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17/02/2010 - 600 seconds to make your business pitch for a share of £15k

Are you starting up your own business in Bournemouth? Would £500 help you on your way to successful entrepreneurship? Bournemouth Council has launched a start-up fund to invest in small businesses.

As part of the Council’s £1million Recession Fund the Council has allocated £15K towards new start-up businesses.  People with business proposals are being encouraged to apply for the £500 grants which will be allocated over the next year.  In partnership with the Daily Echo and Business Link, the Council is encouraging budding Richard Bransons across the town to submit their business case for £500 and face the Dragons in a 10 minute intensifying pitch.

Any start-up qualifies, provided they have not started trading yet.  The dragons will consider their pitch and decide whether or not to award the grant.  The Echo will follow the winners in their first year. 

Councillor Stephen MacLoughlin, Leader of Bournemouth Council, said: “Bournemouth Council is sponsoring this initiative in order to give budding small businesses a leg-up. This initiative is designed to stimulate enterprise and get people who may have suffered through the recession back into work.

“This is an ideal opportunity for any business-minded people to get investment and publicity for them self and their business.  I would encourage people to give it a go.  It may be daunting to make a challenging pitch, but it’s also a genuine business opportunity to secure investment, for example the funds can be used to buy essential equipment.”

Do you have what it takes to enter the den and face the judges?  The deadline for the first round of funding is Wednesday 31 March.

http://www.open4business.info/bournemouth/documents/bournemouth/Bournemouth%Dragon's%application%form.doc

News provided by j4bgrants.co.uk.