THE REAL ENTREPRENEURS’ AWARDS PITCHING PLATFORM

Ahighlight of the awards was the novel Pitching Platform, sponsored by Pattersons Commercial Law. Three start-ups pitched to the room for a chance to win £10k worth of legal and marketing advice and investment from Pattersons Commercial Law and Cross Productions.

Kate Allan, the Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur award winner won the audience vote. As well as legal and marketing services, she also won a non-executive business board consisting of Rik Pancholi of Pattersons Commercial Law; Jenny Cross of Cross Productions; Paul Bevan of Breeze Corporate Finance; and Ian Cooper of Brewin Dolphin. In addition, she’s gained access to a senior venture capital investor Mercia Group and Foresight Group.

ExpHand Prosthetics is a 3D print company manufacturing prosthetic limbs that can be adjusted as a child grows into adulthood for a fraction of NHS prices and produced in weeks rather than months.

Kate Allan, founder of ExpHand Prosthetics, said: “I’m really excited to be working with the non-executive board over the next year it’ll be a great value add to the company to have the additional expertise coming in and being able to bounce ideas around with them. It was nervewracking to pitch to the room, but pitching is something I enjoy because I like sharing what we’re doing and telling people about the impact the product has. The next big steps for us are to bring the product to market in the UK and then internationalising. Over the next 12 months, we’ll be looking at manufacturing in-country and testing how that will work.”

The audience also heard from Marc Rowley, founder of employee training for growth company H.I.T Leadership and Simon Sansome, founder of the Snowball Community app – a ‘Trip Advisor’ type forum for rating the accessibility of places all over the world.

Rik Pancholi of Pattersons Commercial Law, which sponsored the pitching platform, said: “It was an honour to present the Pitching Platform and hear about these amazing businesses.

“We set up the Pitching Platform to help boost economic growth in our region and draw more individuals into our incredibly supportive community of entrepreneurs. Additionally, the Pitching Platform is exceptionally unique as it highlights businesses that are in the very early stages of their journey to a room full of people who have the expertise to help them. These early stage businesses are often the ones that need support the most but may face challenges with securing the best advice or access to funding.

“I believe all three businesses will go far and I’m keen to work with Kate Allan at ExpHand Prosthetics and help to grow the business as they continue on their incredible journey.

Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions, said: “I can see ExpHand Prosthetics being a huge deal in the near future. The fact that Kate shared that a child’s prosthetic arm costs a minimum of £10,000 and can be grown out of in just 12 months is eyeopening. She’s spotted a problem that real people are facing – around 30 million in fact – analysed the situation and came up with a lasting solution. Her presentation gave me goosebumps.

“The two other pitchers were incredibly well presented and I have no doubt their valuable businesses will achieve great success.”