If you’re sitting on an idea that will change the world, now’s your chance to be seen and heard.
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The Australia Post Regional Pitchfest is coming to Launceston for the Tasmania state final, giving entrepreneurs, start-ups, artisans, not-for-profits and anyone with a bright idea the chance to win prizes and gain recognition.
Pitchfest was founded by Wagga Wagga woman Dianna Somerville in 2016, as a way to encourage the big thinkers in her own town to develop their start-up ideas on a larger stage.
“I wanted to give back to my local community in Wagga Wagga in regional New South Wales to give regional entrepreneurs a platform and to shine a light on them,” she said.
“And also to educate the community on what it all meant – what is this mysterious world of entrepreneurship and start-ups and pitching and all those buzzwords?”
By making the pitchfest a theatrical event with a live audience and a panel of judges, Ms Somerville said the entire community became involved.
“Our winner was a 13-year-old high school kid with a robotics and 3D printing business, and our runners-up were two guys from Mount Beauty that created a golfing app,” she said.
“It just goes to show that regional people have great ideas, and … there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t have a business from anywhere in regional Australia.”
Unbeknownst to Ms Somerville, a scout from Australia Post’s innovation team was at that first Pitchfest, who approached her to run a nation-wide entrepreneur pitching competition.
The inaugural Australia Post Regional Pitchfest will provide a public space for innovators from regional Australia to pitch ideas in front of a live audience and an expert panel, in a bid to win a share of up to $100,000 in prizes.
“The winners of the national final will get a fully-funded trip to Silicon Valley with the Melbourne Accelerator Program, and cash,” Ms Somerville said.
“The state finalists get a cash prize as well, and support, but also the really great networks from the people they get to pitch in front of.”
Entries for the Tasmanian state final open on Monday, March 6, with the final event to be held on Thursday, June 22 in Launceston.
For more details visit regionalpitchfest.com.