Welcome to the launch of the Global Food Tech Awards 2025. The awards are your ticket to global recognition in the ever-evolving food and beverage industry. Powered by FoodNavigator and in partnership with Future Food-Tech San Francisco, this ground-breaking competition connects cutting-edge start-ups with a worldwide audience of industry leaders, investors, and influencers.
Think your creation has what it takes to reshape the future of food? Here’s your chance to prove it.
The awards feature three regional heats: the Americas (now open), EMEA, and APAC. In each heat, 10 finalists will be selected and gain global exposure through editorial features on FoodNavigator.com, reaching thousands of decision-makers and industry insiders.
From this shortlist, our judges will choose two runners-up and one winner to be announced on stage at one of our industry-leading events. Here they will have their pitch broadcast live on stage as well as being presented with a certificate or trophy.
Presentations will happen at the following events. (Please note, attendance is not mandatory for entrants or winners.)
- The Americas finalists will be announced at Future Food-Tech San Francisco (March 13-14, 2025)
- EMEA finalists will be announced at Future Food-Tech London (Sept. 24-25, 2025)
- APAC finalists will be announced at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit Singapore (Nov. 4-6, 2025).
Building confidence and credibility
Recognition at the awards will put your ideas in front of venture capitalists and major corporate players, opening doors to funding and strategic partnerships. Winning or being shortlisted boosts your credibility, signaling that your innovation is top-tier and backed by industry experts. Moreover, it’s a chance to celebrate your team’s hard work and refine your vision for the future.
Once the regional heats finish in December 2025, judges will review the 30 finalists and a global champion will be crowned. These results will be included in an immersive digital feature shared with FoodNavigator’s extensive global audience.
Entry requirements
To qualify for this regional heat, start-ups must be less than five years old, employ no more than 20 people, be headquartered in North or South America and present innovations that address any part of the food and beverage supply chain. From vertical farming and alternative proteins to blockchain technology and upcycled products, the competition welcomes a diverse range of innovations. Entry is free and involves submitting a three-page pitch deck and a three-minute video showcasing your concept.
Meet the experts
Entries will be judged on scalability, sustainability, novelty, market opportunity, and star quality by an esteemed panel of judges.
Criteria judges will consider
Scalability: Does the innovation show potential to expand efficiently and sustainably across markets or industries without compromising quality or functionality? How cost effective is it?
Sustainability: Does the innovation help people or the planet in a tangible way? How does it minimize environmental impact, promote resource efficiency, or support long-term ecological balance?
Novelty: How groundbreaking and original is the innovation within the food tech space? Does it have the ability to address unmet needs or introduce transformative ideas?
Market opportunity: Is there evidence of commercial interest, success, and market applications – including commercial success in major markets in the Americas and engagement from the core target market?
Star quality: Does the product/innovation have potential to be a ‘game changer’? Does it have the ‘X factor’?
The judges include academics who evaluate the scientific credibility of innovations, NGO executives focusing on sustainability, venture capital investors assessing scalability and market potential, representatives from major CPGs, and FoodNavigator journalists who will bring a holistic perspective.
Enter the Americas heats today (entries are open until February 28, 2025) and join the ranks of innovators shaping the future of food.