CHALLENGERS in the Derry City and Strabane District Council £10k Business Start Up Challenge are now preparing to make their final pitches this week to a panel of judges at the Beam Centre in Campsie.
Following on from its launch in March 2017, during Enterprise Week in the city, anyone who started a business in the past year, or completed the Go For It programme were encouraged to apply to the challenge with a plan that would develop their business and enable them to compete for the chance of winning a share in the £10k prize pot.
Following a presentation this Friday, at the Beam Centre, three winners will be selected and announced next Thursday 22nd June at Walled City Brewery.
Kevin O’Connor, Head of Business at Derry City and Strabane District Council said he believed the high level of competition demonstrated the real desire of local businesses to succeed.
He said, “This competition was set up to encourage new businesses and inevitably benefit our local economy by supporting promising new business ventures.
“We have twelve ideas that will be presented to the judges this Friday and I can honestly say that all of them are of merit.
“Amongst the competitors, we have an ethical street wear brand, an independent food producer, an advertising platform matcher, a natural skincare manufacturing company, an online wellness seeker and a service that provides the best information to people on their next car purchase.
“Unfortunately we can only have three winners in this challenge but all the applications are worthy winners.
“The Business Team at Council are committed to local businesses, entrepreneurs and the development of a thriving economy for the city and district.
“We are dedicated to advising and helping all the challengers in the competition, helping them to realise their potential, just as we do throughout the year, helping to develop local business and encourage our local entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurial activity is a critical driver of economic prosperity and competitions like this £10k Business Start Up Challenge remind us that we have many talented entrepreneurs and innovators.”
Further details on the DCSDC’s £10K Business Start Up Challenge and the competitors are available at www.derrystrabane.com/10kchallenge.
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