Igeho Rising Star 2025: Public voting opens

Press release, 7 April 2025 (PDF)

The application phase for the 2025 Igeho Rising Star Award closed on 31 January, attracting numerous submissions from food tech startups. Each entry was carefully reviewed by the Igeho team based on innovation and use of technology, sustainability and environmental impact, as well as business model and scalability.

Fifteen Swiss startups have been selected to showcase their companies at Igeho 2025, where they will present their innovations to the audience in Basel this November.

Benjamin Eulau, Igeho’s Brand Director, shared his excitement: "We saw some truly impressive innovations among the applications. Many of these startups have the potential to address long-term challenges in the food service industry."

Christina Senn-Jakobsen, CEO of the SFNV, was also impressed by the applications submitted: "We were thrilled to hear that so many start-ups have applied to be part of the Igeho Rising Star Award 2025. From sustainable alternatives that offer consumers more diverse choices to tech-driven solutions that share the impact of what we put on our plates - so many Swiss ecosystem players are working tirelessly to create solutions that will make our food service sector more future-proof. I’m excited to watch them grow and scale through their participation in this competition."

Public voting now open

The public vote to determine which five startups will compete for the 2025 Igeho Rising Star Award in the grand finale of Igeho 2025 opens today. Until 30 May, professionals from the hotel, restaurant, catering, and care industries can cast their votes for the startups they want to see in the final.
The selected startups are:

• Actidot
• catchfree
• Circunis
• FOOD2050
• Foodflows
• FoodFor
• GoNina
• Hexafed
• LOVYÜ
• Niatsu
• Sanvitafood
• Saya Suka
• SwissMiso
• TrueFoods
• Yumame Foods

Driving innovation through an award

As Switzerland’s leading international hospitality industry platform, Igeho is committed to fostering innovation. With the 2025 Igeho Rising Star Award, it provides emerging companies in the hospitality sector with a valuable opportunity to showcase their businesses, raise awareness of their innovations, and connect with industry professionals.

In collaboration with Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, Igeho aims to use this award to drive innovation by offering startups a platform and facilitating networking opportunities. "We see it as our duty to give startups the chance to present themselves and step into the spotlight," says Benjamin Eulau, Igeho’s Brand Director. "The hospitality industry and our food system depend on long-term innovation, and we’re proud to support that."

The grand finale of the 2025 Igeho Rising Star Award will take place at Igeho 2025 in Basel, where the five finalists will compete for the title, along with cash and non-cash prizes. All holders of valid day tickets are welcome to attend and be part of the live audience.

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Links and further information

• 2025 Igeho Rising Star: Website
• Public voting: Website

 

Images

• Igeho Rising Star: Logo 2025
• Igeho: Logo | Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley: Logo
• Winner of the panel prize Igeho Rising Star Award 2023: EggField
• Winner of the audience prize Igeho Rising Star Award 2023: IRISgo
• Final of the Igeho Rising Star Award 2023: Egg Field on stage
• Igeho 2023: Impressions

Media contacts

Alexander Däppen, Marketing & Communications Manager Igeho, MCH Messe Basel
alexander.daeppen@messe.ch, T +41 58 206 58 60

Laura Robinson, Communications Lead, Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley
news@sfnv.ch

 

Igeho: International platform for hotels, catering, take-away and care

Igeho is the most important international industry platform for the hotel, catering, take-away and care sectors in Switzerland. As a live marketing platform it offers the hospitality branch a comprehensive market overview, interesting networking opportunities and new impulses around the topic of hospitality. The wide range of products and services will be complemented by an exciting supporting programme on current trends and the most important topics in the hospitality industry. The next Igeho will take place at Messe Basel from November 15 to 19, 2025.

Further information at: www.igeho.ch
 

MCH Group

The MCH Group, based in Basel, is an internationally active experience marketing company with a comprehensive service network and an international range of experience marketing solutions. The Exhibitions & Events division stages around 170 guest events every year and organizes 17 of its own events and exhibitions in Switzerland, including leading national platforms such as Swissbau, Igeho and Giardina. With Messe Basel, the Congress Center Basel and Messe Zürich, MCH also operates the largest multifunctional event infrastructures in Switzerland in terms of space. The company employs over 800 permanent staff, around half of whom are based in Switzerland and the USA.

More information at: www.mch-group.com
 

Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley

Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley (SFNV) brings together stakeholders from across the Swiss food ecosystem to create healthier food systems that benefit both people and the planet. SFNV is a purpose-driven, not-for-profit association dedicated to strengthening Switzerland's role as a food nation.

Further information at: swissfoodnutritionvalley.com