Britain’s Got Start-Ups event gives businesses the chance to pitch for up to £10m of funding

Britain’s Got Start-Ups, an event providing start-up and scale-up entrepreneurs in the North with access to local, regional, national and international investments of up to £10m, is now open for applications.

Following a successful pilot in June, which attracted 80 applicants, 30 investors, 16 pitches and 14 successful investments totalling more than £1.5m, this next event series is expected to see double the number of start-up and scale-up businesses and at least a further 10 investors taking part.

Eligible to all limited companies based in the North of England seeking funding between £150k and £10m, interested businesses can register for free. Each organisation is asked to complete an application form and upload a copy of their investment deck, which should take no longer than two to three minutes.

Powered by Novus Capital and in partnership with NOTWICS, all applications will be processed before 24 businesses are shortlisted. Each shortlisted business will then be given the opportunity to pitch their proposals during a series of in-person regional heats to take place during October.

The judges, which include Dom McGregor; founding partner of Fearless Adventures, former co-founder of Social Chain with Steven Bartlett, and EY Entrepreneur of the Year winner, will then choose 12 candidates that will be invited to the regional final and asked to pitch ‘live’ to a panel of investors at an event in November.

Managing director of Novus Capital and Britain’s Got Start-Ups event organiser, Jenson Brook, comments: “The first event we hosted in June was all about testing the approach to see if we could build genuine connections between start-up and scale-up businesses in the North and interested local, regional, national and international investors.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive from both sides and so it made sense for us to officially launch Britain’s Got Start-Ups and to establish the event series as a viable way to break down barriers for businesses in the North, giving them the chance to access the funds they need to innovate and expand.

“We encourage any organisation that is looking for seed capital or larger-scale investment to register their interest and get involved. It’s free and for those that are successful, it could be a life changing opportunity.”

Co-hosted by Novus Capital and NOTWICS, and sponsored by Abstract Tech and Fieldfishers, the applications are open from now until the 12 October, when the first round of the judging will commence ahead of the shortlist being revealed.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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