Aguascalientes, Ags., March 31, 2025.- Students from the Universidad Panamericana, campus Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico, March 31, 2025. Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes campuswon first place in the Pitch Challenge 2025, an international competition for gastronomic innovation organized by the University of CY Gastronomie in Paris, France.
Pitch Challenge: an international challenge for students
The fourth edition of the Pitch Challenge 2025The fourth edition of the Pitch Challenge 2025, an academic competition organized by CY Gastronomie University, invites students from various universities to develop an innovative product in the gastronomic field; for the first time, a foreign university was invited to take part in the event.
Through a double degree agreement with the University of CY Gastronomie and with the support of the Chef Francois Veltinwho has also been a guest professor at the International Summers and Winters French Cuisine courses at the Universidad Panamericana, two teams of the School of Food Business Management Food Business Management School had the entry to this great competition.
The preparation included trainings with Fatiha ZianeFatiha Ziane, organizer of the event, who provided virtual guidance to the students, ensuring that they received the same training as their French counterparts. In addition, they were provided with coaching expert in Pitch, Lic. Ximena de Alba de la CerdaXimena de Alba de la Cerda, collaborator of Marcus Dantus of Shark Tank.
In addition, they enriched their perspective on marketing matters with Dr. Alfonso López Torres. Dr. Alfonso López TorresBusiness Plan with Mr . Luis Cabrera, Finance with Mr . Agustín Víquez and Theater with Mr. Rafael Paniagua.
Sweet Podoriginality and innovation in healthy eating
After three months of hard work and preparation, the students presented two projects: the first team, Vital Bite, and the second team, Vital Bite. Vital Bite conceived a vitamin C supplement bar developed by the students Loredana Rivas Lomas, Luciana Rubio Salinas y Santiago Nájera Domínguezthe latter student went on behalf of his entire team to Paris.
And the second team Sweet Podpresented a carob cookie made especially for diabetics; this product was designed and developed by the following students Sara Ivette Delgado Ramírez, Jorge Emilio Pacheco González, Fabián Ortega López.
After 20 presentations of the teams participating in this competition, the team Sweet Pod team won first place in the Pitch Challenge 2025 thanks to its originality and innovative proposal with an impact on healthy eating.
Sweet Pod is the first cookie made from carob in Mexico.Its low-fat, high-fiber, high mineral, gluten-free and sweetened with natural sweeteners make it a great snack. snack suitable for diabetics. This same innovation pleased the judges, in addition to the fact that the product was packaged and ready to be sold in the market.
Promote Mexican talent in the international arena.
The Paulina TalamantesPaulina Talamantes, director of the Bachelor's Degree in Gastronomic Business Management, underlined the importance of the triumph.This achievement is very important for the school, since it is the first time that we is the first time we have competed in a gastronomic business pitch in the English language, on an international platform that gives us the opportunity to compete in an international platform.on an international platform that gives us recognition, and the having won gives us support in the three pillars that govern the Gastronomic Business Management career: culinary arts, food technology and business.".
This recognition reinforces the commitment of Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes campus, with internationalization and social impact, by offering its students opportunities that broaden their global vision. Through excellence in education, the School of Food Business Management continues to consolidate its position as a benchmark in gastronomic education and entrepreneurship.
Learn more about the School of Food Business Management at: https://www.up.edu.mx/educacion-universidad-escuela-de-direccion-de-negocios-gastronomicos/
