Leeds entrepreneurs pick up £10k funding boost

Six budding entrepreneurs have all received a significant cash boost at the #GoDoAcceler8 event at Entrepreneurial Spark’s Leeds hub earlier this week.

Entrepreneurial Spark, which runs alongside partners NatWest and KPMG, is a free business accelerator for startup businesses and has provided free support, mentoring, networking and office accommodation for over 650 businesses across the UK.

Among the startups to receive part of the £10k fund was Music Vine, which is a new royalty-free music website for video producers, game developers and film-makers.

The business was awarded £3k after being chosen as the best performing company out of all 80 of the businesses at the Hatchery that joined in February.

In addition, Ian E Energy and The Capture Lab both received £2k. Ian E Energy specialises in designing, assembling, supplying and retailing components of and for off grid/ hybrid/ grid zero electrical energy systems. Whereas, The Capture Lab is a digital media production specialist based in Leeds.

Finally, Zest and and Do You Punctuate both secured £1k after delivering the best 60 second pitch about their company to a panel of judges. Zest produces cocktails by professional cocktail mixologists, and Do You Punctuate is an ecommerce, print to demand greeting card business.

Jim Duffy, chief executive officer, said: “#GoDoAcceler8 is an exciting stage in the Entrepreneurial Spark programme.

“The progress we see is incredible and it’s hugely rewarding to watch entrepreneurs who joined us three months ago often unable to clearly articulate their business idea stand up and deliver a winning pitch.

“Our Chiclets have raised more than £45m in investment to date, and #GoDoAcceler8 is an important stage in each businesses’ growth as they look to scale up and build incredible businesses.”

Dale Sidebottom, entrepreneurial development manager, NatWest, added: “It’s been fantastic to see how much the Chiclets have progressed over the past three months and recognising the hard work that these aspiring businesspeople have through the Accelor8 Awards is very important.

“The Chiclets have shown a tremendous amount of passion, creativity and commitment to their businesses. It can be daunting starting your own business but the entrepreneurs working in the Leeds Hatchery have had fantastic support from all the partners involved and are proving to be a such a positive reflection of the city’s vibrant start-up community.”

Ian Beaumont, head of Enterprise for KPMG in Yorkshire, concluded: “The Acceler-8 events are the first opportunity for Chiclets to really test their mettle and demonstrate the progress they have made since embarking on the Entrepreneurial Spark programme. Once again, we were not disappointed. The confidence, enthusiasm and sheer ‘GoDo’ attitude on show here in Leeds reinforces our belief that the future is extremely bright for these ambitious young businesses.”

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