Arility made the finals of Pitch@Palace the global platform for the Duke of York to amplify and accelerate the work of Entrepreneurs
So what is the event all about? Well here are some highlights.
Australia is just 1 of 57 countries they have taken it to.
For Australia 2018, they reached 6 states in 12 days (next year will have Hobart and Darwin)
1,000+ applications were shortlisted to 80 for state and territory finals.
Everyone finalist is then given 3 minutes in their State to pitch.
In Perth 16 were cut to 8 to go through to the Australian final in Brisbane. (including Arility)
Across Australia, 41 went through to Brisbane.
3 have now gone through to the London pitch finale. (including #Oncores from WA)
Getting to the Australian finals with David Gribble was a great endorsement of Arility but it comes with much more than a competition. In fact, the ethos behind it is much more productive for amplifying the companies involved.
First of all, it’s free to enter. And accommodation costs were covered for finalists.
The Entrepreneurs in Perth were able to practice pitching to each other forming a #teamwa bond (and better pitches).
Murdoch university provided advisers to guide us before our first pitch. (free). Well done Matthew Evans. The best state event was Perth!
Bringing 150 local Perth leaders to be part of the Perth Pitch (including Prince Andrew and his team) is impossible to achieve anywhere else for such a well connected audience (who all vote).
The 150 are made up of business investors, business leaders, Governors, MPs, government ministers, senior academics, previous entrepreneur winners and many more.
For Arility’s pitch 3 minutes isn’t long and David and I were stopped by the bugler in our last sentence! But we still got through.
https://www.facebook.com/hrhthedukeofyork/videos/1931259456972990/?t=4196
This gave us great reasons to share our story in social media and HRH put us in touch with a senior contact in the UK with a direct introduction. This is something that is given to ANY entrepreneur at any time in the competition. If you can think about who could help you, then the Prince or any of the guests who come along are all trying hard for you to get in front of the right people. (which may be them and there are face to face networking drinks after)
David Beckham’s daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Branson to name a few were all asked for. It changes your mindset of who might be good to connect with.
Then, in the finals we were given Elevators (shout out to ours – Rob Cook), who helped hone our pitch further. https://www.facebook.com/hrhthedukeofyork/videos/749614952042346/?t=3377
The finals in Brisbane starts with a boot camp and the 3 minute pitch in front of another judging panel of around 80 people. This group decide if you are one of the 12 allowed to give a 3 minute pitch to the main audience on Friday or if you are cut to 30 seconds.
By the way, I took our elevator to visit an actual customer prospect to hear how a 1 hour pitch sounded and I highly recommend doing that.
So for the big Australian finale. (Now down to 30 seconds) https://www.facebook.com/hrhthedukeofyork/videos/652247921837570/?t=2473
The main event is an audience of 200 voters to vote 1 through to London plus a globally accessible people’s choice option (#Littlescribe). Because the top 2 were so close they decided to let them both through. (#Oncores and #PowerWell)
And now they are on to London for the big global finale in 2 weeks and Arility have joined an Alumni of 730 world recognised finalists who have achieved £800m of investment with a staggering 96.5% survival rate of Entrepreneurs across all 5 years the event has been running.
50,000 applicants in 5 years. 44 events this year alone, 2-3 unicorns expected soon.
The Duke of York (https://www.facebook.com/hrhthedukeofyork) is a credit to the UK and has established a phenomenal economic engine with #pitchatpalace that has no agenda other than to use the power of the palace to promote global entrepreneurs which in return makes the UK a pivotal part of the global scene.
One last shout out to Amanda Thirsk, the Dukes Private secretary. Incredibly organised, approachable and focused on helping.
Its intense, nerve wracking and fun. If anyone is thinking about it, I would heartily recommend it.
