Regional entrepreneurs, innovators, artisans and small business owners across the country will have the opportunity to pitch their big business ideas and realise their entrepreneurial goals when Australia Post Regional Pitchfest launches nationwide in March.
Australia Post has partnered with Wagga Wagga start-up Regional Pitchfest to provide locals with a platform to showcase their business ideas live on stage, and build a culture of entrepreneurship in regional Australia.
Open to everyone living in regional and rural areas, the state events will take place in Ballarat (VIC), Canberra (ACT), Launceston (TAS), Dubbo (NSW), Toowoomba (QLD), Darwin (NT), Bunbury (WA) and McLaren Vale (TAS), with the National Gala Event set to take the stage in Wagga Wagga (NSW) where the journey began.
“Things are changing and exciting things are happening in regional Australia,” said Regional Pitchfest founder, Dianna Somerville. “With more access to technology than ever before, more people are creating their own solutions to problems and we want to give people the opportunity to showcase those great ideas to an expert panel for a chance to win cash prizes along with other great opportunities.”
What is Regional Pitchfest all about?
Australia Post Regional Pitchfest is just like Shark Tank, but live on local stage. The aim of the program is to find the country’s most exciting entrepreneurs, artisans and small business owners, and unearth the next big business idea to come out of regional and rural Australia.
“Our first Regional Pitchfest took place in Wagga in June 2016 and we ran a pilot program with Australia Post in Bendigo during October and November,” said Ms Somerville. “We were so inspired by the quality of entries, and have unearthed so many brilliant business ideas. We’re excited to see what next year’s batch of entries will produce.”
Australia Post Chief Customer Officer, Christine Corbett, said the organisation was proud to bring this exciting and unique event to rural and regional communities.
“We’re committed to supporting rural and regional Australia. We believe Regional Pitchfest will not only promote and celebrate the wave of entrepreneurial culture emerging from regional Australia, but also help local communities and businesses grow,” she said.
Each Regional Pitchfest event will also be supported by a Tall Poppies Breakfast, which is a free networking event and will feature a panel discussion celebrating Australian rural and regional female business success stories.
Applications for the 2017 Australia Post Regional Pitchfest open nationally from Monday 6 March and close on Friday 28 April. For more information on how to enter, visit www.regionalpitchfest.com.
