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Entrepreneurs in Leeds benefit from £30,000 investment boost

A raft of Leeds-based startups have all benefitted from new funding following Entrepreneurial Spark’s Entrepreneuring Awards last night (Wednesday).

Taking place at Spark’s ‘Hatchery’ business accelerator, the awards offered Leeds-based entrepreneurs the opportunity to get their hands on between £1,000 and £10,000 cash to help them grow their business.

Winners included Rachael Dunseath, founder of Myroo Skincare the UK’s first totally free-from skincare brand, who claimed the ‘Entrepreneur of the Moment’ award and bagged a cash prize of £10,000 for her business, which was the biggest of the evening.

Other winners included startup Music Vine, the royalty-free music platform, which was awarded £7,000; meanwhile Zest Mixology, jewellery designers By Natalia and videogame reseller Loveday Buyer all scooped £3,000 each.

Further £1,000 awards were presented to entrepreneurs, or ‘chiclets’ to use the accelerator’s nomenclature, behind Bow Baskets, Digibete and The Supply Box following a 60 second pitching competition.

Capping the night off, Ellie McDonald who founded MacComms picked up the ‘Chiclets choice award’ and £1,000 award after being nominated by her fellow entrepreneurs.

Following the event, Entrepreneurial Spark co-founder and Chief Entrepreneuring Officer Lucy-Rose Walker, believes the awards attest to the hard work of the successful entrepreneurs.

She added “Since opening our Hatchery in Leeds we have seen our Chiclets embrace the mindsets and behaviours of an entrepreneurial leader, working hard to become credible, backable and investable.

“The Entrepreneuring Awards give them the chance to celebrate their #GoDo journey and everything they have achieved to date, while allowing them to make plans on how to accelerate their business growth in their remaining time within the programme and beyond.”

Entrepreneurial Spark are the UK’s largest free business accelerator, with similar awards taking place in their eight other accelerators across the country.

Dale Sidebottom, Entrepreneur Development Manager at NatWest, who back the accelerator along with KPMG and EMC, commented: “The awards recognise the hard work, commitment and determination the Chiclets have shown over the last few months.

“It’s been a wonderful way to celebrate their achievements and the ways many have pivoted as their businesses have developed with support from the Enablement team at the Leeds Hatchery and our partners. We wish all of the Chiclets every success for the future.”

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