Carpenter Box returns to the Tiger’s Pen 2025
Partner and Head of Tax Services at Carpenter Box, Stuart Noakes, recently took part in the Tiger’s Pen held at Brighton & Hove Museums. The event provided an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced investors to connect and share perspectives through a day of business insight and interactive sessions.
What is the Tiger’s Pen?
The Tiger’s Pen is an opportunity for early-stage entrepreneurs, known as “Tiger cubs,” to pitch their business ideas to a panel of seasoned investors. These start-up pitchers, who have only recently embarked on their business journey, had the chance to present their concepts, gain valuable feedback, and potentially secure up to £10,000 in capital investment along with mentorship from the investors.
Like last year, the event was sponsored by Cripps and featured ten impressive start-up businesses pitching their innovative ideas.
The start-up pitchers
The ten talented entrepreneurs who took to the stage were:
- Lee Bridges
- Mike Appleby
- Bowen Tan
- Rashmi Hayes
- Nathan Boorman
- Shivankit Kumar
- Sophie Boulderstone
- Nick Dunn
- Lara Parry
- Marilyn Chelliah
Each start-up had 30 minutes to present their ideas, aiming to inspire the panel of investors, showcase their potential, and compete for not only the investment but also the prestigious “Best Pitch Winner” Wildcard Prize.
The investors
The panel of investors included five experienced business leaders, ready to share their expertise and provide valuable insights. Our very own Stuart Noakes was joined by:
- Aiden Dunning – Cripps
- Matt Turner MBE – Creative Pod UK
- Damien Burke – Custom Credit
- Helena Jevons – Inflection Consulting
A roaring success
The Tiger’s Pen event was a resounding success, with all five investors impressed by the passion, creativity, and potential shown by the start-up pitchers. Each entrepreneur brought something unique to the table, and it was clear that they had put in a tremendous amount of effort to prepare for the day.
The “Best Pitch Winner” award went to Marilyn Chelliah of Durban Curry Club, who stood out with her clear message, engaging presentation, and well-developed product. Congratulations to Marilyn on her well-deserved win!
Looking ahead
We would like to extend our congratulations to all the pitchers who took part. We’re excited to see how these start-ups will continue to grow and evolve in the coming months, and we look forward to supporting them on their journey to roaring success!