Latest news with #Pitch
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CSIR Startup conclave 2025 to be held in Mumbai
Pune: The will be held in Mumbai on May 20 and 21. It will be organised by three CSIR laboratories in the country: CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (Pune), CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (Goa), and CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Nagpur). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This two-day event will take place at NESCO Centre. The conclave aims to bring together , scientific researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers. Venture Center, Pune, a science and technology incubator, will be the official incubator partner for the conclave. Jitendra Singh, minister of state independent charge) for science & Technology, Govt of India, Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, and others will attend the programme. In the Startup Pitch Session, a "Shark Tank"-style segment, selected startups will present their innovations to a panel of investors. This session aims to offer founders a valuable opportunity to gain visibility, receive direct feedback, and explore funding prospects. Additionally, over 50 startups supported by three CSIR labs and Venture Center will showcase their innovations across diverse sectors, including healthcare, diagnostics, sustainability, environmental science, and advanced materials, according to the official release from Venture Center. "Conclaves like these create a valuable confluence of innovation and impact. We are proud to support startups working on solutions rooted in science and engineering, and to help them connect with collaborators, investors, and national networks. The CSIR Start-up Conclave offers exactly the kind of visibility and access that early-stage science-based ventures need to scale," said Premnath, director of Venture Center, in a statement. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In addition to the startup showcase, the conclave will host focused technical sessions on marine robotics, environmental technologies, and biomanufacturing. The exhibition will be open to the public on May 21, offering an opportunity for students, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts to engage with technologies and early-stage companies, and the people behind them, an official release said.
Business Post
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Post
Pitch perfect for retail entrepreneurs
Launching a new retail brand is a tough job in any market, and to do it as a new entrepreneur can be even more difficult. Over the last five years, Pitch has offered nothing short of a lifeline for new brands, offering incredible exposure through the prize of a spot in the Arnotts Christmas Market – one of the busiest retail events of the year. Now, Pitch is looking for more entrepreneurs with innovative products looking for the ultimate boost. 'Pitch '25 reflects our commitment to supporting new Irish businesses by offering them the platform, mentorship, and exposure needed to scale and succeed, said Ciara Crilly, Creative and Marketing Director at Brown Thomas Arnotts. 'We are excited to discover the next generation of exceptional brands through this year's competition." Pitch '25 offers ambitious entrepreneurs and emerging brands across Ireland the opportunity to win a prize package valued at €70,000, which includes exclusive mentorship and brand-building support, as well as that precious spot at the Christmas Market. 'The exposure that the winner gets for their brand is the true prize,' said Crilly. 'It's an incredible opportunity for your brand to be seen by so many customers during the busiest time of the year for retailers. For instance, last year's winners, Wink with Mink, had an in-store lash bar, which attracted over 400 appointments during the Arnotts Christmas Market. The company, which brought a cruelty-free, reusable, and biodegradable lash system to market, continues to trade successfully in Planet Beauty. 'One of the biggest challenges that new brands have is getting in front of potential customers,' continued Crilly. 'It's extremely difficult to stand out in a crowded marketplace. With Pitch, not only does the winner get the opportunity to sell and showcase their product at the Arnotts Christmas Market, but they also receive a €10,000 business development fund from Brown Thomas Arnotts, financial mentoring from Pitch sponsor BKK Financial Advisors, and a media campaign fund courtesy of the Business Post, Newstalk, and PML Group.' Applications for Pitch '25 are open to entrepreneurs based in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland working across fashion, beauty, jewellery, lifestyle, food and nutrition, circular products, or tech-driven goods. Applicants must have a developed product or service and demonstrate clear potential for scaling by peak retail season. Pitch '25 reflects our commitment to supporting new Irish businesses by offering them the platform, mentorship, and exposure needed to scale and succeed 'The main consideration is that a business needs to be ready to trade,' said Crilly. 'We welcome entries from a wide variety of retail sectors – food, beauty, accessories, gifts and more. We do look for something that is different, that is innovative, and that is exciting. A great example of an innovative product is our Pitch '23 winner, KALO, a luxury accessories brand that uses apple leather to create sustainable, fashion-forward bags. Winning Pitch '23 helped the brand emerge as a standout success and the company continues to gain traction across the Irish fashion scene today.' Not surprisingly, the competition attracts a high level of entries, which are then whittled down to finalists who pitch to the judges. This year the judges include Edel Woods, Head of Home & Lifestyle Buying at Brown Thomas Arnotts; Donnine Burness, Deputy General Manager at Arnotts; Ciara Crilly, Creative & Marketing Director at Brown Thomas Arnotts; and a special guest judge, Lauren McDonald, founder of Lynott Jewellery. Particularly invaluable will be the insights provided by McDonald, who grew Lynott Jewellery from a digital-first start-up to a permanent in-store brand (she recently launched Lynott Jewellery into Brown Thomas Cork. 'I'm genuinely honoured to be a judge for Pitch '25,' said McDonald. 'As a founder, I understand first-hand how challenging and rewarding it is to grow a brand from the ground up. Opportunities like this – to receive expert guidance, retail exposure, and connect with a wider audience – can make all the difference in those early stages. I'm really looking forward to hearing the stories behind this year's businesses, and to supporting passionate entrepreneurs as they take the next step on their journey.' This is the fifth year of Pitch, and the success of previous winners is testament to how valuable the prize is for emerging brands. To give an idea of the diversity of brands that have won Pitch in the past, as well as Wink with Mink (Pitch '24) and KALO (Pitch '23), previous winners have been Brush Doc (Pitch '22), an innovative beauty tool that cleans makeup brushes and sponges in seconds with advanced rotating technology; and Pure Clothing (Pitch '21), a producer of organic cotton apparel that continues to expand its reach thanks to the exposure and support received through the programme.
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
How competitive socialising venues are transforming our nights out
As I swing my golf club over my shoulder only to comically miss yet another shot at launching the ball into a virtual scrap yard, my friends erupt into laughter. I haven't had this much fun on a Wednesday night in a long time. The location is Pitch, a golf and entertainment venue on Dublin's Dawson St where guests can practice their swing via virtual golf on a simulator screen. It's an unusual way to socialise for me, always the one to complain of stomach cramps so I could sit out PE. My willingness to partake takes me by surprise, and my enjoyment even more. Maybe it's a combination of the resident DJ who is spinning tunes, the snacks brought to us by a kind waitress, and the Guinness 0.0 which has been poured perfectly at the bar, but it seems socialising in the capital has entered a new era, one where trashing your pals during a round of virtual crazy golf is par for the course. Research by the property advisor Savills showed that competitive socialising has grown by 40% since 2018 in the UK, and it looks like something similar is happening here. Pitch is one of many competitive socialising venues that have popped up in the capital in recent months, joining others like Flight Club, also on Dawson Street, Super Social, Leopardstown, and Lane 7 on Chatham Street and Dundrum. With more than 2,000 pubs in Ireland closing their doors since 2005, could these new social experiences be the way forward for nightlife? Forging bonds Adele Miner at Pitch. Picture: Moya Nolan Chatting with Claire Cogan, a behavioural scientist and founder of BehaviourWise, she shares that there are several factors at play in these venues which contribute to our bonding experience with friends. 'As humans, we connect through shared experiences including games and activities,' she begins. 'At these venues, together you are bonding through a joint multisensory experience which stimulates different parts of the brain, making experiences more enjoyable and memorable. 'There's also a natural feel-good factor that comes from physical activity. Movement releases dopamine and endorphins that make us feel better. So too does social contact. Blending the two increases happiness and connections.' This form of socialising feels less passive than sitting in a pub and speaking over a table of pints. Andrew Fisher, the General Manager at Flight Club Dublin says the level of engagement he has seen with customers has been different from other venues in the city centre. It has been a joy to watch our customers' reaction as they have come through the doors. 'An activity like Social Darts gets everyone chatting, laughing, and making memories in a way that just doesn't happen in a regular pub. It adds something extra to the night.' The sober curious trend isn't letting up among young people either, with a 2023 study by DrinkAware revealing that 36% of adults in Ireland would like to drink less often. Venues and events which put a focus on an activity might be more appealing to those who don't want alcohol to be at the centre of their night out. Shireen Langan, one of the creators of 'Rave To Remember' a sober rave with events in various coffee shops and other locations around Dublin, says her own sober curiosity led her to set up the community alongside her brother, who does not drink. 'As a nation, we really do rely heavily on a few drinks,' she shares. 'We need more genuine environments to meet people without alcohol. 'For many sober and sober-curious people, these venues can make socialising easier. Alcohol is often described as a social lubricant, and people who don't drink, or are trying to drink less, might find the focus on activity reduces any sense of pressure they might feel. In these settings, alcohol is not the focal point, but enjoying an activity together is.' It's a no-brainer that a venue with a group activity will put less emphasis on alcohol consumption as punters are paying less attention to the drinking habits of others around them. 'It is no secret that people are consuming less alcohol than before and are looking to be part of the experience without feeling like they are missing out,' Fisher says. 'We put a lot of work into our Non Alcoholic Menu too, which offers guests the chance to try some cocktails or beers without consuming alcohol.' This comes at a price tag, I haste to add, with a non-alcoholic cocktail setting revellers back €11.50. Capturing memories Adele Miner: I haven't had this much fun on a Wednesday night in a long time. Picture: Moya Nolan Posting a picture to my Instagram of my trip to Pitch, I realised there's no shortage of free advertisement for these venues too. My inbox was quickly heaving with responses from curious friends keen to find out my location, giving me an extra boost of social currency too. 'There is an appeal in capturing and sharing an experience that is novel or unique. It generates talkability and creates memories. It makes the positive effect last longer,' Cogan shares. Activity venues are encouraging this, curating an Instagramable backdrop and props to entice customers to snap away. 'Designers know how important social media is, both in creating a memorable experience and generating publicity for a venue. They have thought of ways to make aspects of the experience more TikTok or Instagram friendly, to provide ready-made content and to tempt people to share it.' Jade McNamee, a recent visitor to Flight Club, is an example of just how effective this is. 'I took some pictures of our cocktails which arrived with a picture printed onto the top of our pornstar martini. There were a lot of people taking pictures in the old Irish phone booth behind us all night too.' The venue even takes social media marketing into its own hands, capturing key moments from each group's experience and sending a photo and video highlight to guests the next day. This ensures the occasion is immortalised on someone's social media grid. 'I haven't walked into somewhere in Dublin with an atmosphere like that in a long time. It was definitely an unusual night out, with so many stories and memorable moments which made it much better than just some drinks in a pub,' McNamee says. With the rise of these competitive third spaces, there might be the risk of saturating the market as venues all vie to entice the same crowd. But for revellers, it likely means we'll just see venues evolving as they expand their offerings and improve their technologies to provide a unique experience for us to enjoy. See you at the next hole? Five experiences to check out Kelly Gleeson and Laura Maquieira at Potteria. Picture: Larry Cummins Potteria, Cork Opening its doors in Cork's City Centre, Potteria is a premium pottery painting studio offering a fun and creative experience for all ages and skill levels. Plates, bowls, teapots and more, there's no shortage of painting options and many are turning to it as a space to socialise outside of the pub. Padel LK, Limerick The racket sport padel is taking off in Ireland, with new courts popping up all around the country. Limerick has been added to that growing list of enthusiasts, with Padel LK opening, Ireland's largest padel indoor padel tennis centre. It's the ultimate social experience as it requires four players, if you're Limerick local, round up the troops! Hot Box, Louth Outdoor sauna experiences are hugely popular as both a wellness activity and a social experience. Hot Box Sauna connects the power of the traditional sauna experience with the raw beauty of the Irish landscape. With locations around the country, one to note is the Louth sauna, engulfed in views of the Carlingford Marina. Axe Throwing, Waterford If you're keen on something a little more physically challenging for your next night out, try out Axe Junkies Waterford. Physical activities like axe throwing help to release endorphins, your brain's natural mood boosters. At Axe Junkies, you and up to eight people can sling axes side by side while you catch up. Pallas Karting, Galway Europe's longest Go Kart track, Pallas Karting in Galway is for all abilities with three different track configurations catering for beginners to advanced. Perfect for stag or hen dos, corporate events, or a family and friend's day out.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chinese ‘spy': I risked my reputation by supporting Prince Andrew
An alleged Chinese spy said he took a 'significant risk' to his reputation by continuing to support Prince Andrew after his disastrous Newsnight interview, documents have revealed. Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds, said he maintained 'loyalty and commitment' to the Duke despite the royal's general 'negative' perception in China. Yang was forced to leave the country on national security grounds in March 2023 and unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission last year. UK authorities have alleged that he formed an 'unusual degree of trust' with the Duke and developed relationships with politicians to be 'leveraged' by China. On Friday, a secrecy order preventing the release of some documents linked to the case was lifted in the public interest after an application by publications, including The Telegraph. Among the newly published documents is a second witness statement from Yang, where he denied 'scheming to destabilise the UK' and said he was 'confused' as to why the British state believed he was a threat. Yang appears to have targeted the Duke through his Pitch@Palace initiative, a Dragons' Den-style competition launched in 2014, and he was later appointed to lead its Chinese arm, Pitch@Palace China, when it was launched two years later. In the 37-page statement, Yang said that Pitch@Palace China had been 'recognised as one of the top international entrepreneur and start-up platforms in the country' but that after the Duke's November 2019 interview with Emily Mailtis, 'everything changed'. 'Following that interview, all international partners of Pitch pulled out or distanced themselves from it,' he said. 'The Pitch Global team moved from their offices out of Buckingham Palace. But the intention was to maintain Pitch in some form.' He said Amanda Thirsk, the Duke's private secretary and the director of the Pitch@Palace initiative, asked whether he would continue to support the project, 'especially given the success we had achieved in China', and that he decided to do so despite believing it posed a risk. 'At a significant risk for me and my business reputationally, I agreed to continue to support Amanda and Pitch,' he said. 'I admired and respected the Duke in how engaged and passionate he was about supporting Chinese entrepreneurs. I felt I had also invested a huge amount of time, effort, and money into Pitch China and did not want that investment to go to waste.' The new documents included a witness statement from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, that claimed the King held secret meetings with the Duke about his plans for a Chinese investment scheme run by Yang. Mr Hampshire claimed that the King was aware of an investment fund in which Yang was directly involved. Yang told the tribunal that he first met the Duke at a dinner in St James's Palace in 2014, having been introduced to Ms Thirsk by Sir Ron Dennis, the Formula 1 executive. Earlier in the statement, Yang said on setting up Pitch in China, the initiative was 'unknown there, and the Duke's reputation was fairly negative and based on reporting taken from the British media'. He said he persuaded others to 'take a risk alongside me and invest in what was essentially a start-up'. In his statement, Yang said that during his time working with the Duke, he had very little contact with him and could not have influenced the Duke. 'There would literally be no way I could possibly exert any unwanted influence on his team, or him. If anything, I was using my own networks and understanding of China to help with Pitch build[ing] a positive brand in China,' he said. He said being a representative of the Chinese business community in the UK meant meeting members of the Chinese Communist Party was 'unavoidable' but 'this does not mean I am working for this organisation, for its interests, or on its behalf'. 'I am definitively not scheming to destabilise the UK or its institutions or prominent individuals, and I am not acting against the national interests of the UK. I am not a threat to the security of the UK, and I feel very insulted to be accused of this and without seeing any material evidence against me to support this.' He later added: 'I am confused as to why the British state believes I am a threat to the public good on the grounds of national security.' Yang said that concerns about the 48 Group, which promotes trade between the UK and China and of which he is a member, were 'paranoid and far-fetched'. He said it was wrong to accuse him of spying and his 'prominent status as a successful Chinese entrepreneur in the UK' was 'nothing to do with me wanting to get access or exert influence in the UK '. 'I feel that the government completely misunderstands me and what I do. I don't deceive, I don't mislead, and I don't hide things to interfere with the interests of the UK.' Yang also claimed that the Duke had wanted him to become involved with a golf tournament and told him to contact Mr Hampshire during a dinner at Buckingham Palace in October 2019. 'During that dinner, the Duke said I should contact Dominic who runs his golf tournament,' Yang wrote. 'He said there may be opportunities to work with him on golf like we had done with Amanda for Pitch. The Duke wrote Dominic's number down on a piece of paper and I then reached out to Dominic.' Yang also suggested that the Duke wanted to keep a relationship with Chinese business in August 2021 because he 'needed money' Yang said that when the new ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, came to the UK, Hampshire was 'involved in the preparation of the talking points' of a call. He said the 'purpose of the note was to keep the Duke engaged without promising anything in terms of financial benefit because the Duke needed money at the time, and saw the relationships with China through Pitch as one possible source of funding.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
06-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Chinese ‘spy': I risked my reputation by supporting Prince Andrew
An alleged Chinese spy said he took a 'significant risk' to his reputation by continuing to support Prince Andrew after his disastrous Newsnight interview, documents have revealed. Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds, said he maintained 'loyalty and commitment' to the Duke despite the royal's general 'negative' perception in China. Yang was forced to leave the country on national security grounds in March 2023 and unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission last year. UK authorities have alleged that he formed an 'unusual degree of trust' with the Duke and developed relationships with politicians to be 'leveraged' by China. Pitch@Palace initiative On Friday, a secrecy order preventing the release of some documents linked to the case was lifted in the public interest after an application by publications, including The Telegraph. Among the newly published documents is a second witness statement from Yang, where he denied 'scheming to destabilise the UK' and said he was 'confused' as to why the British state believed he was a threat. Yang appears to have targeted the Duke through his Pitch@Palace initiative, a Dragons' Den-style competition launched in 2014, and he was later appointed to lead its Chinese arm, Pitch@Palace China, when it was launched two years later. In the 37-page statement, Yang said that Pitch@Palace China had been 'recognised as one of the top international entrepreneur and start-up platforms in the country' but that after the Duke's November 2019 interview with Emily Mailtis, 'everything changed'. 'Following that interview, all international partners of Pitch pulled out or distanced themselves from it,' he said. 'The Pitch Global team moved from their offices out of Buckingham Palace. But the intention was to maintain Pitch in some form.' He said Amanda Thirsk, the Duke's private secretary and the director of the Pitch@Palace initiative, asked whether he would continue to support the project, 'especially given the success we had achieved in China', and that he decided to do so despite believing it posed a risk. 'At a significant risk for me and my business reputationally, I agreed to continue to support Amanda and Pitch,' he said. 'I admired and respected the Duke in how engaged and passionate he was about supporting Chinese entrepreneurs. I felt I had also invested a huge amount of time, effort, and money into Pitch China and did not want that investment to go to waste.' The new documents included a witness statement from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, that claimed the King held secret meetings with the Duke about his plans for a Chinese investment scheme run by Yang. Mr Hampshire claimed that the King was aware of an investment fund in which Yang was directly involved. 'I am not a threat to UK security' Yang told the tribunal that he first met the Duke at a dinner in St James's Palace in 2014, having been introduced to Ms Thirsk by Sir Ron Dennis, the Formula 1 executive. Earlier in the statement, Yang said on setting up Pitch in China, the initiative was 'unknown there, and the Duke's reputation was fairly negative and based on reporting taken from the British media'. He said he persuaded others to 'take a risk alongside me and invest in what was essentially a start-up'. In his statement, Yang said that during his time working with the Duke, he had very little contact with him and could not have influenced the Duke. 'There would literally be no way I could possibly exert any unwanted influence on his team, or him. If anything, I was using my own networks and understanding of China to help with Pitch build[ing] a positive brand in China,' he said. He said being a representative of the Chinese business community in the UK meant meeting members of the Chinese Communist Party was 'unavoidable' but 'this does not mean I am working for this organisation, for its interests, or on its behalf'. 'I am definitively not scheming to destabilise the UK or its institutions or prominent individuals, and I am not acting against the national interests of the UK. I am not a threat to the security of the UK, and I feel very insulted to be accused of this and without seeing any material evidence against me to support this.' He later added: 'I am confused as to why the British state believes I am a threat to the public good on the grounds of national security.' 'I don't deceive, I don't mislead' Yang said that concerns about the 48 Group, which promotes trade between the UK and China and of which he is a member, were 'paranoid and far-fetched'. He said it was wrong to accuse him of spying and his ' prominent status as a successful Chinese entrepreneur in the UK' was 'nothing to do with me wanting to get access or exert influence in the UK '. 'I feel that the government completely misunderstands me and what I do. I don't deceive, I don't mislead, and I don't hide things to interfere with the interests of the UK.' Yang also claimed that the Duke had wanted him to become involved with a golf tournament and told him to contact Mr Hampshire during a dinner at Buckingham Palace in October 2019. 'During that dinner, the Duke said I should contact Dominic who runs his golf tournament,' Yang wrote. 'He said there may be opportunities to work with him on golf like we had done with Amanda for Pitch. The Duke wrote Dominic's number down on a piece of paper and I then reached out to Dominic.' Yang also suggested that the Duke wanted to keep a relationship with Chinese business in August 2021 because he 'needed money' Yang said that when the new ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, came to the UK, Hampshire was 'involved in the preparation of the talking points' of a call. He said the 'purpose of the note was to keep the Duke engaged without promising anything in terms of financial benefit because the Duke needed money at the time, and saw the relationships with China through Pitch as one possible source of funding.'
