Pitchfest 2011

HALO
23 June 2011

Pitchfest 2011 - Calling all Entrepreneurs!

NISP CONNECT and Halo’s 2011 Pitchfest is underway!!

  • Are you a Northern Irish science or technology start-up company that could benefit from exposure to some of our top executives, high-technologists and professionals living overseas?
  • Need access to capital, talent or markets?
  • Could you use £1,000 in cash???

First Prize: £1,000 & 2 runners up prizes of £500

If so, apply today for Pitchfest 2011!

NISP CONNECT and Halo are excited to announce the open application window for Pitchfest 2011. Eligible companies must be based in Northern Ireland and must not have raised in excess of £500,000 in seed or institutional venture capital funding. If you're a start-up business with an executive summary you owe it to yourself to complete our easy application process today!

Up to 12 finalists will be invited to give their 3 minute “quickpitch” on 23rd June, 2011 at the Pitchfest event @ NISP.

You don’t need to be looking for capital right now – this is a broader pitch for influential people who can make things happen for your business. Why should you apply? Where should we begin! Applicants receive:

  • A chance to pitch their business to an illustrious room of venture community exiles and locals -- exposure you can't buy!
  • Potential for publicity within Northern Ireland's business community and local media
  • Hands-on assistance honing their pitch
  • The opportunity to win £1,000 in cash!

Each application is reviewed by a screening committee of established local angel investors. Up to twelve companies will advance to final night, where they make in-person presentations to all attendees at Pitchfest 2011. There, the audience votes for the one company they think has the best chance of making it big, and the winner is presented a £1,000 cash award that night! Pitchfest is very different from a Halo investor evening in that you will not be pitching to an investor audience for money. This means that your company will still be eligible to pitch at Halo at a later date.

Click here to download the application and see full program information.

All applications must be received by Friday, 20th May at 12:00pm.

EASY TO APPLY AN AUDIENCE THAT COULD TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS ASSISTANCE IN GETTING MAXIMUM IMPACT £1000 – APPLY NOW!

About NISP CONNECT
A leadership platform and catalyst between Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurs, research institutions, investors, technology corporations and professional service providers by linking entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success.

NISP CONNECT is an independent, non-profit organization fostering entrepreneurship by accelerating the growth of promising technologies and early stage companies. A collaboration between Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP), the University of Ulster, Queen's University, Belfast and AFBI (Agri Food & BioSciences Institute), NISP CONNECT acts as an ‘honest, neutral broker’ within the region.

NISP CONNECT focuses on: research institution support, business creation and development, entrepreneurial learning, access to capital, public policy advocacy, awards, recognition and networking……by mobilizing and leveraging the private sector’s best on a pro-bono basis.

NISP CONNECT is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland 2007 - 2013

About Halo
Halo is the business angel network for Northern Ireland. Its role is to match companies with growth potential with high net-worth individuals – the angels – who may wish to invest in them. Halo is funded by Invest NI and Intertrade Ireland and is delivered by the NI Science Park where it works closely with NISP Connect. Halo has proven very successful with investments exceeding £1m pa. Halo was named British Business Angels Association Angel Network of the Year 2010.

Further Information

To learn more about The Quick Pitch competition, please visit www.nispconnect.org
To learn more about Halo Angel Investors please visit www.nisp.co.uk/Halo/home_3.aspx

Questions?

Please contact Meagan Blanton at +44 02890 737806 or meagan.blanton@nispconnect.org