Organized by drinks development firm MyDrink Beverages, led by chairman Kastytis Kemezys, and consultancy Zenith International, this business accelerator gives entrepreneurs the chance to seek advice, funding and distribution from industry experts.
Applications by startups are now being accepted online for DrinkPreneur Live 2014 – with a deadline of the end of May – and the highest-scoring 20 brands will be able to present their ideas to industry professionals during a live awards competition on June 11, at the Holiday Inn in Camden, London.
The event is open to anyone for £195 (+VAT) and you register using the link above, and consult the program.
Speakers include Jan Harley, investment director at Unilever Ventures, on ‘Financing and Funding’, and David Beardmore, category buying manager, soft drinks for Tesco, who will speak to entrepreneurs on ‘Perfecting Your Sales Pitch’.
Tesco, Cott Beverages, Tate & Lyle...
Entrepreneurs will have a chance to meet and be mentored by industry experts from Tate & Lyle ventures, Tesco, Cott Beverages, Honey Creative, BlueBox corporate finance, Thrive, Fusion Learning, MyDrink Beverages, Closed Loop Recycling, Zenith International and more.
Asked why the event was significant, MyDrink Beverages CEO Adomas Pranevicius told BeverageDaily.com: “It’s a great thing for entrepreneurs to get more contacts among industry professionals to try to and push their project projects to the second level by getting financing or more marketing advice from professionals.
“Or at least get good advice on whether to pursue their project or not,” he added.
Drinkpreneur entrants will be quizzed by judges on marketing, product packaging, production, commercial and business plans, as well as their expected routes to market, as they seek to prove they can be the next best thing since sliced bread, or rather, Innocent Drinks.
The ultimate goal of the event is to discover at least one product that could become the next CPG success story, backed by leadership that combines skills, innovation, creativity and business intelligence.