Intelli.accelerate: Foodpreneur Scale-Up Lab
Are you an early or mid-stage food founder ready to unlock growth clarity?
Register for our intensive F&B founder-focused lab during Gulfood Week 2026.
Pitch your biggest growth challenges to FoodTech/manufacturing experts for live, practical mentorship—not generic inspiration.
For early/mid-stage food founders, specialty brands, and grocery-trade startups preparing to scale.
Venue Details
Venue:
Zentral DWTC
Address:
Zentral Building, Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre 2, Dubai, AE
Event Target Audience
Join early and mid-stage food founders, specialty brands, and growth-stage startups for a hands-on lab experience with real mentorship from industry leaders, investors, and scale-up specialists.
Connect with peers, receive expert feedback on your growth barriers, and build visibility with the broader food innovation ecosystem.
Accelerate Your Foodpreneur Journey!
Event Agenda
08:30-09:00 - Registration | Networking | Refreshments
09:00-09:15 - Welcome Address from Tom Thomas
09:15-09:30 - Intros to Industry Veteran Panelists
09:30-10:30 - Startup Scale-up Challenges + Panel Q&A
10:30-11:00 - Further Networking
Event Format
✅ Arrival, registration & coffee networking
✅ Founder challenge pitches & real-time panel evaluation
✅ Mentorship-driven format (not panel discussion)
✅ Live feedback from business leaders
✅ Post-event mentoring for pitching founders
✅ Intelli.accelerate event series and “Vision Voices” podcast announcements
✅ Announcement of other events and opportunities from Foodpreneurs Collective Pitch Lounge
✅ Organised and informal networking opportunities
Founder Challenge Participation
How It Works:
Founders attending pitch one real growth challenge blocking their path to scale. Panelists select the founder they want to mentor (based on challenge relevance and potential impact).
Selected founders receive:
Direct mentorship from an expert panelist
Live, practical guidance on scaling strategy
Visibility with investors and industry partners
Podcast-style social media content recorded during the event
All attendees benefit from:
Networking with peer founders in similar growth stages
Exposure to common scaling challenges and expert perspectives
Connection opportunities with investors, mentors, and industry specialists
Access to the broader Gulfood innovation ecosystem
Why Attend?
Founders: Actionable growth clarity | Private mentorship | Investor visibility | Peer community
Mentors/Investors: Access growth-stage founders | High-potential discovery | Deal flow
Ecosystem: Builds founder capability | Strengthens Gulfood Week innovation momentum
Co-Producers & Co-Hosts
Tom Thomas, Managing Director Enhance Intelligence & Technologies & C O R E Management service LLC - FZ | Advisor | Partner in FMCG | Revenue Growth Management | Specialist in route to market.
Sascha Dutta, Founder Foodpreneurs Collective & Ambassador FoodHack Dubai | Dubai Ambassador Free From Food.
Jamal Maxey, Co-Producer & Event Promoter Pitch Lounge | Former Mentor Techstars - Saudi Arabia | Ambassador Forward Fooding - present, Investors for Climate - former | (Formerly) Mentor & Panel Judge with Ignyte (UAE), EIT Food, and Techstars Catalyst Program (Saudi Arabia).
Tammy Ho, EMBA | FoodHack Dubai Ambassador | Growth-focused Marketing Leader in F&B, QSR, FMCG | Foodtech Ecosystem Builder | Panel Moderator on healthy eating trends.
Panelists
James Michael Lafferty, CEO Fine Hygienic Holding (CPG MENA leader) | Former CEO Coca-Cola, P&G Poland/Philippines | P&G Brand Management Expert | Executive Coach.
Nadine Benchaffai, Partner (Project People) | Partner (DeserTech Ventures) | Partner & Co-Founder (Fab Food Co) | Co-Chair (MELBA (Middle East LBS Business Angels)) | Angel Investor.
Salih Sheikh, Founder | Building Future Food Brands | Investor | IP Licensing | Innovation | Brand Development | Food & Wellness Trends.
Salvatore Caizzone, Founder & CEO (VIS MUNDI - Dubai, Cairo, Lagos) | Consumer Brands | Venture Capital | FMCG Strategist | Homegrown Ventures Partner.
Event Organisers Associated With
Event Target Sectors
FoodTech | CPG | Supply Chain | Specialty Foods | Grocery Startups
Event Partners
Enhance Intelligence & Technologies — a technology company specializing in AI-driven solutions and ERP systems for scaling food businesses.
Foodpreneurs Collective — a supportive community for F&B entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts committed to strengthening the food startup ecosystem.
Pitch Lounge — produced 150+ pitch events in five years, including 100+ Food & Beverage events, with the support of Sascha Dutta and Foodpreneurs Collective.
T&Cs: Approvals-based registration | Photo/video consent | Data storage for event updates
Questions? [email protected]
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