I am delighted to announce the short-listed pitches for 19th April:

Bianca Arsene - Pathos (entertainment)
Oje Unuigboje - Africa’s Entertainment Limited (media)
Pete Phillips - Foodies (catering)
Stuart Arnott - The Movie Watcher's Community (online services)
Uzaifa Katende - U:IN (media)
Zuhairah Scott - The Frui (online services)

Come along on the 19th to watch the pitches, meet some angel investors and vote for the best presentation.

Our superb panel of competition judges:

Lois Cook, co-founded Angels Den. Lois has been helping small businesses over the last 10 years. Over the last few years she has turned her focus to what she sees as the major issue for small businesses, helping to get them funded, cheaply and easily. Lois is also involved in skill-sharing groups for SME's, coaching business owner/managers for Business Link and training business coaches.

Richard Cook, founder of the original Cash a Cheque Chain and Log Book Loans. Richard is a serial entrepreneur and investor who created and successfully sold a number of franchise businesses in the hospitality, finance and IT sectors. He is now non-executive director and investor of a number of startup companies and a Trustee of the Starlight Foundation, a children's charity.

Gregory Kris, CEO of Decibel and Director of a number of online media companies. Greg has over a dozen years experience in the online sector, where he has successfully founded and exited from two digital businesses and has grown a number of small businesses into successful organisations. Greg is is always on the lookout for partners, new opportunities and projects with game-changing potential.

Aniko Zagon, Founder-Director of Entelliz Limited, the entrepreneurial incubator and business training specialist. Aniko has managed the commercialisation of a number of innovative projects for the British National Health Service, UK universities and private ventures. She is an experienced business strategist and business coach with a broad experience in helping businesses build strong growth platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in the competition?
Anyone.

May a written pitch be submitted to another competition?
Yes.

Can an existing business submit a pitch for an entirely new business?
Yes.

Does the pitch have to focus on funding?
No. Pitches may be submitted for any reason an for any type of business.

Do I apply by submitting a written pitch?
Yes, but your application will not become active until you pay the entry fee in full.

What are the judging criteria?
The judges will rely on the following criteria in judging the competition:
- The commercial potential of the business
- The feasibility of the business idea
- The credibility and thoroughness of the preparation behind the proposal.
- The quality of the written proposal in terms of style, composition and salesmanship.

What if I have never written/made a pitch before?
Now is a good time to start. The written pitch will help you demonstrate that you have thought through the critical issues related to a business and give y an opportunity to practice your sales skills.

Will I get feedback on my pitch?
Yes, all applicants will receive a professional feedback from the judges.

What can I use to make my presentation?
A microphone and projector will be available to all applicants. You may bring your own laptop to make the presentation or upload a Powerpoint presentation to the laptop provided at the venue.

Can I look at other pitches submitted for this competition?
No. All written pitches submitted to the competition are considered confidential.

Can I submit a pitch if I have contact with a judge?
Yes. However, you will risk disqualification if you attempt to influence a judge, or have someone do that on your behalf.

Will my application be confidential?
Yes. The judges who read your plan are professionals who regularly deal with confidential information in the course of their work. Feel free to mark your plan—or particular piece of it—as "confidential."

Will the judges sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)?
No. Requiring the judges to sign an NDA would overwhelm them with legal requirements that would severely inhibit their ability to participate in the competition. You should take appropriate steps to protect your intellectual property, just as you would if you talk to any potential investors, business partners or customers

What if I want to withdraw my application before judging is completed?
Let us know by email as soon as possible. This is especially important so that our volunteer judges don’t spend time evaluating a proposal that is no longer active.

Will you return my pitch after the competition is over?
No. All copies used by the judges will be destroyed after the competition.