Final chance for Mid and East Antrim entrepreneurs to make ‘Ultimate Pitch’ for £6,000 investment

Pictured, centre, Councillor Jackson Minford, Mayor, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, left, and Cathy Keenan, Programme Lead, Go Succeed, who joined elected representatives from across all Northern Ireland councils to issue the last call.

Entrepreneurs across Mid and East Antrim have been given extra time to apply for this year’s Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch competition, which offers the chance to secure up to £6,000 in investment for a business idea.

The deadline for entries has been extended by four days, with applications now closing at 12 noon on Friday 22 August 2025.

Organised by Go Succeed – Northern Ireland’s free business support service – the competition will see local heats take place on Friday 17 October at the Ecos Hub, Ballymena. Contestants will pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges, with heat winners receiving £1,000 investment and progressing to the Northern Ireland-wide final.

The final will be held at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, in November, where the overall winner will be crowned Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch Award champion, taking home £5,000 investment plus a prize package including a year’s incubation space.

Additional prizes will be awarded across several categories, including:

• Go Succeed Impact Award – Best social enterprise (£1,500)

• Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award (£1,500)

• Go Succeed Rising Star Award – Most inspiring entrepreneur aged 16–25 (£1,500)

• People’s Choice Award – Voted by the public (£1,500)

Last year’s Mid and East Antrim winner, Gemma McAllister of WearMatter, impressed the judges with her adaptive clothing brand for people with disabilities. She went on to win the overall Northern Ireland title at the final.

Councillor Jackson Minford, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, said:

“We know that the Mid and East Antrim borough is a hot bed of entrepreneurship and we’ve already received some amazing entries to this year’s Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.

“If you haven’t already put yourself forward, there’s still time to get involved ahead of the closing date.

So whether you are starting out on your entrepreneurial journey for the very first time, have a fledgling social enterprise, or a great new business idea, the judges want to hear from you.”

Applicants will also have the opportunity to attend masterclasses on how to make the ultimate pitch ahead of their local heats. The region-wide final will take place on Wednesday 19 November, during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Go Succeed is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 councils. The programme supports entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses with mentoring, training, networking, access to funding and business planning advice.

Full competition details, including terms and conditions, are available at www.go-succeed.com/TheUltimatePitch.