Reading: ConnectTVT's The Big Pitch business slam – set to open doors?

We’ve had poetry and comedy slams, now Reading is hosting something of a business slam.

The Big Pitch is taking place at GROW @ Green Park (250 South Oak Way, RG2 6UG) on November 19 from 6-9pm, offering aspiring start-ups and fledgling entrepreneurs the chance to try out their business pitches to a jury of judges.

ConnectTVT (Connecting Thames Valley Tech) has arranged The Big Pitch with the support of law firm Pitmans, and competitors will get five minutes in the spotlight, on a first-come first-served basis, to pitch their business propositions.

No ‘Dragon’s Den’ funding is guaranteed but there will be prizes for The Big Pitch winner and two runners-up.

“It’s set to be a great evening of fun and interest, and potentially a major step towards helping get young innovative Thames Valley businesses off the ground,” said Louize Clarke, co-founder of ConnectTVT.

“They will be able to practise pitching under the pressure of a live audience situation, and we are providing refreshments so everyone attending can network afterwards with the judges – which could lead to fresh contacts and investment support."

The individual business pitches will be judged and critiqued by a team of friendly well-connected ‘dragons’: Angela Bates, IBM global entrepreneur and start-up programmes leader; John Donnelly, technical evangelist, Microsoft; Malcolm Tuck, strategic alliance and channel business in Europe for Kaspersky Lab; Jenny Tydeman, leader of IBM’s ecosystem development organisation; and established entrepreneurs Adrian Clarke, Peter Kemp and Steve Wright.

The winner will be announced on Friday November 21 during ConnectTVT’s 'When Green meets Grey' problem-solving workshop, also being held at GROW @ Green Park.