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47th edition 16-20 January 2026 Rimini Expo Centre, Italy
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International Start-Up Village

A showcase for emerging excellence in the foodservice industry

International Start-Up Village

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Start-Up International Village: showcase your idea at the heart of global innovation

Following the success of recent editions, SIGEP WORLD expands its vision and launches the new Start-Up International Village – a physical and digital exhibition space dedicated to the most innovative start-ups in the foodservice industry, from both Italy and abroad.

 

This dedicated hub is designed to foster dialogue between emerging businesses and global industry players, creating valuable opportunities for exchange, networking and business development.

Selected start-ups will have the chance to showcase cutting-edge technologies, innovative ingredients, equipment, digital solutions and sustainable packaging in the fields of gelato, pastry, coffee, chocolate, bakery and pizza.

 

Organized by Italian Exhibition Group, in collaboration with ICE-Agency and ANGI – National Association of Young Innovators, the initiative reaffirms SIGEP WORLD’s role as a true international incubator of innovation in the out-of-home sector.

 

A unique opportunity to get noticed by top global players in foodservice.

 


In collaboration with

Who can apply

Applications are open to:

  • Italian innovative start-ups registered in the special section of the Business Register (pursuant to Law no. 221 of December 18, 2012);

  • International start-ups with similar characteristics;

  • Companies not formally registered as innovative start-ups, but meeting the minimum requirements listed below: development projects aligned with the themes of SIGEP WORLD; at least one completed seed round or active presence in the B2B market with a proven client portfolio; an active company website.

 

The final selection will be made at the sole discretion of the organizers, based on the project’s alignment with the event’s objectives and its innovative potential.

Objectives of the initiative

  • To offer new business access to a prestigious national and international stage where to create exchanges and share ideas: the perfect environment in which tradition and innovation meet
  • To create meeting opportunities between the companies present at the event and the Start-Ups that can encourage product and/or service innovation
  • To encourage the identification of the Italian innovative system as a primary interlocutor in the development of products in the sector at national and international level.

 

 

Evaluation of applications

Applications received with the requirements set out in the previous point will be evaluated by a committee, awarding a score for each of the following elements:

 

  •  innovative content of the product or service (1-10)
  •  collaborations and partnerships (1-5)
  •  product or service already industrialised and ready for the market (1-10)
  •  consistency with the sectors of the Sigep event (1-10)

 

Without prejudice to the fulfilment of the requirements indicated above, only the first 40 Start-Ups that obtain the highest score on the basis of the evaluation carried out according to the criteria indicated in this expression of interest will be selected.

How to participate

How to apply

Start-ups meeting the requirements set out in the previous points may send their expression of interest, no later than the deadline below, by filling in the application form, as well as providing consent to the processing of the data contained in the expression of interest.

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Application Deadline

Expressions of interest must be submitted no later than October 27, 2025, following the procedure outlined above.

After conducting formal checks on the applications and acquiring the qualitative assessments from the evaluation committee, Italian Exhibition Group, in collaboration with ANGI, will proceed with the selection of the start-ups admitted to the area.

 

Following the selection process, all applicants will receive a notification—starting from November 10, 2025—at the email address provided during the submission of the expression of interest, informing them whether or not they have been selected for participation in the initiative.

 

Selected participants must confirm their final acceptance within 2 working days of receiving the notification email, by communicating their decision to Italian Exhibition Group.

In the case of final acceptance, participants will be required to send both the participation form and a summary sheet with public information about the start-up.

Should one or more selected participants withdraw, Italian Exhibition Group, again in agreement with ANGI, reserves the right to select additional eligible candidates based on the official ranking.

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Want to know more? For more information plaese contact:

Sara Morrica

Sara Morrica

Sales Account

Phone: (+39) 346 0889805

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Startups selected for SIGEP WORLD 2025

2025 Winning Start-Up

Among the 20 participating start-ups, the ones that stood out for innovation, strategic vision, and industry impact were:

 

  • Simply SFA, 1st place;
  • Koovee, 2nd place;
  • Veganok Global Srl, 3rd place.

 

These three emerging companies distinguished themselves with their cutting-edge solutions, helping to redefine the future of Foodservice with innovative and sustainable proposals.

 

vincitrici 2025
simply sfa
veganok global srl
koove start up