A packed week of free inspirational events for entrepreneurs is being hosted by Startup Guernsey from 12-16 November.
It is the eighth year that Startup Guernsey has organised events in Guernsey to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative which has helped over 50 million people unleash their ideas and share one global entrepreneurship ecosystem. There’ll be networking opportunities, an angel pitch event, an opportunity to meet the media, a tourism ideathon and a workshop on feminine business.
The week will kick off with a speed-networking session from 8am-9am on 12 November at Urban Kitchen hosted by theBestof Guernsey which will be a great opportunity for local businesses to connect. The session will start with a brief introduction, followed by an hour of speed networking, during which you will have two minutes each to introduce yourself and your business, before moving on to make more connections.
On Monday 12 November public relations consultancy Orchard will be hosting a ‘meet the media’ session from 1-2pm at the Digital Greenhouse for local businesses and entrepreneurs to find out more about how they can engage effectively with the media, what the media are looking for from businesses and how to make the most of the opportunities for positive media coverage available in Guernsey and further afield. Chris Chilton, joint managing director at Orchard, will moderate with Guernsey Press business editor Will Green, Sam Bellis from the Island FM news team, and Laura Clayton, editor at Bailiwick Express Guernsey, set to make up the panel.
On Tuesday 13 November there will be an Angel Pitch event from 18:00-20:00at the Digital Greenhouse, sponsored by Barclays Eagle Labs will give local startupsthe opportunity to pitch for local angel investment. Five companies have been selected to pitch, and will receive coaching prior to the event. The winning pitches will receive a £500 prize each for the most investable business idea and best pitch on the night. Prize money and sponsorship are kindly provided by Barclays Eagle Labs.
The companies pitching include:
Talking Cents,a website platform (with future mobile application) gamifying financial learning in an age appropriate and fun way.
RISE Financial Services, a Guernsey and Uganda based Social Enterprise providing digital financial services, using mobile phone technology, to the poor and unbanked.
The Free from Farm, a business which has developed and produced a range of organic, vegan products including almond cheeses, gluten free soda breads, chocolates, cakes and freshly made nut milks, using a’ zero waste philosophy’.
EaseeDo, an app to support and improve the daily lives of children and adults on the autistic spectrum.
SynapCon Ltd, a new type of Clinical Trials software company, whose proprietary software decreases the time and increases the speed and delivery of results of clinical trials.
Gez Overstall from Barclays Eagle Labs said: “Supporting start-up businesses is a very important to Barclays Eagle Labs. We aim to create an environment where entrepreneurs can access support and advice to enable them to succeed and grow. Pitch events like this one are great experience and a good testing ground for new ideas.”
On Wednesday 14 November from 08:00-09:00 Startup Guernsey will host a networking event sponsored by Guernsey Post at Urban Kitchen. This event will give new and budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet and network with each other as well as the Startup Guernsey team and representatives from Guernsey Post. A complimentary breakfast is included.
The flagship event for Startup Guernsey during the week is the Tourism Ideathon organised in conjunction with Visit Guernsey. It takes place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 November at Moores Hotel between 4-9pm each day. The Tourism Ideathon is a perfect opportunity for you to turn your tourism related project or business idea into a reality.
Teams will have two evenings to work on their project with free dinner provided andsupport from tourism and industry experts, followed by presentations to a panel of judges. Prizes are £1,000 for each of 5 categories: Victor Hugo, Pure Innovation, Modern Traditional, All Weather and Instagrammable Moments. The presentations and judging for the £1,000 category prizes takes place at 20:00 on 15 November and is open to all. The Ideathon is kindly sponsored by Sarnia Hotels, JT, TPA, PwC and Vivid.
Anita Walker from Visit Guernsey said: “Visit Guernsey is delighted to be co-organising the Tourism Ideathon with Startup Guernsey. We believe the Ideathon will enable innovation within the tourism industry, as well as engage the local population in this increasingly important segment of our island’s economy”.
Deputy Dawn Tindall, Tourism Lead and Member of the Committee for Economic Development said: “Tourism helps to facilitate jobs for the local community, as well as to sustain the services we, as islanders, also use; from our transport links and the choice of restaurants and eateries on island, to the retail shops and attractions that we visit. I urge anyone who has a tourism idea to register for the Ideathon and join us on the 14 and 15 November”.
Feminine Business is the final event taking place on 16 November from 10:00-12:00 at the Digital Greenhouse, hosted by Sasha Kazantseva-Miller from Island Mums and Michelle Johansen from Female Potential. The workshop will explore how integrating feminine values into business theory and practice will revolutionise the corporate world. This event is for women and men who are seeking fresh thinking on how to work whilst creating a livelihood that sustains your mind, body and spirit.
Jennifer Strachan, CEO of Startup Guernsey said: “Global Entrepreneurship Week is the highlight of Startup Guernsey’s year and we are grateful for all of the sponsors who have helped make it happen. I would encourage anyone interested in entrepreneurialism to check out the range of free events and workshops on offer. Our goal is to encourage those looking to start or scale a business to seek help from Startup Guernsey; we have the resources to help, inspire and educate those that are taking the plunge. We hope you will join us”
To find out more and to book these free events, visit Startup Guernsey website www.startup.gg/eventsor email info@startup.gg.
