biztech

Four tech startups will go head to head in Dragons-den style live crowdfunding event

 2 mins | By Gill Oliver
 |  | Dec 3rd 2019

Four tech-related start-ups will go head-to-head in a pitch session to win cash at a live crowdfunding event in Oxford.

Oxfordshire SOUP, which runs from 11am on Friday, is open to all with the audience paying a £18 entry fee that goes towards the prize money fund.

The four finalists, chosen from 20 applications, must convince the audience their business idea is the best in order to attract the most votes.

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The winner goes home with all the ticket money collected – typically around £1,000 – plus a package to help boost business growth.

Oxfordshire SOUP founder Tina Marshall says: “Anyone can join in and know the money they paid for their ticket will be helping someone get their business going.

“Anyone who’s ever set up a business knows how difficult it is at the start. It is a great networking event for small businesses with the added excitement of hearing the businesses pitch and being a ‘Dragon’ by voting for which of them deserves to take the entire pot of ticket money.”

Tina Marshall is founder of Oxfordshire SOUP. Pic: Tina Marshall

Among the startups pitching on Friday is Unuhi, a bilingual book app aimed at helping young children learn a second language.

Fiction book production company Storymix aims to encourage more inclusive representation in children’s books and among authors.

Happy Zac is a subscription delivery business, offering healthy snacks.

InDependent Spouse is a digital platform focused on helping women from military families to use their skills to start businesses.

The prize money will also include cash donated by Oxfordshire Business Support, part of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and Visiba Care. Other sponsors include Jennings and West Oxfordshire District Council.

Oxfordshire SOUP takes place at Activate Learning, City of Oxford College, Oxpens Road from 11am to 1pm on Friday, December 6. Tickets can be bought on the door, or in advance, here.

 

About the Author

Gill Oliver

Gill Oliver is a professionally trained journalist who’s written for The New Statesman, The Bureau for Investigative Journalism, The Daily Mail’s business section This is Money, The Press Association, The Huffington Post plus a host of national magazines, news agencies and trade and industry journals. She’s also spent nine years reporting on the Oxfordshire business and tech scene for The Oxford Times and The Oxford Mail.

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