What is the Big Idea Food Competition?
Are you building a company or product which can change the world? If you’ve created a plant-based and fermentation-based alternative to meat, seafood or dairy, we want to hear from you. If you are based in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Korea or Japan you’re invited to compete in the Big Idea Food Competition!
We want to discover and support you if you are changing the world through a food startup focused on new protein. The Big Idea Food Competition, created in partnership with Informa Markets, will take place in six countries throughout Asia this year, with the Finals being held in Singapore April of 2023. The BIFC will bring you together with supporters such as corporates, food leaders, experts and investors across the region.
The competition has two stages and gives you an opportunity to develop your business, pitch your ideas and present your products to experts and judges from the food industry.
We want to discover and support you if you are changing the world through a food startup focused on new protein. The Big Idea Food Competition, created in partnership with Informa Markets, will take place in six countries throughout Asia this year, with the Finals being held in Singapore April of 2023. The BIFC will bring you together with supporters such as corporates, food leaders, experts and investors across the region.
The competition has two stages and gives you an opportunity to develop your business, pitch your ideas and present your products to experts and judges from the food industry.
Phase I: National Competitions
The best five startups will be selected from each country to compete to crown the national champion. The national champions will be asked to compete in the finale in the final location. We will be hosting online / virtual competitions in four countries: Thailand, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and two in-person competitions in Singapore and China.
Phase II: International finals
The finals will take place in April 2023. Winners from each country will pitch, present their products, and prepare tasting for the panel of judges and experts from the industry. Startups will be judged on their business pitch and the quality of their culinary application of product.
The best five startups will be selected from each country to compete to crown the national champion. The national champions will be asked to compete in the finale in the final location. We will be hosting online / virtual competitions in four countries: Thailand, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and two in-person competitions in Singapore and China.
Phase II: International finals
The finals will take place in April 2023. Winners from each country will pitch, present their products, and prepare tasting for the panel of judges and experts from the industry. Startups will be judged on their business pitch and the quality of their culinary application of product.
The Rules
To qualify for this competition, your company must fit the following criteria:
- Plant-based and/or fermentation-based startup in the meat, seafood or dairy industry
- Business must be registered in one of the participating countries
- Pre-seed or seed stage only
- Pilot stage to post revenue companies are welcome
- No institutional investments (less than USD$ 500,000) on cap table
- Startup must have pilot product, safe to consume and tested
- Must have enough product to test and ultimately present during the competition
- Should not already be a BIV portfolio company whether now or anytime before BIFC grand finals in Q1 of 2023
Prizes
The Grand Prize
The ultimate winner of the BIFC compeition will receive a USD$ 200,000 investment package from BIV and automatic inclusion into Big Idea Venture's Cohort #8 accelerator program based in Singapore. Find out more about BIV's global accelerator program here.
Additional prizes include:
The ultimate winner of the BIFC compeition will receive a USD$ 200,000 investment package from BIV and automatic inclusion into Big Idea Venture's Cohort #8 accelerator program based in Singapore. Find out more about BIV's global accelerator program here.
Additional prizes include:
- Sponsored Trip and 4-Day Alt Protein Program in Singapore For BIFC Finals 2023
- One Day Production Run at SG Protein for the Singapore Edition Winner
- Tastelab Workshops and Executive Pitching with Classic Fine Foods
- Three Month Product Trial at Saladstop! Singapore locations
- Account Support from GoodFoodPeople B2C Plant-Based Marketplace
- Business Matching Support from Competition Parnet Saladplate
Timeline
Locations
Apply Now
Have a query about the application?
Email us at [email protected] and we would be happy to answer your questions!
Email us at [email protected] and we would be happy to answer your questions!
Event & Platform Partners
Saladplate is the premier international wholesale marketplace for sourcing food, beverages and hospitality products globally. For the last 40 years, Informa has been helping Food & Hospitality industry professionals discover innovative new products and build long-lasting relationships with business partners at Asia's preeminent Food & Hospitality trade shows. With such a vast experience in bringing businesses together, we've learned a lot about our industry - and that is how we knew the time was right to create Saladplate, an online marketplace specially tailored to match food and hospitality buyers and sellers.
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Big Idea Ventures is solving the World’s Biggest Challenges by supporting the World’s best entrepreneurs. Its first fund, the New Protein Fund ($50M+ AUM) invests in global alternative protein companies at the pre-seed stage via its accelerator program and seed to series A via direct investment. New Protein Fund I is backed by leading food corporations including AAK, Avril, Bel Group, Buhler Group, Givaudan, NR Instant Produce, Meiji, Tyson Ventures, and Temasek Holdings. To date, Big Idea Ventures has invested in more than 70 alternative protein companies across 17 countries.
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Alternatively, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter!
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Alternatively, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter!
Held from 5 – 8 September 2022 at Singapore Expo, FHA-Food & Beverage is the platform of choice for industry professionals, including distributors, importers, manufacturers and retailers from Asia to see and source for food ingredients, drinks, fresh produce, services and equipment across Food & Beverage, Food Ingredients and FoodTech. The Alternative Protein Asia area, stretching over 800 sqm (or 8000 sqft), will feature a large range of exciting exhibitors, the New Protein Bites – Tasting Bar (Sample Bar) to discover emerging products, a dedicated Alt-Protein Start-ups Village for entrepreneurs and the Alternative Protein Asia Theatre hosting a four-day content program including culinary demonstrations. The future of food seminars provide roundtables, pitching sessions, educational presentation, showcases all around the now & next of alternative protein. On top of all that, APA will also host the Big Idea Food Competition (BIFC) run by the venture capital firm Big Idea Ventures with the winning start-up taking USD 200,000 in investments.
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FHA - Food & Beverage is organised by Informa Markets, a division of Informa plc. Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year.
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Support Sponsors
Singapore based Saladstop! will provide one judge to the Sinagpore competition in addition to providing insights into the growing demand from consumers focused on finding alternative proteins at healthy QSR restaurants. Saladstop! will be providing a trial run at their flagship Restaurant 2.0 location for one month during October of 2022, with an option to continue the relationship after.
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Classic Find Foods will be the main distribution partner for the BIFC Singapore 2022, with a focus on working with the startups to understand how to get their products into the hands of chefs and restaurants from across SE Asia.
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Nestle's Singapore based R&D center will provide the competing startups with complimentary consultations around flavor and formulation, in addition to gaining access to founders via pre-competition workshops and seminars.
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Singapore based SGProtein will provide the first place winner with a one-
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Local Partners
Ultra Indonesia is engaged in the field of research and development for Food SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and currently focuses on the culinary industry. Ultra assists Ultrapreneur in Indonesia by informing comprehensive and relevant knowledge, mentoring at every step, connecting with the ecosystems needed, and finally providing added value for the creative economy in Indonesia.
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LLP-KUKM was established in March 2007 and provides promotion and marketing services for Indonesian SMEs.
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HAE is a creative consulting and content agency based in Seoul, South Korea. We work with sustainable brands, communities, NGOs and the government sector and provide branding, marketing, content creation, education, and event services that contribute to the wellbeing of humans, animals, and the environment, hence our name, HAE.
Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd. is the first joint venture exhibition company in China founded by Informa PLC- World’s Largest Events & Exhibitions Organisers and Shanghai Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., Ltd in 1998. The total area of our trade shows covered 1,500,000 sq.m in 2019, which provided countless trade opportunities for millions of buyers coming from all over the world.
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Located alongside Hi China, Fi Asia-China offers you acess to a wide selection of leading food and beverage ingredients suppliers who will be on hand to meet your market demands.
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Hi China is the dedicated area for sourcing health and natural ingredients. With more than 350 leading local exhibiotors, Hi China is the largest meeting place for the health ingredients industry in China.
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The undergraduate degree in Food Science and Technology covers the full educational spectrum of food science and food technology, with a focus on four themes: food quality and safety, new food product innovation, food processing, and nutrition. Food Science is the discipline in which biology, physical sciences, and engineering are used to study the nature of foods, the causes of their deterioration, and the principles underlying food processing. Food Technology is the application of food science to the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of safe, nutritious and wholesome food.
Enterprise Singapore is the government agency championing enterprise development. We work with committed companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalise. We also support the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups. As the national standards and accreditation body, we continue to build trust in Singapore’s products and services through quality and standards.
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Thailand Food Innopolis is a global food innovation hub focusing on research, development and innovation for food industry. It is fully equipped with qualified human resources and facilities to support food producers of all scales, be it local, regional, or global. We provide a platform to strengthen your business and also to innovate your food industry.
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'Gam' and her sister 'Goy' created 'Plan V' to share their vegan lifestyle. To them, veganism is one part that has gradually influenced them to be more conscious toward more aspects of themselves and the world.
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Discover Big Idea Ventures Investments
Grounded Foods Co. creates Cheese-Free Cheeses using two of nature’s superfoods: fermented cauliflower and hemp seed. Their products are free from dairy, nuts, soy, gluten and GMOs. The company will launch their first range of products via direct to consumer sales in November 2020, and quickly follow up with the release of their second-tier range, developed specifically for retail and convenience outlets.
Karana is a whole-plant meat company with a vision for a world where plants dominate our plates. Where you don’t have to choose between taste, health or sustainability. Karana takes natural, whole-plant ingredients and does extraordinary things with them, creating irresistibly meaty products without the need for heavy processing or artificial nasties. Starting with a pork alternative which they also turn into delicious Asian Dim Sum, your favourite dumplings and baos now made from whole-plants…No protein isolates, concentrates or texturates…No preservatives or artificial flavors…No long ingredient lists…Whole-plant, no meat, all taste.
Haofood s a food science and technology startup with a mission to sustain happiness from good food forever. With cutting edge technology and science, Haofood is working to produce food in a smarter and more sustainable approach, to fulfill our protein needs today, tomorrow and in the future. They are a pioneer, using peanut protein as the chief ingredients for their first innovation of plant-based chicken. Based in Shanghai, Haofood was founded in2020 and currently has a presence in over 2,500 outlets in China.
FAQ
What is BIFC?
Simple answer is we are using the Big Idea Food Competition (BIFC) as a way to discover and support the best entrepreneurs in the competing countries! That’s you! If you are interested please apply through the Apply Now button above. Click here to find out more about what the competition is all about!
Who is eligible to participate in the competition?
Find out if your startup is eligible by clicking here.
How do I apply for the competition?
Click here to access the BIFC application form.
Where will BIFC be taking place and when?
Click here to find out where BIFC takes place.
What is the USD$ 200,000 investment package?
The investment package from BIV is broken into a USD125,000 equity investment into your startup via the industry standard SAFE note, generally between 6% and 8% equity stake. Additionally, BIV offers an additional USD75,000 in in-kind services per investment for access to the accelerator program, office space, lab support, and events and other services. This BIFC Finals winner will also automatically be entered into BIV Cohort #8 based in Singapore, kickoff July 2023. If you would like more information about BIV’s accelerator company investments please read here.
Who are BIFC's partners
Click here to find out more about the amazing organizations supporting BIFC this year!
Can I watch the competitions as an audience member?
Is there a way for me or my organization to be BIFC partner?
We are always happy to welcome new partners to join the BIFC community! Contact [email protected] to find out more.
What are the prizes of BIFC?
Click here to find out more about the attractive prizes your team can win by joining BIFC!
Who are the judges of BIFC?
Can I withdraw my BIFC application?
We are sad to see you go and hope to see you next year! Contact [email protected] to withdraw your application from BIFC.
Big Idea Ventures is solving the World’s Biggest Challenges by supporting the World’s Best Entrepreneurs, Scientists and Engineers. We’re a venture capital fund with startup accelerators in key locations, investing in and accelerating top performers in the new food space.
For more information, please click here
Alternatively, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter!
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Saladplate is the dedicated 365 community that brings together the hospitality, food & beverage industry's best suppliers and buyers to engage, experience and build business connections via physical and virtual experiences, specialised digital content and actionable data insights.