Liverpool’s ’embassy’ hosts digital pitch
HI-TECH firms from the UK, Finland and the US will gather at Liverpool’s ’embassy’ in London today to see if they can win a slot at a Dragons’ Den-style pitching event.
Software City International takes place on May 23 at the department of Business Innovation and Skills when 10 companies pitch for investment in front of an audience of digital entrepreneurs.
Today’s event gives inward investment chiefs in Liverpool the opportunity to highlight the funding available to firms investing in the region, including the £185 North West Fund, which has £15m dedicated to the digital and creative sectors.
Five firms will progress to the main event a week later where they will pitch alongside five other businesses, including Liverpool telecoms specialist Qire, and QLess, a Californian company developing software to eliminate telephone queuing.
The panel of entrepreneurs includes: Nick Alexander, former chief executive of Virgin; Ari Pekka Laitsaari of the European Investment Bank; Michael Nuttley, editor-in-chief of New Media Age; Julie Meyer, founder of Ariadne Capital and Fred Mendlesohn, chief executive of AXM Venture Capital which is handling creative and digital investments for the North West Fund.
Organiser, Steve Smith ICT industry director at Liverpool Vision, said: “Through the Software City programme Liverpool is leading Europe in innovating new cost effective ways of delivering inward investment. There is a huge opportunity to invest in the North West via the NW Venture Capital and Loan Fund.
“The £185m held by six private sector fund managers represents the largest state investment vehicle in the UK and of that 40% is targeted for the Liverpool City Region. Software City International helps highlight this opportunity in a very effective way.
“The response to this event has been staggering with more than 100 companies applying to present, of which 75% are from the South East. Software City helps us be the first to identify the hot digital creative companies and attract them North to our flourishing digital and creative sector.”
