The Pitch returns for 2022: Bigger than ever before
Here at Inkwell, we’re passionate about supporting startups and helping them grow to the next level. We’re excited to announce that our annual competition The Pitch is officially back for 2022.
Run by the Inkwell team, The Pitch supports startups through an engaging programme of support. This includes pitching workshops, opportunities to network with founders and investors, and access to the tools they need to take their business to the next level.
The Pitch first launched 14 years ago and has since become one of the UK’s largest startup events. As applications are now officially open, here’s what you can expect from the competition this year.
What’s planned for the 2022 programme?
This year we’re continuing a hybrid programme, consisting of both in-person and online events.
Our in-person events will run across five different cities (Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and two regional finals in London) to ensure we’re providing support for startups across the UK.
We also have some more exciting partners on board to share industry-leading expertise and help us deliver an effective programme of support: Sage, Crowdcube, Haines Watts, Agora, Fiverr, and AVAMAE.
Our partners play a central role in the competition, from judging startups at The Pitch Final to sharing their expertise in webinars and content.
The four levels of The Pitch programme
This year’s programme is broken down into four levels, ranging from one-to-one coaching to exciting live pitching events:
At level one, The Pitch applicants can access educational videos and content about growth and getting investment ready
At level two, 400 founders get exclusive access to webinars and coaching in key areas such as marketing, finance and investment
At level three, 60 founders take part in a mini-incubator to help them get ready to pitch to investors
At the fourth and final level, the ten finalists pitch to industry-leading investors, followed by an evening of networking and well-deserved celebrations in central London.
How The Pitch has helped startups
Through years of experience of working with startups, we’ve learnt the challenges most commonly faced by founders. We continue to learn more each year, and adapt The Pitch accordingly to make it as useful to startups as possible.
One of the biggest challenges for startups is getting in front of the right investors, and we’re proud that’s something we help startups overcome every year. The Pitch alumnus agree too – previous contestants have said that the competition helped them communicate with investors better.
“The contacts I’ve made from an investor perspective have helped me communicate with investors better. There were people like Tom March and Lian Michelson from the semi-final who helped me answer questions,” said Zak Nason-Giwa, co-founder and CEO of Goodloans, winner of The Pitch 2021.
The Pitch is also a great way for participants to scale up their business, by using the connections found through The Pitch platform.
Our prior cohorts prove it works – previous finalists (such as Financielle, Oddbox and Electric Miles) have gone on to raise millions since taking part in The Pitch. You can read more about what last year's finalists are up to here.
“We would like to thank The Pitch for giving us the platform to present our idea. It was such a brilliant opportunity to share our insights with a growing entrepreneurial network,” said Francesca Docker, co-founder and CMO of Hey! Food is Ready and finalist of The Pitch 2021.
Do you run a side hustle?
Brand new to this year's The Pitch, we now have a branch of the competition specifically for founders who run a side hustle.
This competition will be run exclusively online, with the winner invited to pitch at the live final event in London.
If you’d like to apply to the side hustle competition, you can work through the same application process. The only difference is you just simply select the side hustle option within The Pitch application form.
Feeling up to it?
If you’d like to get involved this year, be sure to fill out the application form.
Interested in becoming a sponsor for 2023? Email Chris at chris@inkwellagency.co.uk to learn more about The Pitch and what benefits you can expect as a sponsor.
