Member Article

North East entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas in London after FinanceCamp competition

Ten entrepreneurs in the North East are celebrating success after winning the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to investors in London following the inaugural FinanceCamp event.

The business owners took part in the programme’s Pitch Black competition, which had entrepreneurs pitching their business for three minutes to a live audience and panel of experts, with unsuccessful pitchers being plunged into darkness.

Judges on the panel included James Robson MBE, who is an entrepreneur who sits on the investment committee of NEL Fund Managers; Head of investment at Virgin startup Andy Fishburn; and TEDCO Business Support advisor and former business banker Bill Harthshorne.

The event, which was led VentureFest North East and supported by the North East LEP and Innovate UK, attracted over 100 businesses in the region, bringing them together with 40 investors at Durham’s Ramside Hall.

Of the ten successful pitchers, Richard McCormack of 3D scanning firm E3D impressed judges the most as he scooped up the People’s Choice, securing first class travel to Virgin’s headquarters in London where he will meet with Virgin staff.

Judge Bill Hartshorne commented: “The entrepreneurs taking part have well and truly earned their places in the London pitch, having impressed the crowd and experts with their newly-polished pitching skills and promising business propositions.

“What we’ve seen here today is a group of driven and talented entrepreneurs who now have the skills and opportunities to take their business plans to the next level. We look forward to following their success at the London pitch and beyond.”

The successful entrepreneurs will now pitch their ideas to 30 angel investors in London who are looking to invest in North East businesses.