Meet The 2025 VEGPRENEUR Awards Judges
Written by The VEGPRENEUR Team
Meet some of the judges selecting this year’s VEGPRENEUR Award winners—pioneers driving change in the plant-based movement.
2025 VEGPRENEUR Awards Judges
Adam Wilks
President of Mr.Charlie’s
Adam Wilks is the President of Mr. Charlie’s, the fast-growing plant-based fast-food brand known for blending fun, flavor, and purpose. With a background in scaling global brands like Pinkberry and Cold Stone Creamery, Adam brings deep expertise in operations and brand growth. At Mr. Charlie’s, he’s leading the company’s expansion while championing inclusivity, community, and a new era of ethical fast food that proves doing good can also taste great.
Maggie Baird
Founder of Support + Feed
Maggie Baird is the founder and driving force behind Support + Feed, a global nonprofit mobilizing plant-based meals to fight both food insecurity and the climate crisis. A longtime vegan and seasoned entertainment professional, she launched the organization in 2020 and has since led it to operate across dozens of cities worldwide—partnering with local restaurants, shelters, and venues to deliver nourishing meals while educating communities about the role food plays in our planet’s future.
Nadia Kemal
Managing Partner at Topi Ventures
Nadia Kemal is the Managing Partner of Topi Ventures, a venture studio and accelerator for food- and wellness-focused CPG brands. Co-founding the firm with Joann Jen, she brings operational depth and product-innovation expertise to the business, helping early-stage brands scale purpose-driven growth.
Guy Vaknin
Owner of City Roots Hospitality
Chef Guy Vaknin is the founder of City Roots Hospitality, the New York–based restaurant group behind acclaimed vegan concepts like Beyond Sushi. Born and raised on a kibbutz in Israel, he brings a deep appreciation for sustainability and bold, plant-forward flavor to every dish. Through City Roots, Vaknin is redefining modern vegan dining with creativity, inclusivity, and a mission to make plant-based food both elevated and accessible.
Image from Yelp
Justin Tyson
Vegan Creator
Justin Tyson, known online as justincooksgood, is a vegan creator who specializes in crafting visually compelling, plant-based meals and sharing them with his growing social-media audience. With an emphasis on whole-food ingredients, accessible recipes, and a mindful approach to ethical eating, he aims to make vegan lifestyles engaging, approachable and flavorful. Through his culinary content, Justin invites his followers to explore how compassion, wellness and creative cooking can go hand-in-hand.
Want the full list of VEGPRENEUR Awards Judges?
These are just five of the incredible 20+ judges who make up the 2025 VEGPRENEUR Awards panel. Meet the full lineup of industry leaders and changemakers at www.vegpreneur.org/awards 🌱
About the 2025 VEGPRENEUR Awards
The VEGPRENEUR Awards highlight game-changing, plant-based CPG and consumer products from around the world while giving brands the opportunity to hear first-hand (and honest) feedback from industry decision-makers and tastemakers.
All submitted products are tasted at exclusive tasting events held in New York City and Los Angeles. And all products submitted receive individualized feedback. Submissions are still open with a deadline of November 1. Apply today at www.vegpreneur.org/awards 🏆
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