Creative start-ups: Here’s your chance to pitch to 40 potential investors – StartupSmart

Five start-ups will have the opportunity to pitch to 40 qualified investors in a new event called Creative³ RiverPitch in Brisbane on September 11.

 

Queensland co-working space and start-up incubator River City Labs has partnered with Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Enterprise Australia (QUT CEA) to run the event.

 

Anna Rooke, chief executive of QUT CEA, says in a statement the event is designed to meet the specific funding challenges of the creative industries.

 

“Our goal was to create an event that would help prepare creative businesses for investment,” she says.

 

River City Labs has run six River Pitch events before. This is the first time they’ve partnered with QUT CEA, with the event to be part of the two-day Creative³ conference.

 

Peta Ellis, the operational manager at River City Labs, told StartupSmart the partnership will bring together their tech-start up community with QUT CEA’s creative industries start-ups.

 

The top 10 applications [http://riverpitch.com/pitch-to-us/] will audition for pitching night, with the highest performing five going through to pitch in front of pre-screened investors.

 

“We make sure they’re actually investors, not just observers. We want to know the room is filled with people who are genuinely interested in new opportunities,” says Ellis.

 

“The networking is just as important as the pitch, because even if you’re not investment ready or your idea isn’t quite right for these guys, they may know someone else who might love it.”

 

Ellis says the start-ups most likely to succeed will be creative but proven.

 

“We’re looking for someone with a proven business concept, with customers and clients. They’ll be able to highlight their growth potential, as investors really want to know you know how you’ll grow,” she says.