Calling all startups, budding entrepreneurs… and avid viewers of Shark Tank!
The Hunter Region’s brightest minds will be pitching their big ideas or scalable businesses at an event on Thursday October 20 at Dantia Smart Hub (DaSH), a co-working facility designed to accelerate innovation and economic development in the Lake Macquarie region, with the winners sharing in over $10,000 worth of prizes. Click here to RSVP!
Spearheaded by #newystartups, a collective whose mission is to connect, enable and inspire Newcastle and the Hunter Region’s startup ecosystem, in partnership with Slingshot Accelerator, DaSH, the University of Newcastle (UoN) and IBM Softlayer, the event will provide a platform from which the next generation of globally minded tech ventures can launch.
Entrepreneurs will pitch their idea or existing startup to a panel of experts including Slingshot Founder Trent Bagnall, UoN Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Professor Kevin Hall, and #newystartups collaborator and technology expert Brian Hill from Laughing Mind Consultancy.
“Shining a spotlight on the region’s best startup ideas at pitch events is a tangible way of building the startup community in the Hunter. These entrepreneurs are the future employers, business leaders and economic drivers of not just the Hunter, but Australia, and supporting them at this early stage is critical,” said Adam Van Dyck, Chief Operating Officer at Slingshot Accelerator.
The winner will take home $5,000 cash, with additional prizes for second and third place. All finalists will be awarded valuable cloud computing credits from IBM Softlayer and a $1,000 membership voucher to hone their ideas at DaSH.
“UoN is excited to be the major sponsor of Hunter Pitchfest 2016. Partnering with newystartups for this event is a strategic and valuable opportunity for UoN to contribute to the innovation ecosystem in our region. Pitchfests are a great way for emerging businesses to hone their key messages and refine their value propositions. UoN is proud to be supporting this activity and provide a forum for entrepreneurial talent and ideas to be promoted via our Integrated Innovation Network (I2N),” said Professor Hall.
Organisers are accepting applications from startups that are in concept stage right through to funded and growing businesses, and encouraging attendance by potential investors, innovation enthusiasts and the wider startup community.
Hunter Pitchfest is on Thursday 20 October from 6:30pm until 9pm at Level 1, 63 Ridley Street, Charlestown. Tickets are $8 + booking fee and include drinks and canapés. To book or submit your pitch application, please visit http://hunterpitchfest2016.eventbrite.com.
