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Shortlist revealed for small business competition

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7th Aug 2013
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Bristol is a city famed for its pride in independent retailers and entrepreneurs, so it’s only fitting that the nation’s largest small business competition returns to its roots.

A multitude of entrepreneurs entered The Pitch contest with the hope of competing at the live event on 25 September, but only 50 were chosen to compete for the top prize.

Business support worth thousands of pounds is at stake for the one winning entrepreneur, but a chance at a share of £275,000 in equity investment is also up for grabs for the other contestants.

During The Pitch Live event, shortlisted contestants will have to face judges Duane Jackson of accounting software firm Kashflow, Charles Carter of the ICAEW and serial entrepreneur and founder of Crowdmission.com Karen Darby.

In the meantime, investors Martin Bowles of Horatio Investments, Sift’s chief executive Ben Heald and Gustavo Trujillo will be watching those competing and deciding who they would like to back.

The event is organised by AccountingWEB’s sister website BusinessZone.co.uk and is sponsored by the ICAEW, Alibaba.com and Constant Contact.

Shortlisted contestants come from a wide range of sectors, including culinary, technology and healthcare, and are based throughout the UK.  

According to BusinessZone, this year’s Pitch received the highest number of entries since the competition first started in 2008.

BusinessZone editor Dan Martin said: “This year’s contestants for The Pitch are an eclectic bunch and an excellent representation of the diversity of entrepreneurial talent in the UK today.

“Amid the doom and gloom, it is an absolute pleasure to showcase positive stories about innovative individuals who are going it alone and building strong businesses.

In addition to those competing for the top prize, 10 entrepreneurs have been selected to compete in the One to Watch category which showcases new business ideas.

Among those shortlisted is Jordan Bourke, who is creating a range of “guilt free” sweets made from healthier alternatives to sugar, wheat and dairy and Andrew Cooper, provider of a digital reading subscription service for e-books.

Another start-up, Productsprout, specialises in designing products using crowd-funding and also BKSK Consulting, which focuses on working with young people from low income backgrounds who want to start a business, to provide them with mentoring and advice

Audience tickets cost £10 and include all-day entrance, food and drink and access to the live pitching, business workshops and a popup shop featuring independent Bristol retailers.

Full cost of the ticket will be returned to attendees as Bristol pounds, the city’s local currency, which can be spent with hundreds of businesses in the city.

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