NI startup pitch competition LEVELUP opens for applications

by Startacus Admin
https://mailchi.mp/startacus/levelup
Interesting and innovative early-stage NI startups now being sought for the LEVELUP pitch competition at Derry and Strabane Enterprise Week with £2k cash prize awarded to the winning NI startup
Applications are now open for the LEVELUP startup pitch competition for early stage NI startups that will take place during the LEVELUP 2021 event on 21st and 22nd April.
Delivered by Startacus and in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, LEVELUP is a 2-day hybrid event that forms part of Derry and Strabane Enterprise Week. (you can register your interest here for when tickets for the event sessions go live!)
Drawing on and looking at innovation and best practice from around the world, the event will seek to inspire change and encourage entrepreneurship at a local level, exploring how people, both locally and internationally, have created opportunity, economic growth and initiated real change. The event will focus on 6 core themes:
-
Smart Places and Rural Innovation
-
Retail and High-Street
-
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
-
Health & Wellness
-
Social Change
-
Inclusion & Diversity
The LEVELUP pitch competition is seeking to find NI startups that fit within one of these 6 core themes and which offer innovative solutions and show real growth potential.
In addition, there is a *Wildcard category for early stage NI startups offering disruptive and innovative solutions and products that fit outside of these core event themes - for example innovation in finance, cyber security, or education and so on.
Eligible NI Startups must be 36 months old or less and have raised less than £100k (in terms of grants, funds and investment).
Up to 14 NI startups will be shortlisted and selected to take part in the event, where they will pitch virtually to a panel of industry experts. The overall winning startup will be awarded a £2000 cash prize during the final session of the two-day hybrid event.
Shortlisted NI startups who apply to the competition must be available to deliver a short 3-4 minute pitch to a panel of judges between 6pm and 7.45pm on 14th April so that their pre-recorded pitch can be viewed as part of the LEVELUP event on the 21st or 22nd April. Up to two founders / senior team members from a startup can take part in the pitch and answer questions from the judges.
Startup founders / or a senior representative of the team must also be available to join a live Zoom session currently scheduled for 3.40pm - 4.10pm on 22nd April when the LEVELUP startup winner will be announced.
Pitch applications close at 11.59pm 11th April 2021 and startups may also be shortlisted by Startacus before this final date. Shortlisting decisions are final and any startups who miss the application closing date will only be invited to pitch if pitching slots become available.
Interested NI startups can also reach out directly to Alastair Cameron, Co-founder at Startacus via alastair@startacus.net to discuss applying.
Applications can be made here where you can also review the competition full terms and conditions. Good luck to all who apply!
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...

Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.

Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.

Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.

SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.

41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.

Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.

Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future

A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated

Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 25th March 2021
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.