The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has partnered with venture capital firm PeakBridge for the Startup Pavilion at IFT FIRST 2025, taking place from July 13-16 in Chicago. PeakBridge, known for its investments in scalable B2B food technologies, aims to support innovative startups addressing food system challenges. The Startup Pavilion will feature up to 100 FoodTech startups showcasing their innovations and competing for a $15,000 prize. IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean emphasizes the importance of this collaboration to foster food innovation and provide essential connections for startups. Registration for the event opens in March 2025.