Start Me Up Innovation Awards announces judges

The judging panel has been confirmed for FCSI’s 2019 Start Me Up Innovation Awards, supported by Electrolux Professional. The awards will showcase new products or concepts launched by independent start-up companies.

The inaugural 2019 Start Me Up Innovation Awards were created by international member body Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) and Electrolux Professional to give a platform to new products, services, systems or concepts from global start-up businesses with the potential to have a game-changing impact on the commercial foodservice, beverage and laundry industry.

The awards are open to any independent, start-up business that has launched a new product or concept for the sector since 1 January 2018. It is free to enter and it takes approximately 10 minutes to complete the application form on the FCSI website, here. The final date of entry is 1 September 2019. Judging will take place in September 2019. On Sunday 20 October at HostMilano 2019 shortlisted entrants will present their products to judges in a Shark Tank-style pitch.

The judges will decide on a shortlist of entrants based on how innovative and impactful they believe the entries could be for the industry. The shortlisted products or concepts selected for the final stage will have the chance to make a Shark Tank-style ‘pitch’ to the judges in person at an event at the FCSI booth on the morning of Sunday 20 October at the HostMilano 2019 show in Milan, Italy. Representatives from each start-up business will get 10 minutes to demonstrate to judges why their entry is worthy of first place. The winner will be announced at the FCSI show party later that evening.

The FCSI Professional Member judges on the panel are: Ken Schwartz FCSI of SSA Restaurant Design + Foodservice Consulting in Tampa, Florida; Joseph Schumaker FCSI of SCG FoodSpace in San Jose, California; Bettina von Massenbach FCSI of Oyster Hospitality Management in Munich, Germany; Thomas Mertens FCSI of S.A:M GmbH in Kolbermoor, Germany; and Brandon Kua FCSI of Citrus Consult in Selangor, Malaysia. Michele Cadamuro, Design Director of Electrolux Professional, based in Pordenone, Italy, completes the line-up.

“Innovation is essential for creating solutions to overcome new or existing challenges. It is vital in the development of efficiency at all levels, which impact the operators’ bottom line as well as the guest experience,” says Ken Schwartz in a press release. “These awards and the recognition they provide are a catalyst to entice people to be creative and to think outside of the norm. Start-ups typically take on a new approach.”