A business support package worth £5,000 has now been awarded as part of an East Midlands-wide innovation competition, part-sponsored and judged by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Pitchfest was a contest between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the East Midlands (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire) as part of Venturefest East Midlands –which looked to bring together the region’s innovators and entrepreneurs. Pitchfest invited companies to submit an application in late 2016 and ten companies were shortlisted. These firms then received training and prepared a pitch to a panel of senior East Midlands business figures, including the Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) (pictured stage left).
D2N2 is the LEP for the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area and works with businesses, local authorities, skills and training providers and community and voluntary organisations to grow its areas economy. D2N2 also, through its Growth Hub, helps its areas businesses with free and impartial support and advice. The D2N2 Growth Hub, along with its counterpart organisation in Leicestershire – the Leicestershire Business Gateway, sponsored this year’s Pitchfest event.
Pitchfest started in late 2016, when East Midlands businesses were invited to submit an application form. Entries were assessed and the ten companies who were shortlisted then went on to receive training to help prepare a business pitch, to be given in front of a panel of East Midlands business experts for a prize of a £5,000 business support package and business guidance from Innovate UK – the Government’s innovation agency.
Loughborough-based Dynamic Flow Technologies – who won this year’s Pitchfest event – delivered a pitch which looked to fill a need in the water industry for an effective and low-cost wastewater meter. Dynamic Flow Technologies have been manufacturing products for the water industry from their base at the Loughborough Innovation Centre for the last 7 years.
Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 LEP, commented, “As a partner and part of Pitchfest at this year’s Venturefest East Midlands, D2N2 is showing its commitment and belief in the power that businesses have to stimulate the economy. I’ve seen some truly incredible businesses reach the finals. Congratulations to all of those who reached the final and also to the winners, Dynamic Flow Technologies.”
Martin Croft, Managing Director of Dynamic Flow Technologies Ltd, commented, “Dynamic Flow Technologies are delighted to have won the Pitchfest at Venturefest East Midlands, and are grateful to the unanimous votes from the judges in seeing the value our WasteWater Meter has in the water industry. We thank all the investors who have already contacted us after our win and look forward to some interesting discussions in the coming weeks.”
Nick Pulley, Chair of the LLEP, added, “The standard of entries in this year’s Pitchfest was very high. LLEP Business Gateway is a proud supporter of our local start ups and Pitchfest is a fantastic feature of Venturefest East Midlands, which we’ve been very happy to partner with.”
Venturefest East Midlands is part of a national Venturefest Network project and is part-funded by Innovate UK and a core set of partners, including the D2N2 Growth Hub, the LLEP Business Gateway, the University of Derby, the University of Leicester, Leicester City Council, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.
For more information about the work of the D2N2 LEP, visit www.d2n2lep.org
For more information on innovation in the D2N2 area of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, visit www.d2n2lep.org/growth/innovation
For more information about VentureFest East Midlands, visit http://www.venturefestem.com/
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Sean Kirby D2N2 Communications Manager 01159 578749 |  | Sam Burbage D2N2 Social Media and Marketing Officer 01159 578254 | ||
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