TEN entrepreneurs from across Ards and North Down are gearing up to pitch their business ideas in a bid to secure £1,000 investment and a place in the regional final of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.
The finalists will go head-to-head at the local heat on Monday, October 5, pitching to a panel of judges drawn from the local business and civic community.
The winner will receive £1,000 investment and progress to the regional final in November, where they will have the opportunity to compete for a further £5,000.
The Ards and North Down finalists include Jason Hamilton of Koukan, a peer-to-peer marketplace for buying and selling PC components in the UK; Tracey Jeffery, of Spirit of Strangford Lough, a zero alcohol gin; Adam Lockhart, of ParkinSense, a digital technology platform built to improve how Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed and managed from home; and Naomi McCallum, of Velvaere, a unique day spa and beauty destination on the shoreline of Portaferry.
Also shortlisted are Newton Oyugi, of Fruit & Pods, which is building a TrustChain to help coffee farmers prove origin and retain buyer trust; Phillip Billsborough, of WonkyPeg Workshop, an app designed to turn a cardboard model into a digital CAD file; Charlie Magrath, of Aroma Avenu, which creates designer inspired fragrances; Tiffany Rea, of Signal, an AI-native operating system for the new homes sales process, from enquiry to completion; Philippa James, of Pipin: Tech for Good, a smart app designed to support location-based emergency escalation to the police of ambulance services when needed; and Sandra Wilson, of Peaceful Pastimes, designed to help hospitality businesses create the best F2F disability inclusive customer service possible.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Craig Blaney said the quality and diversity of this year’s entries highlight the strength of talent across Ards and North Down and the ambition of those looking to turn great ideas into successful businesses.
Last year’s Ards and North Down winner was Alexandra Mooney, of ND Nook, who secured a place in the final with an app designed to support the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The winner of each local heat across Northern Ireland’s 11 councils will go on to compete in The Ultimate Pitch regional final at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, Co. Derry, on Wednesday, November 18.
