Igeho Rising Star 2025
The competition for founders and start-ups returns for its second edition with a new emphasis on food technology
With the Igeho Rising Star, the industry platform launched an award in 2023 to promote founders and start-ups in the hospitality sector. This competition is now returning for its second edition and offered all start-ups in the food technology sector the opportunity to submit their applications by January 31, 2025.
15 start-ups will be given the chance to present themselves at the Igeho 2025, the largest hospitality platform in Switzerland. The Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley network is participating as a partner in the Igeho Rising Star Award 2025.
The application window has been closed since January 31, 2025.
Public voting: Vote for your favourites until 30 May!
Vote for your favourites and enable the start-ups to make it to the final at Igeho 2025.
Procedure and Important Deadlines:
Application phase: all start-ups in the food technology sector
- December 19, 2024: Start of the application phase
- January 31, 2025: End of the application phase, last day of submission
- From February 1, 2025: Review of the submitted applications by the Igeho and Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley team. Selection of the 15 start-ups that will enter the public voting and thus automatically receive a cost-free stand presence at the Igeho 2025.
Public voting: 15 selected start-ups
- March 4, 2025: Notification of the 15 start-ups about their participation
- April 7, 2025: Start of the public voting
- May 30, 2025: End of the public voting, last day of voting
- June 2, 2025: Announcement of the 5 finalists
Igeho 2025: 10 selected start-ups + 5 finalists
- November 15 to 19, 2025: All 15 start-ups from the public voting will take part at the Igeho 2025 in Basel
- November 15 to 19, 2025: Final of the 5 finalists and the following award ceremony at Igeho 2025 in Basel (the final will be held in English)
Participation Requirements for the Igeho Rising Star 2025:
- Start-ups whose founding date is not before January, 1, 2020 or founders who are still in the process of launching their companies
- Registered office of the company: Switzerland or Liechtenstein
- Food technology: food science, food service, consumer tech, delivery or supply chain
- Membership of the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley is not a required condition for participation
5 Categories for Submitting the Application:
- Food science
- Food service
- Consumer tech
- Delivery
- Supply chain
Evaluation Criteria of the Igeho and SFNV jury:
- Innovation and use of technology
- Sustainability and environmental impact
- Business model and scalability
Commitment of the Two Partners Igeho and Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley
«The Igeho Rising Star 2023 was a great success! We enabled six start-ups to present themselves at the Igeho 2023 and two start-ups received a prize money. It was clear to us that we would continue to provide a platform for start-ups and offer these aspiring and pioneering companies a stage.»
Benjamin Eulau, Brand Director of Igeho
«When it comes to transforming the food system, we are convinced that collaboration is the key to progress. In addition, the hospitality sector plays a very important role. Therefore, we are delighted to work with the Igeho to support the Igeho Rising Star Award 2025 and to offer Valley partners and all other start-ups in the food tech sector the opportunity to showcase their innovations on the leading Swiss platform for innovation in the hospitality sector.»
Christina Senn-Jakobsen, CEO of Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley
Winners of the Igeho Rising Star Award 2023
Jury Award 2023
EggField – like eggs, but grown in a field
Field Food (Illnau)
Audience Award 2023
The IRISgo cup – Thermo mug Revolution Swiss Made
IRISgo (Horw)
Network Partners
Organizer
MCH Messe Schweiz (Basel) AG
Igeho
Messeplatz 10
4005 Basel/Schweiz