NIQ Founders
Pitch Slam

Join the 2024 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam mailing list and get ready for the season opener.

Congratulations to True Made Foods, the
2023 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam winner

First Place winner, Abraham Kamarck, Founder of True Made Foods
Kristin Fracassi, Founder of Root & Splendor
Jeff Moreau Jr, Founder of Lemongrass Farms
Shibani Baluja, Founder of lil’gourmets
Youngwon Lee, Founder of Dokkaebier
Pitch Slam judges
Dokkaebier ptich
Lemongrass Farms pitch
lil’gourmets pitch
Root & Splendor Pitch
True Made Foods Pitch
Fan Favorite, Dokkaebier
Pitch Slam Finalists
Winner True Made Foods

2023 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam Finalists

2023 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam Semi-Finalists

2023 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam

What Is the NIQ Founders Pitch Slam?

The first-ever NIQ Founders Pitch Slam will bring together some of the most innovative and transformative emerging CPG brands, challenging an elite set of founders to pitch their companies to industry insiders and business leaders as they vie for a first-place award of more than $500k including a $50,000 cash prize and in-kind prizes. This competition represents our latest effort in our commitment to helping grow emerging brands and fostering connections.

This unique competition will give brands access to NIQ data experts to help tell their story through the lens of best-in-class data and analytics. They’ll make valuable connections and networking opportunities, and the finalists will enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles to present their pitch to a live audience of industry experts at NIQ’s C360 conference.

Founders Pitch Slam Prize Package:

The First place winner will receive over $500k in prizes including*:

$50,000 cash prize
NIQ in-kind services, which may include:
- Access to Byzzer
- Access to Omnisales and Omni Shopper data
- Access to Advanced Analytics
- Access to BASES Innovation Package
- NIQ Consulting hours
- Brandjectory “Thrust” Plan

4 Runners up will receive a 1-year subscription to Byzzer* and the Brandjectory “Lift Off” plan

* All prizes must be used within 1 calendar year of the conclusion of the competition. Subscriptions will be activated in June 2023.

How It Works

The NIQ Founders Pitch Slam consists of three stages where applicants will pitch to a series of judges until only five finalists remain. Contestants will be evaluated based on: Brand story/mission, product innovation, financial/growth potential, and alignment to consumer needs and trends.

Season Opener

Brands that meet the entry requirements will be reviewed by a panel of NIQ judges who will select the top 20 semi-finalists to participate in the Virtual Pitch portion of the NIQ Founders Pitch Slam. Only the most innovative brands will move on.

The Playoffs

20 Semifinalists will be invited to an exclusive webinar on how to create the perfect pitch and will be assigned a data expert to help them develop their story using Byzzer data. The brands will then participate in a Virtual Pitch in front of a judging panel – 3-5 minute pitch with 2 minutes Q&A per brand and 5 Finalists will be selected.

World Series

5 Finalists will be flown out to Los Angeles for NIQ’s C360 Conference to participate in the live pitch portion of the NIQ Founders Pitch Slam event in front of industry experts and brand leaders. The winner will be awarded the grand prize, 4 runners up will receive NIQ in-kind prizes.

Program Requirements

The NIQ Founders Pitch Slam was built around helping the most innovative emerging brands supercharge their growth with the power of NIQ data and insights. The pitch slam winner and top finalists will be the most innovative brands on the market with the most significant potential for growth based on NIQ data, on-trend for consumers.

Eligibility criteria includes:

Have an annual revenue between $250k – $20 million in US $ sales validated by NIQ OmniSales or other NIQ databases across one or more one of these qualifying departments – Alcohol, Baby Care, Bakery, Bulk Bin, Dairy, Deli, Floral, Frozen, Gen Merch, Grocery, Beauty, Household, Meat, Pet, Produce, Seafood & Nutritional Supplements
Products must currently be available for U.S. sale
You must be available to participate in the Virtual Pitch semi-finals on Tuesday, May 9, 2023
You must be available to attend the C360 conference in Los Angeles for the Live Pitch session on June 6-8th as well as the rehearsal on June 5th
Participate in event marketing/promotion