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THE best and brightest entrepreneurial minds from Queensland, Northern Territory and northern New South Wales will have their chance to pitch their ideas to HRH The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, after being named among the top 17 regional finalists in the inaugural Pitch@Palace Australia start-up competition.
The entrepreneurs will present their start-up concepts in person to the Duke, as he joins the judging panel for the Pitch@Palace regional final, to be hosted at Bond University on Friday.
From this event, eight regional finalists will be selected to attend a national Boot Camp at Wollongong next week, where they will be joined by a further 16 finalists from the other states to be mentored by a number of leading Australian and international business identities.
Half of these Boot Camp entrepreneurs will then be selected to pitch their ideas at the Pitch@Palace Australian final, to be held at Government House in Sydney next Wednesday, 27 September.
The winning team will be crowned Australia's best and then be flown to London to represent Australia at the global final of Pitch@Palace at St James' Palace on 6 December, 2017.
The budding business moguls will showcase an array of innovative ideas and inventions at the Bond University event, including a Tinder-like app for airport travellers, a new banking platform, improved cold sore treatment, cyber-security technology, and an app that uses storytelling to support mental health.
"Pitch@Palace is designed to support, enhance and add value to start-up and scale-up companies by providing a platform for entrepreneurs and audiences to meet, network and hear the great ideas that are being commercialised and built by the next generation of entrepreneurs," Prince Andrew said ahead of his visit.
"I am looking forward to visiting all the locations where Pitch is to take place, and wish the entrepreneurs, wherever they may be in Australia, a successful time engaging with Pitch@Palace."
Bond University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Tim Brailsford, says the calibre of entries is impressive.
"Pitch@Palace Australia will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for entrepreneurs to pitch their business idea here on the Gold Coast and earn the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage," he says.
"Our judges have been seriously impressed by the quality of entries we have received, and excited by their diversity and creativity."
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