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Pitch Lounge

The Startup Ceremony is a main stage event at the Food Security SummitX 2025 in Dubai, co-produced by Pitch Lounge, Foodpreneurs Collective, and Hubify X. It features curated startup pitch sessions, providing startups an opportunity to showcase their innovations to investors, industry leaders, and potential partners, and is integrated into the main agenda of the summit.

NOTE: all Pitch Lounge website visitors and community members receive 10%-off While the breakout of package pricing is below, for more information about any of the tickets for the Food Security SummitX, please visit the following pages and register your interest: Delegate Registration: www.pitchlounge.net/summit Pitch: www.pitchlounge.net/startupceremony Exhibit: www.pitchlounge.net/exhibit Sponsor: www.pitchlounge.net/sponsorfoodsecurity In turn, you will be sent the relevant Brochure(s) with all the details, pricing structure, and package purchase links. Exhibitor Add-On (Pitch Slot for Cultivator Exhibitor): $200 Pitch access: Add-on For Cultivator Exhibitor startups Delegate Add-On (Startup Pitch Slot for Delegates): $499 Pitch access: Included For non-exhibitor startups (who are delegates) Bundled Discounted Delegate + Startup Pitch Slot: $1,399 Pitch access: Included For those who do not have a delegate ticket Attendee Pass: $299 Pitch access: Not included Entry for general attendees Delegate Pass (Discounted): $899 Pitch access: Not included Entry to the Summit to watch speakers and awards Award Nomination: $50 Award Pass: $1499 FSSX Accommodation (Number One Towers): $250 16-19 September accommodation for two people) Number One Towers, Dubai - approx. 2km (just over 1 mile) from the Summit venue, which makes travel between the locations quick and convenient (typically a 5-minute taxi or car ride, or a short metro journey if preferred) Breakfast for two people Cultivator Exhibitor: $3,000 Pitch access: Add $200 for pitch access Benefits: Various Growth Exhibitor: $4,500 Pitch access: Included Benefits: Larger booth, pitch access, and more Innovator Exhibitor: $7,000 Pitch access: Included Benefits: Premium booth, pitch access, and more Table Tent Sponsor: $1,500 Coffee Break Sponsor: $2,999 Networking Lunch Sponsor: $3,999 Investor Lunch Sponsor: $7,000 Gala Dinner Sponsor: $12,999 Seed Sponsor: $10,000 Harvest Sponsor: $20,000 Pioneer Sponsor: $35,000 Delegate Registration: www.pitchlounge.net/summit Pitch: www.pitchlounge.net/startupceremony Exhibit: www.pitchlounge.net/exhibit Sponsor: www.pitchlounge.net/sponsorfoodsecurity

Shortlisted startups receive 30-45 minutes of pre-event coaching, a timed rehearsal, and a personalized briefing to prepare for the main stage event. Pitch Lounge provides pre-event startup support, and its team delivers the Startup Ceremony. We offer a range of pitch decks and pitch training templates, recordings, and other resources. For more information, please email info@pitchlounge.net

If the Summit is canceled, the official summit website policies apply: www.foodsecuritysummitx.com/terms www.foodsecuritysummitx.com/privacy-policy www.foodsecuritysummitx.com/refund NOTE: Please email info@pitchlounge.net with questions/issues

Early- and Growth-stage startups are welcome to register. Companies addressing the challenges of global food security - at every facet of the food value chain - AgTech innovators advancing food production, sustainability advocates championing eco-friendly practices, supply chain solutions, and startups specializing in areas such as water management, biotechnology, renewable energy, and urban agriculture. Startups that purchase exhibitor packages (Cultivator, Growth, or Innovator tier) are also eligible to apply for the pitch event. Growth and Innovator Exhibitors have pitch access automatically included, while Cultivator Exhibitors can add access for an additional $200. Visit www.pitchlounge.net/startupceremony for a full list of Startup Ceremony pitch registration options (or see FAQ 6 below).

3-minute pitch, 2-minute Q&A (6–8 startups per hour). There will be an experienced moderator, investor panel, and/or an engaged investor audience fielding questions and providing guidance. The final structure, including scheduling and agenda slotting, will be finalized closer to the event in coordination with the summit. Exposure to international investors, mentors, and media through the widespread exposure across our social media channels (1000 Summit delegates, 100k+ impressions per week, and to our 50k+ email newsletter subscriber lists)

This ranges between $200-1,399 depending on your existing exhibitor package and/or if you’ve already registered as a delegate. To register interest in a pitch slot and receive the payment links, please complete our webform here: www.pitchlounge.net/startupceremony

Visit www.pitchlounge.net/startupceremony for further details. If you still have questionsyou can email info@pitchlounge.net

The Startup Ceremony will be held at The H Dubai, UAE, as part of Food Security SummitX on September 17 and 18, 2025. The timing of the ceremony and pitch slots is to be determined.

Eligible startups express interest on the Pitch Lounge website (while sending their investor deck for approval and for us to check they meet the eligibility criteria): www.pitchlounge.net/startupceremony There is no shortlisting process. We will respond to your application and loop in the Food Security SummitX event producer. All registrants are guaranteed stage pitching time. However, we would need to receive your investor pitch deck 7 days before the event and speaker details (including foreign passport or UAE ID 10-14 days before the event to ensure we receive your speaker license in time. Read below for the startup pitch deck and pitch coaching support pre-event - we are here to get you ready to shine!

Yes. Shortlisted startups will each be afforded a 1-on-1 free coaching hour with the Pitch Lounge team to rehearse their live pitch.

Presentation Deck Zoom Recording

The general judging criteria are broken down into five main areas: 1. Innovation: How groundbreaking is the idea? Does it disrupt the status quo? 2. Market: Is there a clear market need? How big is the opportunity (size & growth)? Can it scale widely? 3. Business Model: Does the solution have a clear path to profitability? Who are their target customers and what is the pricing strategy? 4. Traction: Have they achieved any early wins (revenue, customers, funding)? 5. Team: Does the team have the skills and experience to succeed? Please keep these in mind as you design your pitch deck, pitch video, and deliver your final pitches!

Check out the following reference sites for the Guy Kawasaki framework and an AI Pitch Deck Feedback Tool (featured on pp. 38-57 of the Info Session Presentation), and more: 1. What should be on your pitch deck? 2. Guy Kawasaki 10:20:30 Rule 3. http://bestpitchdecks.com 4. Self-Assessment Pitch Deck Scoring 5. AI Pitch Deck Feedback Tool 6. https://slidebean.com/blog/pitch-deck-structure 7. Pitch Deck Branding & Development Support

Agri or F&B startup (growth-stage) Impactful or challenger brands Based in UAE or looking to expand into UAE

The announcements of the shortlisted startups for the semi-finals will be announced on Friday, 30 Aug 14:00 GST.

After expressing your interest in the Pitch Competition, the Pitch Lounge team will contact you to request your Pitch Deck, 60-second Pitch Video, and further information required to score your application. Self-help resources are available via the links, and additional support is available from Pitch Lounge to help you prepare your application. Contact Pitch Lounge early to secure their support.

If you have any further questions, you can reach out to Jamal Maxey, the project manager for the Green Shoots Startup Pitch Competition. You can connect and message him on LinkedIn, email him at jamal@pitchlounge.net, or book a short call.

06th December 2024 at the PepsiCo Headquarters in Dubai

If you are not shortlisted, there are still many opportunities for you: Notify the organizers of your willingness to be on reserve for the Semi-Finals in case of startup withdrawals. Submit your Elevator Video Pitch in advance of the event and/or via the Pitch Lounge iPad stands during Gulfood Green 2024. Register for the workshops on pitching and other relevant startup support topics. Engage with the Pitch Competition Jury, other investors, and the wider Gulfood Green audience digitally and in-person during the three-day event.

To participate in the PepsiCo External Innovation Pitch Morning, you must apply to pitch or send your investor pitch deck to info@pitchlounge.net . We will notify you via email once you get selected. You can then submit your deck and 1-minute video pitch to the Pitch Lounge team who advise you on submitting a successful application. See startup support resource links in answers to FAQs below: "What should my pitch deck include?" and "What should my pitch video include?" The deadline for the applications is set to 30th November 2024

Up to 8 startups will be shortlisted to pitch at the PepsiCo External Innovation Pitch Morning

They are highly experienced, well-connected, and active FoodTech/AgriFood/F&B experts and startup-investor funding scouts, fund managers, and/or investors in their own right. The entire list of Jury Panelists will be announced soon and confirmed panelists announced on a rolling basis.

The final deadline to apply is 23.59 GST on Friday 30th September 2024.

Your Pitch Video must be UNDER 60 seconds or it will not be considered. Your Pitch Video must be in English and have a clear shot of your upper body (sitting or standing). And the video is allowed to feature more than one founder/member of your team OR can simple feature one person. The video can be a simple 60 seconds video selfie to camera OR can be something more elaborate - but the above conditions apply. Regardless, it is required that you begin with the founder(s) presenting on screen at the beginning and/or at the end, if not throughout. Submit your video via WeTransfer to the Pitch Lounge team (info@pitchlounge.net). Check out the following reference sites for 60-second pitch structures and AI live feedback on your pitch (featured on pp. 58-64 of the Info Session Presentation): 1. https://fi.co/pitch-deck 2. https://madcreativebeanstalk.com/2023/10/29/how-to-pitch-your-startup-in-60-seconds 3. https://pitch-practice.vercel.app/evaluator 4. Video Editing Support

5-minute live pitch (followed by 5 minutes Q&A with the Judging Panel)

No, in-person live pitching from the stage is essential at the Green Shoots Startup Pitch Competition. No remote live pitching or pre-recorded, submitted, full-length video pitches are possible. There will be a new selection process each year. You will have to apply to be considered again. Similarly, if you are shortlisted for the Final after pitching in the Semi-Final but you miss the pitch, you will be replaced with the next runner-up.