The Pitch- Scotland

Scottish finalists announced in search for Britain’s Best New Business

The five finalists have been selected to compete in The Pitch Scotland 2010’s competition on Thursday 8 July at The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
They’ll get the chance to face a panel of high-profile business experts, including serial entrepreneur Karen Darby, founder of Simply Switch and Call Britannia, to pitch their business for the chance to win a £50,000 prize package.

The event, produced by Sift Media in association with Yell and backed by Scottish Enterprise, will also include a one day conference, providing top-level entrepreneurial advice and insight from some of the top business minds in Scotland and the UK.

Joining Karen Darby on the judging panel are; Mark Robinson, Managing Vice President Sales and Marketing at Hitachi Systems; Sukhi Ghuman, CEO of Octavian Group; and Nick Price, Managing Director, Bright Purple Recruitment.

The winner will secure a place in The Pitch 2010 grand final in London in November, where they will have to pitch to former TV Dragon Doug Richard.

Karen Darby, who judged the South East regional heat of The Pitch 2009, said: “I’m extremely excited to be taking part in The Pitch Scotland this year. Entrepreneurs need all the support they can get at the moment, and I’m relishing the chance to go Edinburgh, meet new people, hear what they have to say and share what I’ve learned in my time in business. I’m also really looking forward to seeing the standard of Scottish entrants in The Pitch competition. Last year’s contest was fierce, and I’m hoping we can better that this year.

Dan Martin, editor of BusinessZone.co.uk, the official media partner of The Pitch, said: “Last year the Scottish leg of the competition was one of the most closely fought. This year, pitching in front of a live audience, the pressure is going to be more intense, so I’m extremely eager to see what Scotland can come up with.”

Nick Price, Managing Director of event partner Bright Purple Resourcing said: “We are very pleased to be supporting this prestigious event again this year and helping uncover some of the great business talent here in Scotland. The Pitch gives a fantastic platform to emerging companies that are looking to take their business to a higher level.”

The five Scottish finalists in this year’s competition are:
- Bloop – A mobile application for business networking at events and places, designed by Sam Collins from Edinburgh.
www.getbloop.com
- Flexpansion – an advanced word prediction program that will speed peoples
typing, especially on mobile devices. Entered by Dr Timothy Williams, Edinburgh.
www.flexpansion.com
- Glitter Beach – a social enterprise company that has launched a branded range of designer universal & Ostomy swimwear and beachwear, restoring dignity to patients, submitted by Victoria Lee from Lochwinnoch.
www.glitterbeach@btinternet.com
- Peekabu – gives promoters, advertisers and users the power to control their
computer with a wave of the hand, submitted by Alexander Cole from Edinburgh.
http://peekabu.net
- Funky Wood – manufactures contemporary designs of real wood skirting board, architrave, door frames and bespoke doors, submitted by Helen Buckley from Newton Aycliffe.
www.funkywood.co.uk

The Pitch is Britain’s biggest pitching competition. Now in its third year, The Pitch 2010 will be visiting another five British cities the year, searching for the best entrepreneurial talent and asking our crack team of high profile business experts to scrutinise business concepts and presentation skills, searching for the best of the best.
Over the coming months, the competition, organised by BusinessZone.co.uk, will be visiting Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool and London in a series of regional heats, uncovering some of Britain’s best new businesses. The winners of the regional heats will progress into a national final, held in London in November, competing for the title of ‘Britain’s Best New Business’ as well as £50,000 worth of business support prizes.

…………………………………………………………………………….

For more information, visit www.thebusinessfactory.co.uk/thepitchscotland