Fast Casual Executive Summit

FastCasual opens nominations for 2026 'Perfect Pitch'

Nominations close June 8.

Photo: Connect Media

March 31, 2026

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Fast casual brands looking for a national spotlight and a six-figure investment opportunity have until June 8 to enter the industry's premier startup competition.

The Fast Casual Executive Summit has officially opened nominations for The Perfect Pitch, a live competition designed to discover the next breakout star in the restaurant industry. Now in its 12th year, the event—often described as a friendlier version of "Shark Tank"— will take place Oct. 4-6 in Arlington during the summit.

The stakes

The 2026 winner will walk away with a comprehensive growth package, including:

• $3,500 in cash.
• A featured appearance on the digital series Fast Casual Frontrunners, which could lead to a $200,000 investment opportunity from Savor Holdings, the investment firm led by Paul Barron
• One year of free service from Ovation, a leading customer feedback platform.

Eligibility and selection

The competition is open to emerging brands that have been operating for at least six months but no more than six years. To qualify, companies must have at least one physical location but no more than 20 units.

"We are looking for brands that are bold, innovative and ready to make a lasting impression," said Cherryh Cansler, publisher of FastCasual. Applicants must be willing to share revenue and average sales data as part of the vetting process.

From the pool of nominees, eight finalists will be selected to pitch live during the summit. Each finalist receives two complimentary passes to the event.

How the pitch works

The competition is spread across the three-day summit, relying on audience participation to crown a winner:

• Round 1 (Oct. 4): The first four brands pitch, with the audience voting for one to advance.
• Round 2 (Oct. 5): Four additional brands compete for the second finalist spot.
• Round 3 (Oct. 6): The two finalists face a "head-to-head" Q&A session with audience members and a panel of expert advisers before a final grand prize vote.

How to enter

There is no fee to enter the competition. Interested brand owners must submit their nominations here by June 8, 2026.

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Ovation

How Great Restaurants Get Better - Guest Experience Management Platform

Ovation is a guest experience platform for multi-unit restaurants that starts with a 2-question survey to drive revenue, streamline guest recovery, and easily improve operations. Thousands of restaurants, including leading brands like Dave's Hot Chicken, use Ovation to get more feedback, recover guests in real-time, and improve.

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