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Rewarding Innovation in Food, Beverage & Hospitality.
Brought to you by French-American Chamber of Commerce
The Germinators

Where innovation meets French savoir-faire.

Meet visionary culinary brands as they push boundaries and create a tapestry of bold flavors and curated experiences.

Pitch Night on June 30th in NYC

This unique event combines industry networking, captivating start-up pitches from F&B innovators on both sides of the Atlantic, and delectable tastings by renowned chefs. It’s the perfect opportunity for startups, investors, hoteliers, distributors, restaurateurs, and corporate players to shape the future of the Food, Beverage, and Hospitality ecosystem. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to discover a captivating blend of French savoir-faire and groundbreaking ideas that will shape the future of the industry!

Edition #5

For the fifth edition of this celebrated competition, we will bring together the best French & American startups for an ultimate pitch night and networking event on Monday, June 24th in New York.

Diversity

From tech-enabled startups to more traditional food companies, our finalists represent a rich diversity of approaches and products — all united by their spirit of innovation and a French flair.

+250 Guests

This is our largest, most anticipated startup event of 2025 and we expect to welcome more than 250 attendees, all industry experts, media representatives and VCs to a top NYC venue.

Finalists Will

Gain access to an international network of top-notch Food, Beverage, & Hospitality founders, investors, corporate innovation leaders, accelerators, and industry experts.

Get support, feedback, insight, and resources to help their starting and growing ventures

Benefit from a large-scale communication campaign reaching 1,000+ FACC members, 15,000+ contacts in the New York City region: before, during and after the event, and throughout our partners’ networks

Gain exposure to the French-American business community audience and unique occasion to raise awareness on your projects/initiatives. Pitch your company’s innovation for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize + expert coaching package+ annual FACC-NY membership.

2025
Finalists
Amonē
Authentic, cutting-edge and committed cuisine based on the cordon bleu.
Aveine Solutions
Wait no more to enjoy your wine!
Beyer
96% fruit spread with no added sugar
Bitecone
The best part of a sundae cone, now available as a bite-sized snack!
Horae
Floral tea bouquets
Kadeya
The world's first closed-loop beverage system
L'etuverie
Organic and 100% French black garlic
mealz.ai
New shopping experience with recipes that can be ordered in 1 click
Monbana - Pink Latte
Subtle red fruit flavour and a touch of magnesium for a moment of fruity relaxation
Room Zero Zero
The comfort of your favorite hotel, at home
Sphere Production
Unique and Patented Microwave Popcorn Concept – CINEMA POP'BOX System
Vanille Volkanik
Exceptional Vanilla from Martinique that supports local communities and preserves biodiversity
The Ultimate Pitch Night & Networking Event
In 2023, 7 finalists gathered to pitch their startups in front of a jury of industry experts at the second edition of Germinators. The winner was chosen based on their representation of French excellence, know-how and their desire to launch in the U.S. market.
2025 Sponsors & Partners
The Organization Behind the Competition

The French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) are private, non-governmental, non-profit organizations that are independently financed through member dues, business services, their events and other programs. 17 local chapters provide regional expertise and support to both local firms and French companies entering the U.S. market, contributing to a national federation which is a keystone organization for French and American professionals and companies.

At the New York Chapter, we provide our members access to a comprehensive range of experiences, networks and opportunities designed to empower successful business relationships between French & American professionals in a variety of industries including Food & Beverage, Luxury, Tech, Finance, Sustainability and more.

The Germinators Startup Competition is organized by the FACC-NY Food, Beverage, & Hospitality Committee, a group of 7 industry stakeholders with an interest in propelling French & American brands to greater success.

Click here to learn more about joining the FACC-NY community today.