Five Finalists Competed Live Before a Panel of Judges at NIQ’s Annual Signature Event for Retail, Manufacturing, Tech, and Media Leadership

NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, announced the winner of its fourth annual Founders Pitch Slam competition, held on the mainstage at NIQ’s C360 event. The five finalists—Craftmix, Cotto, ESW Beauty, Lumen, and Rotten—competed for a grand prize consisting of a total prize package valued at more than $750,000, including a $50,000 cash award and additional in‑kind components, with Cotto named the 2026 champion.

The competition comes at a time when emerging consumer brands are navigating a rapidly evolving retail landscape shaped by changing consumer expectations, digital commerce, and increasing competition for shelf space and attention. While great products remain essential, long-term success increasingly depends on understanding consumers and acting on market signals quickly. Through the Founders Pitch Slam, NIQ helps emerging brands accelerate growth with the insights, expertise, and industry connections needed to compete in today’s consumer marketplace.

Founded by Kendall Kransdorf, Cotto is a line of high-protein dips made with whipped cottage cheese that reimagine classic flavors for everyday snacking. By blending out the curds, Cotto delivers smooth, savory dips with naturally occurring protein and no gums, fillers, or added powders.

In winning the Pitch Slam’s grand prize, Cotto will gain exclusive access to NIQ’s team of data, analytics, and consumer intelligence experts to help accelerate its growth strategy through deeper understanding of consumers, markets, and emerging opportunities, in addition to the cash award.

“Cotto represents exactly the kind of brand the Founders Pitch Slam was built for, and we are proud to recognize their vision and entrepreneurship,” said Brandon Galindo, Managing Director, Emerging Brands, NIQ. “Cotto came in with a clear point of view on their consumer, a product that’s already earning loyalty, and the ambition to scale it. Today's fastest-growing brands win by understanding consumers earlier, identifying opportunities faster, and making smarter decisions as they grow. We look forward to putting NIQ’s consumer intelligence and market expertise to work in support of Cotto’s next chapter.”

As one of the leading CPG pitch competitions of the year for founding entrepreneurs, the Founders Pitch Slam gives early-stage brand makers a rare platform to make their case in front of a live panel of industry judges at one of the most prominent retail and CPG events on the calendar. Now in its fourth year, the competition reflects NIQ’s broader commitment to supporting innovation across the consumer ecosystem—from emerging challengers to the world’s largest manufacturers and retailers. In addition to the grand prize, the runner-up recipients will also receive NIQ in-kind prizes.

“It is truly an honor to have been named the winner of NIQ’s 2026 Founders Pitch Slam competition,” said Kendall Kransdorf, founder of Cotto. “As we continue to scale, access to NIQ’s consumer intelligence and market expertise will help us better understand our consumers and make smarter decisions for the future. We’re excited for what’s ahead.”

For more information, eligibility details, and how to apply for the 2027 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam, please visit niq.com/pitchslam.

FAQs

What is the NIQ Founders Pitch Slam?
The NIQ Founders Pitch Slam is an annual competition held at NIQ’s C360 event that gives emerging CPG founders the opportunity to pitch their brands live before a panel of industry judges. As one of the leading CPG pitch competitions of the year for founding entrepreneurs, it’s designed to connect early-stage brands with the data, expertise, and visibility they need to grow.

Who won the 2026 NIQ Founders Pitch Slam?
Cotto was named the winner of the fourth annual NIQ Founders Pitch Slam. Cotto is a line of high-protein dips made with whipped cottage cheese that reimagine classic flavors for everyday snacking. By blending out the curds, Cotto delivers smooth, savory dips with naturally occurring protein and no gums, fillers, or added powders.

Who were the finalists?
The 2026 finalists were Craftmix, Cotto, ESW Beauty, Lumen, and Rotten. All competed live on the C360 mainstage before a panel of judges.

What does the winner receive?
The grand prize consists of a total prize package valued at more than $750,000, including a $50,000 cash award and additional in‑kind components. It includes exclusive access to NIQ’s data and analytics experts to support the winning brand’s growth strategy.

How can I apply for a future NIQ Pitch Slam?
Information on eligibility and the application process is available at niq.com/pitchslam.

What is C360®?
C360 is NIQ’s annual signature event that brings together leaders across retail, manufacturing, tech, and media for keynote presentations, expert-led breakout sessions, and real-world case studies. The Founders Pitch Slam is a featured mainstage competition at the event.

All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

About NIQ

NIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.

With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.

For more information, please visit www.niq.com.

© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.

NIQ-GENERAL

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260610654296/en/