Member Article

Northumberland mumtrepreneur aiming to win Richard Branson investment competition

Northumberland-based ‘mumtrepreneur’ Katharine Paterson is asking for the support of fellow North East residents and businesses, by voting for her online, to help develop her baby cot business, Kare Kot, as she aims to secure funding from Richard Branson’s business investment competition, Pitch to Rich.

Katharine, who works as the Higher Education Liaison Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, runs her startup from home on a part time basis. She said, “It’s taken me a long time to now be at final prototyping stage, juggling work and being a mum of a young daughter.”

Katharine’s idea stems from her own experiences as a mum. “I had my daughter nearly six years ago, I experienced horrendous problems with her bumping herself on the solid sides of her traditional barred cot, and in getting her arms and legs stuck in the cot bars.

“So I bought cot bumpers thinking they would protect her, but on reading the small print it states that there is a hazard of suffocation if used when the baby is mobile. So by eliminating one hazard I was potentially in danger of creating another.

Entering the ‘New Things category’, Katharine believes the competition could be the perfect way to help develop her idea.

“I’m not a designer, nor particularly creative, but that was enough for me to embark on a journey of cot design, systematically eliminating all the hazards I’d faced with my daughter.

“The competition is based on votes, so I’m seeking as much support as possible. The winner will receive £50,000 as well as a bundle of support from Virgin Media.”

After initial problems with the Virgin website, the Capheaton-based mum is now hoping to capitalise on a second chance at progressing in the competition.

“In the first round I secured 482 votes but as the virgin media website was down the day before the deadline for voting, Virgin Media are opening up the competition again on Monday 18th May at 10am and closing it at 5pm on Wednesday the 20th.

“This time though, I know what I am aiming for. If I get 550 votes altogether I am definitely through to the next stage so I need at least another 70 to be sure of getting through. I would really appreciate any votes I could get to help support safer sleep for babies.”

To learn more and to help support Katharine’s idea, visit her pitch page by clicking here.

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