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Local entrepreneur wins Launch Somerset and £6k investment package

Somerset entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to a room of ‘Dragons’ in a bid to win Launch Somerset and an incredible investment package worth over £6,000.

The powerful networking event was delivered by TDA and took place on the evening of 19 September at Company Spaces, Taunton, to support entrepreneurial activity in Somerset.

Ges Green, Business Centres South West Operations Manager, said: “We are thrilled with the success of the event and the networking opportunities it provided for these start-up businesses. The feedback we had was really positive and the atmosphere generated at the venue was great. It is definitely an event that we will look to do again in the near future.

“All the business ideas were superbly delivered and we are looking forward to working with them all. Our congratulations go to Ian Lewis of 360 South West, who was voted the winning business by the specially invited ‘Dragons’.”

TDA will help Ian through the next steps of his business journey with support from their Business Advisors. As the winning pitcher, Ian won a package of investment worth over £6,000, including a Somerset Chamber of Commerce Membership and a Cloud Accounting Software package from the event sponsors.

Professional photographer Ian Lewis started his interactive imagery and commercial photography business, 360 South West, in 2018. 

Ian said: “I’m delighted to win Launch Somerset. The investment package will allow me to focus on my marketing and develop my website, as well as offering a constant backbone of support.

“The event has been a brilliant opportunity to increase my network and I am really looking forward to seeing where 360 South West goes in 2020 and beyond.”

The runners-up were Tiny Giant, Rainshader and Somerset Escargot, who will use the event as a platform to continue to build on their start-up businesses. Tiny Giant is a creative marketing company and AI experts, Rainshader is a windproof umbrella company and Somerset Escargot is a prestart snail herding and farming company.

Ges added: “TDA would like to thank our sponsors, Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Albert Goodman, Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Foundations, Cosmic, Concilium HR, Level Up, Red Berry Recruitment, Stokes Partners and Teapot Creative. Without them the event would not have been the success it was.”

TDA is also a sponsor at the Somerset Business Awards, which recognises the innovative and progressive businesses in Somerset. This year’s awards ceremony will take place on Friday, 25th October, 2019 at the Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare.

To find out more about business support in Somerset and the Launch entrepreneurs, keeping up to date with how their businesses develop, visit www.somerset-enterprise-centres.co.uk

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