Pete Melville-Shreeve from OTA Water is one of three SETsquared Exeter entrepreneurs through to the Pitch@Palace final.

SETsquared Exeter entrepreneurs through to final of prestigious competition

Three SETsquared Exeter entrepreneurs have secured a place in the final round of the prestigious Pitch@Palace competition.

Founded by the Duke of York in 2014, Pitch@Palace helps entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses connect with potential supporters, including CEOs, influencers, investors, mentors and business partners.

The annual competition sees entrepreneurs from across the UK pitch at regional ‘Pitch@Palace On Tour’ events. Exeter held the final Pitch@Palace on Tour 11.0 event in February 2019, which saw HRH the Duke of York visit the University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Selected winners from each of the region’s tour events go through to the Pitch@Palace Boot Camp. From here, 12 winning entrepreneurs are selected by a panel of judges to deliver a three-minute pitch to an influential audience at St James’s Palace on 12 June 2019. The remaining 30 companies each get a 30-second slot to pitch.

The three SETsquared Exeter entrepreneurs are:

Biosystems Technology Ltd
Provides low-cost, high-throughput, ethical screening solutions for scientists working in the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

Buildsolar
Aims to create sustainably-built environments by developing multi-functional materials that turn buildings into clean energy generators.

OTA Water
Designs and installs smart water management systems that can optimise for flood alleviation and rainwater re-use.

Pitch@Palace also includes a People’s Choice Award, which is an opportunity to showcase the entrepreneurs to a broader audience and for the public to learn more and vote for their favourite. The winners of the People’s Choice award will also be announced at St James’s Palace on 12 June. To vote for your favourite visit the website.

The SETsquared Partnership is an award-winning and world-leading business incubator and start-up accelerator network which has supported more than 3,500 technology-based organisations through their lifecycle. As well as running seven of its own support programmes for members, SETsquared helps businesses identify other opportunities to access high-level support.

Speaking of the success of the SETsquared Exeter entrepreneurs and her role as a judge for the regional tour, Exeter's Entrepreneur in Residence, Sam Mickleburgh said: "It was fantastic to be part of the Pitch@Palace judging panel for the Devon event in February, where so many exciting and innovative entrepreneurs had the opportunity to present their business idea.  Having subsequently attended the Pitch@Palace BootCamp in May, where 42 finalists from across the nation won the opportunity to pitch again, I felt a sense of pride in the strength of the pitches from SETsquared Exeter finalists that made it through to this round to become part of the 12 shortlisted to pitch at the grand final at St James Palace in June.  I feel this truly showcases the strength of innovation there is in our region and the support that exists to elevate and develop phenomenal ideas into amazing businesses of the future.  Pitch@Palace shines a light on our excellence."

Winners of the Pitch@Palace competition will go on to compete in the global competition in December.

Date: 22 May 2019