Food Innovation Challenge
Validate your Food Startup Idea
About
In times of overpopulation, stagnation of resources, and a lacking health system, it is our responsibility to rethink food production and consumption to help future generations. Bringing technology and innovation out of the Labs will help tackle the great food challenges to come.
The Food Innovation Challenge (FC) is here to take those trends and innovations and transform them into viable products and business models. The FC consists of two phases: Talents call and Selection Process ran by the FoodTech Lab from the University of St. Gallen and an Acceleration Program boosting the innovation to production supported by Unilever Switzerland.
The first cycle of the FC is running from October 16th, 2020 to February 2021 and the selected talents will benefit from networking, coaching, and workshops to develop innovative culinary startup ideas. The most promising culinary startup idea wins a Production-Run at the Unilever factory in Thayngen. Jumpstart your culinary startup idea with the Food Innovation Challenge now!
Why should you apply?
The FC aims to connect promising talents-entrepreneurs with the industry to develop product-market applications. It also encourages international talents to work together, share best practices, understand new markets, and exploit new synergies.
This program gives a strong introduction to entrepreneurship, featuring workshops of finding the problem-solution-fit, product-market-fit, market entry scenarios, funding strategies and pitching classes as well as a thorough understanding of Swiss market opportunities.
Who can apply?
The FC is open to students, foodies, and entrepreneurs (until seed stage) from all over Europe seeking to explore successful market application and to bring their Food Innovations to the market.
What are the selection criteria?
An internal expert panel will evaluate applications to select 4 talents/startups according to the following criteria:
- Quality of culinary startup idea
- Entrepreneurial personality and team
- Market potential
- Sourcing needs
- The culinary startup idea should be able to leverage on Unilever Switzerland's (Thayngen) existing dry & pasty production line facilities of Knorr.
- The culinary startup ideas should not include wet and chilled process technology (except of i.e. dressings) due to the excisting production lines.
Program and Dates
The selected talents will benefit from tailor-made coaching and pitching programs from October, 2020 to February, 2021 which is based on the St Galler Startup Navigator by focusing on the Profiling and Prototyping of their startup idea. The goal of the chosen talents is to pitch their culinary startup idea (product and/or service) during a Demo-Day at the end of the program. The Jury Committee will then choose suitable talents who are able to continue with the acceleration program in Spring 2021 in order to develop a food prototype which is suitable for a Production-Run at Unilever’s Factory in Thayngen.
*all sessions will take place at the MakerSpace at the University of St Gallen and online participation is possible.
| # | Important dates | Dates | Time |
| 1. | Deadline for submission | October 11, 2020 | n.a. |
| 2. | Evaluation process | ||
| 3. | Notification of selected applications | October 12, 2020 | n.a. |
| 4. | Kick-Off | October 16, 2020 | 09:30-12:30 am |
| 5. | Workshop I “Profiling 1” | October 22, 2020 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 6. | Workshop II “Profiling 2” | October 29, 2020 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 7. | Workshop III “Pitch Training” | November 12, 2020 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 8. | Workshop IV “Prototyping 1” | November 19, 2020 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 9. | Workshop V “Prototyping 2” | November 26, 2020 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 10. | Workshop VI “Pitch Training” | December 03, 2020 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 11. | Feedback & coaching | January 14, 2021 | 09:00-12:00 am |
| 12. | Demo Day | February 10, 2021 | 09:00-12:00 am |
How to apply
- Send us a video + One-Pager + CV
- Send all files to Eduard Müller.
Video
Max. 3-minute Elevator Pitch as a video in which you present your culinary startup idea briefly and why you are the right candidate for the program.
One-Pager
Fill out this One-Pager with basic information about your culinary startup idea. Don't worry, we will further develop your idea during the program!
CV
Add CV or LinkedIn Profile of the project leader
Contact
Eduard Müller
Project Lead HSG FoodTech Lab
Chair for Entrepreneurship | University St. Gallen (HSG) | Dufourstrasse 40a | CH-9000 St.Gallen