The BIG Pitch is a great forum for Australian startups to showcase a game-changing concept.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (PRWEB) May 08, 2014
Hot on the heels of successful Australian entrepreneurs at Atlassian and Campaign Monitor, the startup scene down under is set for a busy two months. Oxygen Ventures offering up to five million dollars for topping the pile at its first “The BIG Pitch” event on June 17 in Melbourne, Australia. The venture fund is putting out the call to Australian digital startups who need funding, mentoring and operational support. An expert judging panel led by founder of Dodo Larry Kestelman and featuring George Patterson Y&R CEO Russel Howcroft will select the startup pitch that stands out for their presentation, innovation and business model on the night.
With applications currently open, a shortlist of five finalists will be selected in early June to pitch live for access to the funding pool and the hands-on business smarts of the Oxygen Ventures team. In addition, mentoring will be provided by Kestelman and his team, providing insights from their business know-how in a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs.
“It’s an exciting time for startups. We’re seeing a wealth of talent and new business models emerging and what they’re begging for is an opportunity to secure not only funding but also operational resources to grow their businesses,” says Ilya Frolov, Investment Director at Oxygen Ventures.
“We minimise our investment risk by bringing a whole team of experts to our investments, including design, development, marketing, finance and legal resources to get startups commercialised or reach major milestones quicker.”
Backing the global prospects of original digital enterprises, Oxygen Ventures is seeking globally scalable, innovative technology startups at the pre-commercialised or newly-launched phase, and who are primed to disrupt their industry. Having built numerous brands from the ground up, Oxygen Ventures is looking for a partnership with the winning entries, to be a part of building a global business.
An illustrious panel of business leaders will select the winner or winners on the night of the competition. As well as founder of Dodo and Oxygen Ventures Larry Kestelman, judges include BlueChilli founder Sebastian Eckersley-Maslin, Ten Network Director and CEO of George Patterson Y & R Russel Howcroft and Oxygen Ventures’ Mr Frolov. It’s a formidable line-up with a wealth of experience at the coalface of Australian business.
“The BIG Pitch is a great forum for these startups to showcase a game-changing concept. We see this as a big part of the startup community in Melbourne and also announce there is funding available in early-stage companies. Of course the real winner will be the startup that catches our eye and walks away with up to $5 million in funding – we can’t wait to see what they bring to the table.”
The BIG Pitch applications will be open from May 1 until midnight on June 5. The finalists will pitch in front of an audience at Deakin Edge, Fed Square, Melbourne, June 17, 2014. Startups can pitch online at thebigpitch.com.au before the deadline of June 5, 2014.
Contact:
Ilya Frolov
Investment Director
Oxygen Ventures
ilya(at)oxygenventures(dot)com(dot)au
+61 3 9868 9936
About The BIG Pitch
The BIG Pitch competition is where digital entrepreneurs pitch their startups to a handpicked panel to win access to a funding pool and the hands-on business smarts of Oxygen Ventures. For the venture-minded, funding from $250k to $5m is on offer, along with an expert team capable of taking the best ideas in the digital world to huge commercial success.
Presented by Oxygen Ventures alongside event partner BlueChilli, the competition’s finale will take place on June 17th 2014 at The BIG Pitch Event at Deakin Edge, Fed Square, Melbourne.
thebigpitch.com.au
About Oxygen Ventures
Oxygen Ventures is a new breed in digital venture capital offering entrepreneurial, hands-on know-how. Founded by successful entrepreneur Larry Kestelman, the company has invested in numerous digital businesses and is assisting them to reach their goals. Oxygen Ventures is launching The BIG Pitch competition to discover the best digital startups Australia has to offer.
oxygenventures.com.au
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