The 2024 Guernsey Venture Challenge concluded with 8 shortlisted businesses pitching to win £70,000 in prizes for their startup.
The Digital Greenhouse’s Guernsey Venture Challenge saw 8 local startup businesses pitching for funding last Thursday evening after an intensive 6-week accelerator programme. During the programme the eight shortlisted businesses worked with mentors from Blenheim Chalcot and attended several masterclasses where they refined their pitch for the final on the 19th of September.
The shortlisted businesses UN1TY, Raglan Education Limited, The Quarry, Trainerfy Limited, Kloakify, Factforge AI, MAP Health and Demeter each pitched for the first prize of £40,000 and after questions and consideration from the judges. The winners were:
- Third prize of £10,000 was awarded to Kloakify, a platform for securely sending documents like passports.
- Second prize of £20,000 was won by MAP Health, a platform for wellness medical professionals.
- The top prize of £40,000 was awarded to UN1TY ESG Calc, a product designed to improve the process for how companies report on their properties.
Jack Quick, Founder of Kloakify commented: “I would just like to say a big thank you to the Digital Greenhouse and Blenheim Chalcot for the support and the mentoring, I did the venture challenge but also the Startup Academy as well and over that period of time it really helped me with some evolutionary change to hone in on what is my business, to build up my confidence and its a real, real boost. Hopefully one day, you’ll be telling people that the next Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs started out here.“
“So exciting! This win means we can move to the next step and grow so much faster. The programme will fund our next big steps so we can continue to develop our business without having to worry about where the next meal is coming from,” said Claire Reach, Co-founder of MAP Health.
Co-founder Mike Ozanne commented on UN1TY’s first place win: “I’m so surprised! The level of talent tonight was incredible, the pitches were phenomenal. The businesses that presented themselves tonight, I was blown away- so I was so surprised that we stood out as being winners of tonight’s event. I feel massively privileged to be both part of it and the winner.“
The winners of this year’s Guernsey Venture Challenge will be presented their prizes at the Véyaon Awards at Beau Sejour on the 21st of November 2024.
Ben Wratten, Interim Director at the Digital Greenhouse commented: “We are pleased that Guernsey Venture Challenge continues to showcase the strength and breadth of entrepreneurial activity taking place on the island. All of the businesses pitched strongly and we look forward to carrying on to support them all on their journey.”
