Global Pitch Competition FoodBytes! heads to Canada

Cutting-edge food, food tech and agtech startups encouraged to apply to pitch in Montreal

MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2017 /CNW/ -- Rabobank, a global food and agribusiness bank, will bring its next-generation food and agriculture pitch competition to Canada for the first time on May 16, 2018. The twelfth event of its kind, FoodBytes! Montreal provides a safe haven for entrepreneurs to receive the capital, mentorship and connections they need to grow their businesses. Pitch applications are open, and startups that demonstrate traction, scalability and innovation and are focused on sustainability and social impact are encouraged to apply here before Sunday, March 11 at 11:59PM ET.

Since launching in 2015, FoodBytes! has attracted 2,700 attendees and received over 1,100 applications from 30 plus countries. More than 170 companies make up the FoodBytes! alumni community, including Canada-affiliated startups PieShell, One Hop Kitchen and FlashFood.

"As a startup, it can be hard to figure out where your money is best spent. For us, investing time and money to be a part of FoodBytes! was a huge win and we are continuing to see the positive effects across all parts of our business," said Cheryl Clements, PieShell founder (FoodBytes! San Francisco 2017 Alum and Supporting Sponsor). PieShell is a niche crowdfunding platform that helps food and agriculture startups get to the next level. "We are huge fans of FoodBytes! and are eager to share the lessons learned with our fellow foodpreneurs: spending money to connect with the right people early on has high ROI. It gets your brand in front of new audiences and allows you to adjust your strategy if need be."

FoodBytes! was created as part of Rabobank's Banking for Food (B4F) vision to produce more food sustainably to feed a growing global population by 2050. The two-day event begins with a mentoring boot camp for the selected startups led by experts on branding, PR, legal, funding, consumer trends and supply chains on Tuesday, May 15. Ten companies will give 3.5-minute pitches and ten companies will give 60-second pitches on Wednesday, May 16 to hundreds of investors, executives, startups and media.

"The 60 startups that presented on the FoodBytes! stage in 2017 pitched a wide range of new solutions to food and agriculture challenges. The leading trends displayed included clean product makeovers, plant-based protein and food waste reduction," said Paula Savanti, Rabobank senior consumer food analyst. Savanti expects FoodBytes! 2018 will unearth a new crop of novel ideas. "We are looking forward to seeing how those trends will continue build momentum in 2018 and also to see if new trends including meal and food replacement drinks, fermented beverages and personalized nutrition will gain traction."

The FoodBytes! 2018 North American tour will kick off in San Francisco on March 1, followed by Montreal, then on to New York City in Fall 2018. Applications for the FoodBytes! 2018 North American events are now open here. For more information follow FoodBytes! on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or view curated content via the hashtag #FoodBytes.

About Rabobank
Rabobank is a leading global food and agribusiness bank, providing sector expertise, strategic counsel and tailored financial solutions to clients across the entire food value chain. Rabobank believes sustainability and innovation are critical to solving the global hunger crisis, a key focus of the company's Banking for Food strategy. Additional information is available on our website.

SOURCE Rabobank