Where innovation meets French savoir-faire.
Meet visionary culinary brands as they push boundaries and create a tapestry of bold flavors and curated experiences.
The Germinators
Pitch Night on June 29th 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!
For the sixth 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 29th in New York.
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.
This is our largest, most anticipated startup event of 2026 and we expect to welcome more than 200 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.
The French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) is a private, non-governmental, non-profit organization that is 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 9 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.
