Pitch Perfect: Entries open to make your great business idea a reality
- Written by Michelle Tan
Sitting on a goldmine of a concept a la Uber or AirBnB? Needing funding and guidance? Then take note: Mums & Co’s Mpowered Pitch Competition is calling for entries from business-minded women with a great business idea they want to get off the ground.
Only 2.2%* of venture capital funds are awarded to women-led ventures and leading business mum networking group Mums & Co is on a mission to change that. Innovative women-led small businesses will have an opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of investors, and go in the running to win a prize pool worth over $34,000 and receive invaluable guidance from leading experts on how to turn an idea into a commercial business.
Carrie Kwan, co-founder of Mums & Co says, “Our recent Mums & Co survey showed one in two new business considers believe that financial concerns act as a major barrier to them starting a business – whether it is capital to develop an idea or set up the business, or having the necessary cash flow to run the business. The Mums & Co MPowered Pitch Competition is a supportive and inclusive event to champion more women in business and start-ups, close the gap in financial knowledge as well as reduce the challenges with funding a business.”
Applications are via the Mums & Co website (see this link), and closes on 14 May. Successful applicants have to attend a Pitch Competition Day in Sydney on 31 May to pitch their idea within a small group. Four finalists will be selected to go through to the Pitch Finals Event, which will be held at the Mums & Co MPowered Conference in Sydney on 18 June. All successful applicants are also invited to an online pitch training Pitch Webinar on 23 May delivered by serial founders, experienced startup mentors, trainers and business leaders.
The winner will be announced at the Mums & Co MPowered Conference and take home prizes from the $34,000 prize pool, including the opportunity to be trained on the art of a pitch, strategic business advice and mentoring, media training, prototype development and cash prizes.
“I highly encourage anyone who has a good business idea to enter the competition. It’s not just winners who win as all successful entrants gain vital benefits including learning pitch skills, business exposure, idea validation, and even potential funding,” says Carrie.
The MPowered Pitch Competition is open to those 18 years old and above with a promising idea for a small business or are an early stage startup. The competition is open to male co-founders and senior team members if at least one female is a founding team member. For more information about the competition, see https://mumsandco.com.au/
* Fortune article, Jan 2018
MUMS & CO MPOWERED PITCH COMPETITION FACT SHEET
HOW THE MPOWERED PITCH COMPETITION WILL RUN:
1. Entrants apply through the Mums & Co website, or click on this link. Entries close 14 May.
2. If your application is accepted, the Mums & Co team will send you an invitation to Pitch Competition Day between now and 16 May, 2018. However, please note that space at Pitch Day is limited and applying does not guarantee you a seat.
3. Successful applicants will be invited to join the Mums & Co Pitch Webinar, an online pitch training webinar delivered by serial founders, experienced startup mentors, trainers and business leaders. The webinar will help them refine their skills, gives them access to pitch resources such as templates, and let them know what will be expected on the Pitch Competition day.
4. All successful applicants will need to attend the Pitch Competition Day in Sydney where they will pitch their idea within a small group, with industry experts as mentors there to help them succeed.
5. Four finalists will be selected to go through to the Pitch Finals Event, which will be held at the Mums & Co MPowered Conference, in Sydney on 18th June 2018.
KEY DATES
● April: Applications open
● 14 May, midnight: Applications close
● 16 May: Successful applicants notified and announced
● 23rd May, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Pitch Webinar
● 31st May, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Pitch Day at Mums & Co, IAG Building, 388 George Street Sydney
● 18th June, 09:00 AM - 5:00: PM Pitch Finals at Mums & Co MPowered Conference, ICC Sydney, 14 Darling Drive, Sydney
THE PRIZES
The Pitch Competition winners will take home from a total prize pool:
● $30,000 in kind prototype design and or build services from Techwitty
● 4 x 2 hour strategy sessions with leading members of the Australian investment community including; Kevin O’Hara, Tulla Private Equity / Techwitty, Rachel Tonkin, AMB Capital, and Jeremy Liddle, Capital Pitch.
● $1,500 media exposure via The Parent Group, Women’s Agenda and Mums & Co
● $1,000 in kind media training from Sliding Door Media
For more information about the competition, please click on www.mumsandco.com.au/landing/
For FAQs, see here.
About Mums & Co
Mums & Co is a leading member-based online network committed to helping mums in business thrive. Like it takes a village to raise a child, Mums & Co is an online village that’s a safer, smarter way for her to grow her business. It offers tailored products and benefits for business mums, as well as perks they would not normally get access to. These include free or heavily discounted essential services like marketing, legal, insurance and accounting, an online site with useful business content as well as a platform to share knowledge. Mums & Co believes that ‘together we’re stronger’ and aims to create Australia’s most empowered community of mums in business. Membership is free and open to mums in business as well as all those who support her. Mums & Co is co-founded by Daily Addict founder Carrie Kwan and backed by IAG. www.mumsandco.com.au
