Small companies throughout the UK are being given the prospect to pitch for a share of £1 million in funding as NatWest launches its Accelerator Pitch competitors to rejoice ten years of its free NatWest Accelerator programme.
The initiative invitations formidable entrepreneurs to submit a 60-second video pitch explaining how funding would assist their enterprise develop. Candidates should reveal a robust monitor file of goal-setting and achievement, together with a compelling case for the way they’d use the funding to gas their subsequent stage of development.
Shortlisted entries will likely be invited to stay regional finals — the primary in Manchester this July, adopted by London in 2025, with extra regional finals deliberate throughout the UK. At every occasion, 5 finalists will ship ‘Dragon’s Den’-style pitches to a panel of knowledgeable judges. A complete of £100,000 in funding will likely be awarded at every ultimate, with £70,000 going to the highest enterprise.
Darren Pirie, Head of the NatWest Accelerator, stated the competitors reaffirms the financial institution’s dedication to championing entrepreneurs: “As Britain’s biggest bank for start-ups, we believe supporting small business growth is key to a strong economy. This competition is a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their success and show us how they’ll scale to the next level. My advice is: don’t be modest – tell us what makes your business special!”
Since its launch in 2015, the NatWest Accelerator has supported practically 10,000 small companies, providing free entry to knowledgeable teaching, workshops, mentorship, and a collaborative enterprise community. In 2025, the programme will increase with the launch of a brand new digital neighborhood, enabling much more entrepreneurs to entry help.
Finalists within the Accelerator Pitch will likely be judged on their enterprise fashions, innovation, development potential, and the way a lot of an impression the funding may have on their plans.
To enter, enterprise house owners should submit their pitch movies by the NatWest Accelerator platform. Submissions are open now, and the primary winners will likely be introduced in Manchester this summer season.