly defined product or service, and be in the Pre-Series A Round (seed stage)
Find more details about participating in the challenge here.
—
Read about more ways prominent organizations are helping startups gain traction in the food industry:.
- Michigan State University’s New Innovation Center Opens Its Doors to Food Industry Innovators
- Kraft Heinz, Nestlé USA Make Strides in the Innovations Race
- PepsiCo Offers Springboard for Innovative Startups Through Nutrition Greenhouse Accelerator Program
- AB InBev Pilots 100+ Accelerator to Propel Towards Sustainable Future
- PepsiCo Aims to Diversify Product Portfolio with Startup Incubator “The Hive”
- Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, Funded by Cargill and Ecolab, Welcomes 9 Food Industry Startups to the 2018 Class
- Big Food Investing in Food Startup Incubators
