Petite Rivière Farms of Conquerall Mills, N.S., has won first place at the International Network of Michelin Cities (INMC) Startup Award in Cuneo, Italy, earning a €5,000 (about C$8,000) prize.

The company was one of three rural Nova Scotia startups selected to compete internationally, alongside Bioteem40 of Kings County and Micro Garden, a brand of Bramble Hill Farm in Pictou County.

The competition brought together 12 startups from across the INMC network, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their businesses, connect with potential partners and explore markets beyond their home regions.

Petite Rivière Farms grows medicinal plants using controlled-environment agriculture, an indoor farming method. Under its Go Micro brand, the company produces a powdered supplement made from broccoli that it says is intended to prevent and reverse chronic inflammation.

CEO Gregg Curwin also leads Halifax-based Sperri, which makes plant-based meal replacements.

Bioteem40 produces tablets combining probiotics and nutritional supplements. The company says its products contain prebiotics and probiotics intended to support digestive health and improve the body's absorption of nutrients.

Led by Cathy Munro, Bramble Hill Farm sells kits under the Micro Garden brand that allow consumers to grow microgreens at home. Microgreens are young plants harvested shortly after germination.

The three companies were selected through the inaugural INMC Nova Scotia International Startup Competition earlier this year.