Pitch@Palace Gold Coast: Hosted at Bond University, eight contestants set to go through to nationals

Eight contestants from Brisbane and the Gold Coast have advanced to nationals following a prestigious business competition that could take their product global.

START-UP companies in fields as diverse as coral reef restoration, eco-friendly nappies, and a public legal platform have received the royal seal of approval to send them to Perth and possibly as far as London.

The companies were chosen from a field of 17 that presented at entrepreneurship contest Pitch@Palace Australia 3.0 On Tour Gold Coast, held at Bond University yesterday (SUBS: 19/7).

PRINCE ANDREW ENCOURAGES PITCH@PALACE

Pitch@Palace Australia 3.0 On Tour Gold Coast winners, from left, Katie Richards (Law on Earth) John Christie (ModnPods) Debora Kocak (Hiri) Jim Chapman (The Nice Coffee Co) Mohsin Parwez (Smart Soil) Julia Khalyavko (Smart Soil) Igo Gari (Hiri) Kristy Ahrens ((GoNap) Dave Ingerson (Therapytrike) and Roxanne Foulser-Piggott (Freddy Bear Foundation). Picture: Cavan Flynn

Chosen to go on to Pitch@Palace Australia 3.0 Boot Camp, to be held in Perth in October, were Hiri, Tech Smart Soil, Freddy Bear Foundation, GoNap, Law on Earth, ModnPods, SensaWeb, and the people’s choice award winner, The Nice Coffee Co.

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John Christie, who owns modular building company ModnPods, was thrilled with his company’s success.

“I’m really excited, there were some really good competitors, the eight finalists that made it through were all amazing, but I’m really excited for ModnPods.”

Igo Gari and Debora Kocak, the founders of coral reef restoration company Hiri, overcame a malfunctioning microphone to secure their place on the plane to Perth.

PRINCE ANDREW ON COAST FOR PITCH@PALACE

The brains behind start-up Eggy. Picture: Cavan Flynn

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“It caught us a bit off guard so we didn’t deliver the whole pitch, but we were glad that we nailed it and it went well and we’re happy with the result,” Kocak said.

The eventual winners of Pitch@Palace Australia 3.0 will travel to London to present at the global Pitch@Palace final at St James’s Palace at the end of the year.

Yesterday’s event was one of several to be held across Australia, giving entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their business to an audience of CEOs, influencers, mentors and investors, while learning more about the Pitch@Palace program and connecting with local stakeholders.

HRH the Duke of York founded Pitch@Palace in 2014 to provide a platform to amplify and accelerate the work of entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses, connecting them with potential supporters including CEOs, mentors and business partners.