Plant-Based Products Headline NOSH Pitch Slam 12 Semifinals

An eclectic group of six startup food brands will be moving on to the NOSH Pitch Slam 12 finals tomorrow afternoon to vie for the grand prize of an industry awareness package valued at $10,000.

The five finalists are crunchy mushroom chip Popadelics, protein-rich waffle sliders Start Right Foods, adaptogenic brownie company Ruani, “dips for dinner” brand Niramaya Foods, cheese alternative Farmer Foodie Everything Cheeze were chosen by a panel of expert judges, while the sixth finalist, allergy-friendly bean and seed trail mix Absurd Snacks, was chosen by audience vote.

The Slam winner will be awarded an industry awareness package valued at $10,000, as well as join the ranks of past winners Kokada, Cocina 54, Elite Sweets, Savorly, Beckon, Yumami, Tribali, Creation Nation.

The group of semifinalists also included RawMantic Chocolate, vegan spread maker Growee Foods, hemp-infused honey snack Red Belly Honey, probiotic Snack Conscious and cooking oil brand Chef’s Life.

All the contestants pitched better-for-you products that either provided functional benefits to consumers or provided an alternative to common store CPG food items. Judge Jason Starr, Founder/Managing Director of Consumer Ventures, encouraged the entrepreneurs to “touch on the big picture” and focus on the future strategy for scaling the brand.

Starr was joined on the semifinal judging panel by Karen Ivanis-Rogers, Director of Business Ventures at Albertsons Companies; Matt Weiss, Founder/CEO of RIND Snacks and BevNET/NOSH reporter Adrianne DeLuca.

Tune in to the livestream tomorrow to watch the Pitch Slam 12 finals from 2:00 to 2:30 pm EST. The winner will be announced at 3:30 pm EST.