Derry City and Strabane District Council have announced a short list of 16 candidates who will contend for their share of a £15k prize fund during this year’s Enterprise Week.
The Start-Up Launch Pad North West event will see the local businesses pitch their ideas to a panel of experts for a slice of the seed funding.
The all-day event on Wednesday March 8th is part of a comprehensive programme for Enterprise Week that features panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Head of Business at Council, Kevin O’Connor, said the event was an ideal platform for the local start-ups to showcase their offering and secure funding to help get their idea off the ground.
“The Start-Up Launch Pad event will allow our shortlisted entrepreneurs to showcase their business and get valuable feedback from a panel of industry experts,” he said.
“Participants will also have a chance to hear from established business owners about how they got started and utilised the support that’s available.
“The prize fund is significant with 10 grant awards to support the crucial start-up phase of their enterprise.”
The event is hosted by Council in association with Strabane BID, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Inner City Trust, Ulster University and Hyperfast NI, who are supporting the Student and Youth categories within the competition.
The event will run from 9.30am – 4.45 pm and is part of the wider Enterprise Week theme of ‘Seeds of Change’, highlighting the Micro-Businesses and SMEs in the North West who have grown with purpose, driven by expert management as well as focusing on sustainability, digital technology, growth, and innovation.
The Start-Up Launch Pad Showcase in the morning will also provide a forum for start-ups to share best practice and expertise throughout the North West with speakers Jennifer McKeever (UU Visiting Professor and Chair of NWRC), Paul Nelis (Challenge Curve), Hayley Quinnell (Digi Media Management) Alastair Cameron ( Entrepreneur in Residence at NWRC), Carol Banahan (Carols Stock Market) and Fergus Begley (Start-Up Manager at Ulster University).
The afternoon session will feature the finalists’ pitches as they compete for the prize fund support worth £15k.
Come along to support and vote for your favourite pitch.
Admission is free, to register for this or any other events in the programme visit: derrystrabane.com/enterpriseweek
For updates and information follow @Business Support Derry Strabane on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Full finalists list:
Aimee Millar (Scoop and Cup), Beth McConomy (Sparkle Princess Derry), Caithilin Hughes (The Movement), Claire O’Neill (The Mothersphere), Deborah Boyle (ReJenerate), Fairley Ramraj (Fairleys Flavours), Jenna Mitchell (Scottie Paws), Katrina McCarthy (New Beginnings), Kerona Hasson (Doganic Barkery), Lisa McLaughlin (Boey & Becci), Pamela Capriglione (Neuro Skill Shop), Paul Leonard (Swift Shift), Sean Gough (Amethyst Tatoo), Sharon McMorran (The Painted Pig),Sharon Tosh (Sharon Tosh Coaching), and Stephanie Bradley (Offing Coffee).
