Leeds start-ups take home £35,000 in prize money

EARLY stage businesses based at Entrepreneurial Spark’s Leeds Hatchery have taken home £35,000 in prizes between them, after pitching their plans at an awards.

THe Entrepreneuring Awards are run by Entrepreneurial Spark and supported by NatWest and KPMG, offering capital to get start-up businesses kickstart their growth plans.

Winners include Desi High Street and Dignity Wear, claiming the #GoDo prize and £4,000, whilst BowBaskets and Do You Punctuate won the Acceler8 Award and £6,000 each.

The Entrepreneur of the Moment Award of £10,000 was handed to Maiden-Voyage and winning the Chiclet Choice Award and £2,000 was Your Very Own Story.

The Hatchery entrepreneur pitched their business at the gala event, which featured entrepreneur and member of Huddersfield University Advisory board Ajaz Ahmad, as well as speakers from among Entrepreneurial Spark’s team of Enablers and representatives of partner NatWest.

Dale Sidebottom, entrepreneur development manager at NatWest, said: “The Chiclets have grown and developed considerably over the last few months and it was fantastic to see how some of them have evolved during the pitching competition.”

Ian Beaumont, head of KPMG Enterprise in Yorkshire, which supports Entrepreneurial Spark said: “The calibre of the start-ups within the Leeds hatchery means it is no surprise that we’ve seen some truly worthy winners. It’s fantastic to see entrepreneurs with such innovative ideas, which they have been able to turn into the businesses of tomorrow. No doubt we’ll be seeing great things from these winners!”

Entrepreneurial Spark founder and chief executive Jim Duffy said: “The Entrepreneuring Awards have grown alongside our network of Hatcheries, and the latest round was the biggest yet.

“Entrepreneurs need to be able to explain their business briefly and concisely, and they never know when they might meet a potential investor, client or partner.”