Applications are open to pitch at the Rotorua X EMA BoP Pitch night on 19 October. The winners will share the $10,000 prize pool of business support services that include website design, business training, business coaching, legal and HR advice.
This is the third year of the EMA Pitch Night and plans are to make it more epic than ever before. Feedback from the last two years has been phenomenal and we are excited to hold the event again with another stellar line-up of judges including our 2014 Pitch Night winner Paul Charteris.
In previous years we have focussed on Rotorua start-ups. This year we are actively promoting it to all Bay of Plenty organisations and it can be anyone from an idea, a start-up or an established business.
The business pitch is an essential skill of any organisation that wants to grow. Not only is it used to promote the business to investors to attract funds for growth, but it also provides clarity of vision which is critical for leaders to inspire teams as well as customers.
Our Pitch Night gives the region’s business community a platform to practice their pitch and receive constructive feedback without the high-pressure situation. While this event is designed purely to enable organisations to practise their pitch and not solicit investment, last year we had investors travel from Auckland to see if any local businesses piqued their interest.
The Pitch Night is for anyone that has an idea for a start-up business or non-profit enterprise that wants feedback through to an established company with a fresh idea to achieve serious growth. Organisations must apply to pitch and only ten organisations will be accepted to pitch on the night. Anyone pitching must attend a Pitch Clinic to ensure a high calibre of pitches at the event.
We urge anyone who is interested in pitching to apply now. The first ten organisations that are approved and pay the entry fee will fill the spots. Early bird registration closes on 31 August.
Successful applicants will have five minutes to impress the panel of business experts, as well as the audience.
This will be an energetic and entertaining evening showcasing the entrepreneurs in our region. Audience attendance is free and we encourage the business community to come along and help pick the crowd favourite. Audience spaces are limited so we urge people to RSVP early to avoid disappointment.
More than $10,000 of prizes have already been confirmed including customised web design by CG Design, business training, coaching, legal and HR advice.
The judges include 2014 winner and founder of Tarawera Ultra-Marathon Paul Charteris, Soda Inc CEO Dr Claire McGowan, Reuben Woods founder of award winning Woods Design Agency, Angel Investor Alan Dick, and head judge Mayor Steve Chadwick.
The 2016 EMA BoP Pitch night is on Wednesday 19 October form 5.30pm at Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytech.