Open Innovation Forum – Pitching event for start-ups

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The Open Innovation Forum Pitching Event for Start-ups is your chance to pitch ideas to major global players in the Food, Drink and FMCG sectors.

Senior leaders from major Food, Drink and FMCG firms such as Diageo, Twinings, Mars, Suntory, Nomad Foods, Müller, Cargill, pladis, and Kerry are holding a pitching event for innovative companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups and university spin-offs. These companies, who are members of the University of Cambridge IfM’s Open Innovation (OI) Forum, are seeking new solutions to their business challenges, so you have the chance to pitch to them at an event on the afternoon of Wednesday 12^th November at an event at the Samworth Brothers Craft and Innovation Centre in Melton Mowbray.

The Pitching Event is open to all individuals, research organisations and companies of all sizes and levels of maturity. Up to 20 entrepreneurs, start-ups, researchers, innovators and technology developers will be picked to pitch their ideas to a panel of key decision-makers and ‘innovation scouts’ from important Food, Drink and FMCG firms (see full list here).

2025 Open Innovation Forum Pitching Event for Start-ups

Applications are welcome that address a broad range of priority ‘Innovation Needs’ identified by the OI Forum members, as listed below:

Non-ultra processed foods (UPF)
Food security and resilience
AI applied to sensory NPD – improved tools for the development of healthy products
Sustainable food, drink, and FMCG production
Sustainable packaging
Waste stream valorisation

Next event

Date: 12 November 2025

Location: Melton Mowbray, UK

Theme: Novel means to sustainably develop, produce, and deliver healthy nutrition’

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WHAT PAST PITCHERS SAY

“Kelpi was delighted to win the Open Innovation Forum in 2023.  The pitching process introduced us to a very impressive group of senior decisions makers from global food and FMCG companies.  One of the companies present has become a long term R&D partner and a number of others have developed into mutually beneficial relationships.  The pitch process itself incorporated some useful feedback, as well as meeting other impressive startups and founders.  The Forum is a great opportunity to engage directly with key leaders from some of the biggest companies in the world”

Hugo Adams, CEO Kelpi, 2023 Winner

REASONS TO ENTER

Present your ideas and products to around 50 senior leaders and decision-makers whose main job role is to scout for and acquire innovation and technology from outside their organisations.

Winners and highly commended entries will receive a trophy.

All finalists will receive a certificate and will benefit from publicity associated with the event.

All proposed pitches will be circulated to OI Forum members, whether they are shortlisted as finalists or not, so this is a sure-fire way of getting your idea in front of some key potential partners.

Find out more and apply now