Member Article

Six minutes to pitch perfect: UK entrepreneurs invited to pitch for millions of pounds of investment at 2018 International Business Festival

Ambitious UK entrepreneurs attending this summer’s International Business Festival will have the opportunity to pitch live to a cohort of high quality investors, with millions of pounds of funding potentially up for grabs.

Ambitious entrepreneurs who are ready to scale up into their next phase of growth are being invited to apply to the joint initiative between the 2018 International Business Festival, a major global trade and investment event which aims to help UK SMEs grow, and the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), the UK’s leading industry body for angel and early stage investment.

The Investor Pitch will see six to eight of the UK’s most promising entrepreneurs selected by the UKBAA to pitch their business to a room of investors. The potential opportunity is significant, as entrepreneurs successfully secure £1.5 billion of funding from business angels every year. The amount of money available to successful businesses could be anywhere from £250,ooo to several million – and this figure can be multiplied several times, as early stage investors often work in syndicate.

Simon Thorpe, Managing Partner of Delta2020 and angel investor, says: “Events like The Investor Pitch are invaluable for investors because we get exposure to exciting, growing businesses which are seeking investment. The added bonus of being able to network with them is also important as we get to directly interact with the businesses we will potentially invest in.”

Entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors – from health and life sciences to the creative and digital – attending the 2018 International Business Festival will be selected to receive expert direction and coaching by the UKBAA. They will then be given six minutes to pitch for funding from investors with interests or experience within these industries.

The Investor Pitch aims to showcase the best and brightest entrepreneurial endeavours from across the UK and address the funding disparity which often prevents businesses being able to reach the next level of growth and expansion.

The Investor Pitch is just one part of a wider investment programme developed by the UKBAA for the 2018 International Business Festival. All festival delegates will also be able to connect with investors on the Festival floor, as well as accessing a programme of expert guidance on securing finance and making their business investment-ready.

Jenny Tooth OBE, CEO, UK Business Angels Association says: “A lack of funding is a common stumbling block for entrepreneurs looking to scale up; therefore we are pleased to be working with the Festival to bring ambitious businesses into contact with investors. Our research shows 58% of all UK investment goes to London, so we need to address the funding gap that affects entrepreneurs outside the South East who are missing out. The Investor Pitch is an exciting opportunity for promising entrepreneurs to catch the eye of some high quality investors so I encourage entrepreneurs who are primed to reach the next stage of their growth plan to apply.”

Max Steinberg CBE, Chair, 2018 International Business Festival says: “The UK is bursting with brilliant business potential and the Festival is dedicated to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs reach their goals. Our partnership with the UKBAA means the most promising entrepreneurs will get the exposure to funding opportunities they would not normally have. Competition for The Investor Pitch will be fierce, so I urge any interested entrepreneurs to apply now and start practising their pitches.”

Entries for The Investor Pitch are open until May 14 and winners will be announced on May 22. Businesses will be judged on evidence of capacity to scale, differentiation from competitors and must be looking for funding between £250,000 and £10 million.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by International Business Festival .