Less than 1 week left to Pitch to Richard Branson with VOOM 2016

 

Closing date for entries to VOOM 2016 on May 10th

Over 120 Irish entrants already signed up on www.VMBVOOM.com

 

Friday, 6th May 2016: There is less than one week to go before the deadline for entries for Virgin Media Business’ VOOM 2016 pitch competition closes on May 10th. To date, over 120 businesses have already applied from across the country including GolfBirdie (Dublin), Quirky Glamping Village (Sligo), ShopLoyal (Kildare), FourPaws.ie (Dublin) and the Evidence-Based Therapy Centre (Galway).

 

Applicants to what is biggest and most valuable pitch competition, in Ireland and the UK, must then galvanise support and urge the public to vote for their business. The 160 businesses who receive the most public votes will take part in a 29-hour pitchathon (which will also be a Guinness World Record) in London on 1st and 2nd June. Public voting ends on 23rd May.

 

There are two categories which companies can apply to; Start-Up and Grow. The ‘Start-Up’ category is for fresh and exciting businesses that are still in the early stages of development. The ‘Grow’ competition is for businesses that are already recording revenues but are looking to ramp things up.

 

Gavan Smyth, VP of Virgin Media Business said: “Virgin’s VOOM 2016 is seeking out Ireland and the UK’s most innovative start-up companies and entrepreneurs to participate in our pitch competition. Start-up businesses and entrepreneurs play a key role in developing our economy and creating new jobs across the country, and technology plays an important part in helping them turn business goals into reality.

 

“The response to Virgin Media Business VOOM 2016 has been great so far and we have seen amazing ideas and examples of innovation from the Irish participants. Ireland has a fantastic start-up community and we want to showcase these great ideas. So whether you’re an entrepreneur with a great idea or an existing business that wants to get the boost you deserve, VOOM 2016 is your chance.”


How to enter ‘VOOM 2016’


‘VOOM 2016’ is open to applications from Ireland and the UK until May 10th. They can register their pitch at: www.vmbvoom.com


Winners of VOOM 2016 will share a prize pot of €1.2 million with prizes including out of home marketing campaigns, broadband and telecoms packages, social media and PR support and mentoring from VOOM professional advisors and from Virgin Media.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

 

Competition timings


• 22nd March – Competition launches and open to entries
• 5th April – Public voting opens
• 10th May – Entries close
• 23rd May – Public voting closes
• June – Shortlisting process
• 28th June – Finale with Richard Branson and the judging panel, to choose the winners

 

LinkedIn Professionals


As part of the competition we will offer 12 roles to LinkedIn UK members where they can apply to be "Professionals" to help choose which VOOM 2016 entries make it through to the finale as well as providing professional mentoring and support for those Finalists.

 

Press Contacts


Anna Maria Barry, 086 222 720 72 and annamaria.barry@virginmedia.ie

 

About Virgin Media Business Ireland


Virgin Media Business is the leading national provider of integrated business communications ranging from Metro Ethernet services up to 100Gbps, Internet connectivity up to 10Gbps and broadband services for the small office and home office market.

 

Virgin Media Business offers the complete spectrum of business communications products through its high capacity fibre network. Services include Carrier Ethernet, Metro Ethernet connectivity, co-location, SIP and TDM voice services, leased lines, managed bandwidth and direct internet access.

 

Virgin Media’s BitBuzz is a Wi-Fi network operator providing a range of managed services to hotels, airports, cafe bars, pubs and other public locations throughout Ireland and the UK.

 

Virgin Media Business is one of the largest business-to-business communications providers in Ireland with a strong presence in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and 14 regional towns.

 

Virgin Media is a part of Liberty Global plc, the world’s largest international cable company. Together Virgin Media and Liberty Global serve 27 million customers across 14 countries, helping connect people to the digital world and enabling them to discover and experience its endless possibilities.