Step 2: Jury & selection process
Once entries to the Fi Europe Startup Challenge 2025 close, the jury will review all applications by official Candidates. A maximum of 20 startup finalists will be chosen Only the selected finalists will be invited to pitch to the jury in December 2025 and stand a chance to be crowned as category winners The list of categories is outlined in Section 9 below.
Selections will be based on the information submitted by Candidates during the application process Therefore, make sure you include as much supporting information with your application as possible to showcase your innovation to the jury and assist with the selection process
The jury is made up of a mix of the following food experts:
• R&D experts from research institutes
• F&B ingredient companies
• F&B manufacturers
• Banks / Venture Capitalists
• Startup Incubators / accelerators / supporters
If one of the jury members has, themselves or as a collaborator, entered as a Candidate, they are no longer allowed to vote.
Step 3: Category winners
To identify the winner(s), finalists will be ranked by the jury based on the following:
• The information and supporting evidence shared during the application process.
• A presentation given by the finalist(s) to the jury in private. The presentation must last no more than 5 minutes and will be followed by a Q&A session (10 minutes). Startups will present their projects live during a closed session to the jury on 1 December 2025. Each finalist will be assigned a dedicated time slot, which will be communicated once the selections have been finalised.
At the end of all the category presentations, the jury will decide the winner(s). All jury discussions are confidential, and their decision is final.
Additionally, all finalists will be invited to give a live pitch at the in-person Fi Europe 2025, co-located with Hi Europe, event to visitors and exhibitors of the show at the Innovation Hub on 2 December 2025 This pitch should last no more than 3 minutes
Winners will be announced live during Fi Europe 2025, co-located with Hi Europe.
2. Most Innovative FoodTech Solution
This category covers innovations related to food processing or bioprocessing technologies, solutions or services that enhance either operational efficiency or the nutritional/health value of food.
3. Most Innovative Service or Digital Solution in F&B
This category covers innovations in digital services and solutions such as AI, machine learning, blockchain, IoT, digital platforms, or data analytics that support improvements in ingredients sourcing and production, food formulation, food safety and quality, traceability, transparency, smart packaging, and/or supply chain management.
In addition to the above-mentioned categories, a special jury’s choice award will also be awarded to one of the startup finalists, as listed below.
4. Most Innovative Sustainable Solution – Jury’s choice award
This special prize will be awarded to the startup with the most sustainable innovation. All startup finalists across all categories can be considered for this award, with the winners being decided by the expert jury. The startup’s overall sustainability efforts will be considered including efforts to reduce resource usage, minimize waste, and enhance both environmental and societal impact, ensuring the innovation contributes to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Each winner can select one of the prizes on offer as listed on the Fi Europe Startup Challenge website. The prize for each winner is subject to availability, is nonexchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered.
The Organiser reserves the right to replace the prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond the Organiser's control makes it necessary to do so
ARTICLE 10: CANDIDATE’S DUTIES
Any company wishing to participate in the Fi Europe Startup Challenge hereby declares that it:
• accepts in full the terms and conditions laid down by these Rules and Regulations;
• certifies that it is in compliance with all applicable tax, anti-corruption, social and environmental law. The company undertakes to provide, upon request, evidence of compliance with the regulations in force and marketing during the above period;
• confirms that it has all necessary right, title and authority to submit the data, materials and information provided with its entry to the Challenge;
• confirms that any data, materials or information provided with its entry is correct, accurate and up to date, to the best of its knowledge and belief; and
• if selected, will be present to support its candidacy during the jury pitches, live pitches, and the awards ceremony as required
ARTICLE 11: WARRANTY
The applicant certifies owning (or having any necessary licences or consents in respect of) all the intellectual or industrial property rights (concerning patents, trademarks, designs, and copyright in particular) attached to the project(s) presented and their achievements. They also state that the holder or holders of rights, agree with the participation to the Fi Europe Startup Challenge and accept these rules and regulations.
In any case, the Organiser cannot be held responsible for disputes related to the protection of any intellectual property. The Candidate indemnifies the Organiser against any costs, claims, expenses, or disputes in respect of the holder of any intellectual property rights whatsoever through the signing of this form.
ARTICLE 12: CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLICITY
By taking part in the Fi Europe Startup Challenge, the companies and project leaders allow the Organisation Committee to use the photos, videos and any images of the presented products, the logo as well as all of the business information of the company, as well as the images taken during the event and award ceremony in connection with any promotional activity of the Fi Europe event, the Challenge and/or the Food Ingredients brand
Information regarding the Candidate’s entry will only be available for viewing by the Organiser (including the jury)
Personal data supplied during the course of this promotion will only be processed as set out in the Organiser's Privacy Policy, available at https://www.informamarkets.com/en/privacy-policy.html, and in accordance with these Rules and Regulations.
ARTICLE 13: CHANGE OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Organiser’s decision will be final and binding regarding clarification related to any difficulties that may arise from the interpretation and / or application of these Rules and Regulations
The Organiser reserves the right to make changes to the Rules and Regulations for any reason where necessary, even without notice. The Organiser of the Fi Europe Startup
Challenge also reserves the exclusive and unilateral right to cancel, postpone, terminate, or modify the Challenge without notice.
ARTICLE 14: DISPUTE
Insofar as is permitted by law, the Organiser, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Organiser, its agents or distributors or that of their employees. Participants’ statutory rights are not affected.
Should a dispute concerning the validity, interpretation or implementation of the Rules and Regulation arise, the parties shall try to amicably sort out the dispute. If the parties do not reach an amicable settlement, the dispute shall be referred to the exclusive jurisdiction of the appropriate courts in The Netherlands for resolution.
CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE:
I, the undersigned ……………………………………………………………(full name), as
(function / role) of
(company name), hereby submit the company’s application for the Fi Europe Startup Challenge 2025. I declare that I have read these Rules and Regulations and fully accept the terms set out herein.
Signature:
Date: ………………………………………………………………………….