The Future of the AgriFood Ecosystem in UAE with PepsiCo Innovation & Desertech Ventures

Despite not being selected to pitch on this occasion, we are still very interested in hosting you at this event and even potentially pitch at our other events in the near future. Please register as an obsever to attend this or another upcoming event of ours: www.pitchlounge.net/pitchevents If you want to be considered for our regular online demo and feedback* event series, please apply via the short and simple form on our website: www.pitchlounge.net/startups Recommendation: you may want to trial Fornax - the AI pitch deck feedback tool! *Event FAQs available here.

PepsiCo R&D - MENA Innovation Center (MIC), DSP Laboratory Complex, Al Barsha South - Dubai - UAE

Monday, 25th November (23.59 GST/UTC+4)

Complete the short and simple 3-4 field webform at the following location: www.pitchlounge.net/pepsico If you encounter problems submitting your pitch deck, simply submit the webform without it (and email us your deck to info@pitchlounge.net). Good luck!

By Friday, 29th November (17:00 GST/UTC+4)

The list below is provisional (until otherwise confirmed): Panel 1 - FMCG/CPG | F&B | Retail Alejandro Marabi, Sr. R&D Manager (PepsiCo) - Confirmed Shirley Shahar (Desert Tech Ventures, formerly known as DANA Venture Builder) - Confirmed Nader Amiri, General Partner (Homegrown Ventures) - Provisional Seda Solmaz, Independent FMCG Innovation Consultant (Idea Atelier) - Provisional Panel 2 - AgTech | FoodTech | Desert Tech Shirley Shahar (Desert Tech Ventures, formerly known as DANA Venture Builder) - Confirmed Giovanna Melfi, Dubai Ambassador (Investors for Climate) - Invited Simon Sharp, Partner (Global Ventures) - Provisional Jose Francisco Fernandez Serna, Managing Director (E-motion/Freshko DMCC) - Confirmed Undisclosed, Senior Management (Silal) - Provisional

6-8 startups will be selected to pitch.

Widespread exposure, feedback, and connections to PepsiCo R&D External Innovation (Ei), Desertech Ventures, and industry panelists representing a range of significant companies in the startup-investor-corporate ecosystem. It's also possible to secure mentorship from industry professionals attending the event.

5-minute live pitch for each startup (in-person, not online) followed by 5-10 minute Q&A, feedback, and signposting round immediately following each pitch.

It is free to apply and to pitch if shortlisted. No travel costs will be paid for. No funding is on the table for pitching startups - keep reading for more information about the value and purpose of the event.

Hosts PepsiCo R&D External Innovation (Ei) and Desertech Ventures Co-organizers Foodpreneurs Collective, Pitch Lounge, and Meiraj.ai About the Event Partners PepsiCo R&D External Innovation (Ei) actively scouts for, identifies, and develops strategic partnerships with external collaborators. The goal is to locate key external insights, business models, technical unlocks, and new capabilities that, when partnered with our robust R&D expertise, will yield disruptive innovation in our core products and new and emerging products. We are currently exploring novel technologies that have the potential to dramatically impact our food and beverage portfolio. We are interested in improving all facets of our value chain - from raw material inputs to the consumer experience - and identifying global efficiencies in areas including crop science, ingredients, processing, packaging, equipment, distribution/fleet, retail, and eCommerce. Desertech Ventures (formerly DANA Venture Builder) is an Abu Dhabi-based venture builder and investment platform that supports women-led startups in Desert Technologies, including sectors of AgriTech, FoodTech, Water Solutions, and Renewable Energy. The company works throughout the MENA region and offers its startups/ecosystem partners regional collaboration, innovation mentorship, impact community, and funding. Their programs emphasize the importance of diversity in innovation, empowering women from across the MENA region generating unique sustainable solutions, and generating top-quality deal flow. Foodpreneurs Collective is a supportive community for F&B Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Industry Experts who want to support the F&B startup ecosystem Pitch Lounge has produced 120+ pitch events in 4 years including 80+ Food & Beverage events with the support of Sascha Dutta from Foodpreneurs Collective, Marketing Strategiser. Meiraj A.I. is the brand and marketing manager at Pitch Lounge, advising global brands on transformation through creativity. Since 2012, he’s worked with companies like SAP and IBM, specializing in branding and marketing. An entrepreneur and investor, he also organizes pitch events worldwide, driving innovation and productivity across industries.

Friday, 6th December (09:00-13:00 GST/UTC+4)

Startups that are revolutionizing the AgriFood industry - from CPG/Retail to AgTech and everything in between including but not limited to those making an impact across the following six areas: 1. Process & Equipment 2. Packaging & Materials 3. Ingredients & Flavors 4. Sustainability & Agriculture 5. Digital Transformation 6. Desert Tech Furthermore, you must be registered and/or operating in UAE or the wider MENA region OR actively planning/in the process of doing so.

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

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 initially expressing your interest in the Pitch Competition, the Pitch Lounge team will be in contact with 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 other support is available from Pitch Lounge to help you prepare your application. Contact Pitch Lounge early to secure their support.

Jamal Maxey from Pitch Lounge is the project manager for the Green Shoots Startup Pitch Competition. Connect and message him on LinkedIn here. OR Email: 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 organisers 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.