Pitchfest improves your ability to win investment while simultaneously boosting your business’s profile.

Over the last 3 years, Pitchfest – which is run by the Centre for Growth at Aston University, BizzInn at the University of Birmingham and Minerva at the University of Warwick Science Park – has put 90 entrepreneurs directly in front of investors and helped bring over £2.75M of investment to the region’s small businesses.

Click here for more information and to apply.

The competition begins with pitch preparation, helping to refine your investment pitch. Judging rounds follow, where you pitch directly to a panel of investors, receiving valuable feedback on your presentation. Then comes the public final, where the best business pitches compete in front a live audience of investors and entrepreneurs to win the Best Pitch Award and a Golden Ticket to access Minerva’s professional network of Business Angel Investors.

Whatever the outcome of the final, Pitchfest is about helping businesses gain exposure and build confidence to secure future investment.

“Since taking part in Pitchfest we have secured £150,000 SEIS funding, won £20,000 in a regional Climate-KIC competition and exceeded our early development aspirations by three times.”

Karl Drage, Smart Renewable Heat Limited – Pitchfest finalist

Dates

Pitch Preparation: Thu 7 June, Tue 26 June, Tue 17 July 2018

Judging Panels: Thu 5 July, Thu 12 July, Thu 6 Sept 2018

Pitchfest Final at iCentrum, Birmingham: Thu 27 Sept 2018

Each business applying takes part in one Pitch Preparation session. Most will go on to one of the follow-up judging panels, after which selected businesses are invited to present and/or exhibit at the final.

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