Founderology Forum
Saigon Hustle wins The Perfect Pitch contest at Fast Casual Executive Summit
Saigon Hustle has won The Perfect Pitch, a "Shark Tank" style contest at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver, Colorado.
October 15, 2024 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Following a global contest seeking the best new concepts in fast-casual dining today, Saigon Hustle has won The Perfect Pitch.
The contest, a "Shark Tank" style event, was held at the Fast Casual Executive Summit on Oct. 14. The Fast Casual Executive Summit brings together hundreds of restaurant owners, operators and managers for a two-and-a-half day event. This year's show was held in Denver, Colorado.
During the contest, five concepts gave presentations about their companies before a panel of judges, including Zack Oates, founder and CEO of Ovation, Etkin Tekin, co-founder and CEO of Haven Hot Chicken, last year's The Perfect Pitch winner, and Michele Walters, business development officer for Coastal States Bank. The winner received $3,500 and a year of free service with Ovation.
Saigon Hustle, a Vietnamese food concept based in Houston, Texas, took home both the audience award and the judge's award.
With food at the heart of this fast casual, meals start with a protein and a base, of which there are five of each. It's easy to choose and easy on the go.
The brand opened in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 with three employees. Today, the company has 30 and opened its second store just last week.
"We're so, so excited," Sandy Nguyen, co-founder of Saigon Hustle, said after the event. "We're exhausted because we just opened the second location, so this just tops off how we feel."
Other contestants during the event included: Gai Chicken & Rice, Much Ado About Pizza, Pasta di Guy and Shootz.
About Mandy Wolf Detwiler
Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living.
More From Founderology ForumMore
Related Media
Subscribe
Get the latest news and resources from Food Truck Operator.
Recent Posts
