Record prize package for technology entrepreneurs
A RECORD prize package is up for grabs at the next Venturefest Yorkshire event, organisers have revealed.
Prizes worth more than £35,000 will be shared out for the region’s most promising science and technology businesses in the event’s popular innovation showcase and investment competition.
The competition, which is organised by Connect Yorkshire in association with the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA), is designed to increase the profile of some of the region’s most promising young businesses.
In its five-year history the competition has awarded prizes totalling more than £20,000.
Anne Salisbury, who runs the Business Link Yorkshire sponsored innovation showcase, said is was no secret that times were tough for a lot of people.
“I’m expecting to be inundated with applications for this year’s showcase,” she said.
“The showcase gives 50 young science and technology companies the chance to compete for a prize worth more than £15,000 in targeted business support and advice plus free exhibition space worth hundreds of pounds at the North’s top event for entrepreneurs.
“They’ll have the chance to make contact with investors, senior industry specialists, buyers and business professionals from all over the region and beyond not to mention the opportunity to promote their business to more than 2,000 delegates at the show.”
Event organisers are also inviting applications for the annual Dragons’ Den style Investment Competition, in which applicants will be whittled down to a shortlist of ten who will each pitch their business idea – one by one – to a panel of judges on February 11 next year in the hope of winning a prize package worth more than £20,000 and significant exposure for their business.
Richard Hildyard, of Leeds-based foodspecifications.com, won last year’s competition and has recently signed a deal with private backers that is enabling him to pursue his business strategy and increase the size of his customer network.
He will return to the York Racecourse hosted event to share his experiences with delegates at a networking breakfast, which kicks off the event at 7.30am.
“There’s no doubt that Venturefest Yorkshire played a big part in really getting the business growing,” he said.
“Apart from the financial backing, Neil and Mark from EwinWoodward development have really helped with product development and our marketing strategy, helping me get the software out to a much wider audience to the extent that we’re currently working on a contract that would really take us to the next level.
“Provided those discussions go well, I should have some exciting news to report at Venturefest in February.”
To book places at the networking breakfast and download competition application forms for Innovation Showcase and the investment competition, visit www.venturefestyorkshire.net. The closing date for applications is November 22.
