Everything You Need to Know About the FMItech Pitch Competition

Aug 4, 20253 min read

The FMItech Pitch Competition is an event hosted by FMI to showcase early-stage startups innovating in grocery and food retail technology.

By: Doug Baker, Vice President, Industry Relations, FMI

Are you a startup innovating in the grocery or food retail space? The FMItech Pitch Competition could be your launchpad to national exposure and strategic partnerships. Below, we've answered the most frequently asked questions to help you decide if your startup should apply.

What is the FMItech Pitch Competition?

The FMItech Pitch Competition is a live startup showcase hosted by FMI – The Food Industry Association at the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference. It spotlights early-stage companies bringing breakthrough technology solutions to grocery and food retail.

Who can apply?

The competition is open to startups with less than $5 million in total funding that offer real, working applications in:

Grocery or food retail.
CPG, supply chain, or retail media.
Store operations, data, or automation.
Sustainability, food waste, or shopper experience.

What kind of technology solutions are you looking for in the FMItech Pitch Competition?

We're interested in innovation that addresses major challenges in grocery, such as:

AI and machine learning
Supply chain transparency
Store operations and efficiency
Personalization, mobile and loyalty
Retail media performance
Sustainability and waste reduction

Who won the FMItech Pitch Competition in 2025?

In 2025, Badge won the FMItech Pitch Competition with their automation platform for Apple, Google, and Samsung Wallets. Their tech helps grocers and CPG brands connect digital offers directly into mobile wallets. As the winner, Badge took the stage at the FMI Midwinter General Session and gained significant industry attention.

Learn more about the 2025 FMItech Pitch Competition finalists.

How do I apply for the FMItech Pitch Competition?

Visit go.fmi.org/fmitech-pitch-competition to:

Apply for the free FMItech Pitch Competition.
Review eligibility.
Submit your application.
Upload a 3-minute pitch video. This should be a custom pitch from your speaker to our judges, not a commercial or general company or product overview.

Deadline for submissions is Friday, September 5, 2025.

What's the process after I've submitted for the FMItech Pitch Competition?

After submissions close, all entries are reviewed by our panels of judges. From there:

Six semifinalists will be selected to compete in a virtual pitch competition on October 23, 2025.
Judges will then select three finalists, who will pitch live at the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference on January 21 as part of our FMItech education program.
The winner will be announced on January 23 during a Keynotes session, with the opportunity to pitch live to our full Midwinter Executive Conference audience.

What do FMItech Pitch Competition finalists receive?

Three finalists receive:

Complimentary registration to the 2026 FMI Midwinter Executive Conference. Finalist must pay for their hotel and travel expenses.
A live pitch featured on January 21 as part of the FMItech education program during the finalist round.
Complimentary company registration to participate in the FMItech Exchange Program (B2B appointment-based meetings) at the Midwinter Executive Conference.

What does the FMItech Pitch Competition winner receive?

The winner receives:

A featured pitch during the 2026 FMI Midwinter Executive Conference Keynote Session — in front of food retail executive leadership.
Trade media exposure in publications such as Progressive Grocer, Supermarket News and others.
A featured spotlight blog on FMI's website.
Direct connections to top grocery retailers and CPGs.
National recognition as a leader in food retail innovation.