Partner Article

Start-up stars urged to confess for film premiere

Hard-working entrepreneurs are being urged to commit their daily lives to celluloid in a bid to chronicle the challenges and the buzz of starting up in 2013.

National enterprise campaign StartUp Britain has teamed up with Viking, leading supplier to small businesses, to offer budding start-ups stars a unique opportunity that could help take their business to the A-list.

Confessions of a StartUp will see five entrepreneurs document the first 50 days of their venture – filming the highs and lows of starting a business, for all to see.

The winning movie entry, which will be unveiled at a glittering film screening will win profile, mentoring, equipment, marketing and IT services – the stuff most start-ups dream of.

StartUp Britain co-founder Emma Jones said: “We are seeing record numbers of businesses starting up in the UK. We’ve all heard the challenges and seen Dragon’s Den, but what is the reality in 2013?

“We thought it would be really interesting to chronicle the effort it takes to find funding, office space, employ people, develop ideas, new products – and of course celebrate.

“We’re looking for the start-ups of today who destined to become the business stars of tomorrow.”

Entries open this week, with start-ups asked to submit a video pitch by April 1.

Sean Bailey, from Viking, said: “We are delighted to be supporting British start-ups as they begin to find their feet in these difficult times. We know from our customers – the majority of which are small businesses, that starting up is very hard in this economic climate and entrepreneurs need every bit of help they can get. This project will help show the real challenges – and the rewards - facing people when they decide to become their own boss, we hope that it will inspire more people to go and start up their own business which will have great benefits for our country’s economy.

The UK is seeing record numbers of people starting a business – the number who registered their business in 2012 was almost 10 per cent up on the year before. The number of people aged between 18 and 29 engaged in early stage entrepreneurial activity has increased by 50 per cent since 2010.

The competition is looking for entries from all start-up sectors including retail, tech, food and services. Entrants just need to upload their video and register at www.startupbritain.co/confessions

A panel of judges will pick four winners and a social media wildcard vote will determine the fifth. They will then be given a HD video camera and film their daily lives for the next 50 days compiling fortnightly video blog updates until the premiere

An experienced video producer will then turn the clips into a movie classic which will be premiered at a secret pop-up cinema in June.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Liz Slee .