--- title: Minnow Wins Smart Kitchen Summit - 2020 Startup Showcase description: Minnow Pilot Program News Article image: https://www.minnowpod.com/hubfs/minow/blog-1.png --- [![Group 14](https://www.minnowpod.com/hubfs/opt-2021/Group%2014.svg "Group 14")](https://www.minnowpod.com/) - [Support](https://minnowpod.com/support) - [I'm a user](https://minnowpod.com/support/im-a-user) - [I'm a property manager](https://minnowpod.com/support/im-a-property-or-workplace-manager) - [I'm a foodservice operator](https://www.minnowpod.com/support/im-a-foodservice-operator) - [Blog](https://www.minnowpod.com/blog) [Log in](https://app.minnowpod.com/admin/login) [Back to News](https://www.minnowpod.com/news) 10/20/20 # Minnow Wins Smart Kitchen Summit - 2020 Startup Showcase Minnow, an IoT startup that has developed a contact-free food delivery and pickup solution (called the Minnow Pickup Pod™), announced today that it has won the sixth annual Smart Kitchen Summit (SKS) Startup Showcase. Seattle, WA - October 20, 2020 - Minnow, an IoT startup that has developed a contact-free food delivery and pickup solution (called the Minnow Pickup Pod™), announced today that it has won the sixth annual [Smart Kitchen Summit (SKS) Startup Showcase](https://thespoon.tech/minnows-contactless-delivery-pods-win-the-sks-2020-startup-showcase-award/). The SKS Startup Showcase is a well-established food tech startup competition that gives early stage companies the opportunity to pitch and demo their innovation to a leading executives, journalists, VCs and influencers across a broad spectrum of industries and solutions. While much of the food world has been impacted by the pandemic, there's been no shortage of investors, inventors and innovators looking to reinvent the food system. The organizers of the Smart Kitchen Summit 2020 announced the winners of the Startup Showcase, an annual event that demonstrates the most interesting startups building innovative new products for the future of food, on Wednesday, October 15, 2020 to a virtual crowd. "To say Minnow pods could be useful during the time of COVID-19 is a bit of an understatement," said Chris Albrecht, editor in chief of The Spoon, the producers of SKS 2020. Minnow has had the benefit of being at the right place at the right time. Minnow Pickup Pods were already designed for convenience, but due to the pandemic, concerns around safety and security grew along with the rise in delivery and takeout orders. "The pandemic has forced restaurants to adapt and has led to new challenges like enabling social distancing, keeping customers and staff safe, and ensuring food orders are secure while waiting to be picked up," said Steven Sperry, Minnow's CEO. "What worked last year, doesn't necessarily translate to the new normal. That's why food service operators are rethinking the pickup experience." Minnow's latest consumer survey shows that 86% of consumers said contact-free pickup is important, while the vast majority (96%) want their food kept in an insulated compartment so it stays hot or cold while waiting to be picked up. Clearly, the definition of what convenience means has evolved, and restaurants are embracing truly innovative business models and new technologies to meet consumer expectations. ### **Media Contact:** Christopher Stanvick christopher@minnowpod.com (503)-597-8408 ### Related Articles [View All Articles](https://www.minnowpod.com/news) [![Bell Partners and Minnow Technologies, Inc.](https://www.minnowpod.com/hubfs/Bell%20Partners_Minnow%20Technologies_Pickup%20Pod-1.png)](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/bell-partners-launches-minnow-technologies-smart-food-delivery-amenity-for-its-apartment-communities-across-the-u.s) November 1, 2022 ## [Bell Partners Launches Minnow Technologies' Smart Food Delivery Amenity for its Apartment Communities Across the U.S.](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/bell-partners-launches-minnow-technologies-smart-food-delivery-amenity-for-its-apartment-communities-across-the-u.s) [Written By Christopher Stanvick](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/author/christopher-stanvick) [![Steven Sperry receiving award from Bend Venture Conference](https://www.minnowpod.com/hubfs/Sperry%20Bend%20Venture.jpg)](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/19th-annual-bend-venture-conference-minnow-technologies-awarded-200000) October 23, 2022 ## [19th Annual Bend Venture Conference: Minnow awarded $200,000](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/19th-annual-bend-venture-conference-minnow-technologies-awarded-200000) [Written By Christopher Stanvick](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/author/christopher-stanvick) [![Minnow Pickup Pod](https://www.minnowpod.com/hubfs/Minnow%20Pickup%20Pod_Coolest%20thing%20made%20in%20Wisconsin.jpeg)](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/pickup-pod-is-a-nominee-in-the-coolest-thing-made-in-wisconsin-contest) September 22, 2022 ## [Pickup Pod is a Nominee in the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/pickup-pod-is-a-nominee-in-the-coolest-thing-made-in-wisconsin-contest) [Written By Christopher Stanvick](https://www.minnowpod.com/news/author/christopher-stanvick) [View All Articles](https://www.minnowpod.com/news) ### How do I get a Pickup Pod? ![Pod - Perspective - No Background](https://www.minnowpod.com/hubfs/Pod%20-%20Perspective%20-%20No%20Background.png) - Contact us and tell us about your needs. - We'll answer your questions and give you a quote. - After you accept the quote we'll start building your Pickup Pod. - We'll deliver your Pickup Pod in 4 - 6 weeks. 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