Carpenter Box Partner joins the Tiger’s Pen
One of our very own, Stuart Noakes, Partner and Head of Tax Services at Carpenter Box, recently took part in the Tiger’s Pen at the Sussex Business Show held at the Brighton Dome. This exciting event brought together aspiring start-up entrepreneurs and experienced investors for a day full of energy, inspiration, and business insight.
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.
This year, the event was sponsored by Cripps and featured seven impressive start-up businesses pitching their innovative ideas.
The start-up pitchers
The seven talented entrepreneurs who took to the stage were:
- Jon McGlashan – BubbleLife
- Oanh Brophy – Return Ware
- Shivankit Kumar – AI Agents
- Jemma Pateman – teddysquare
- Ryu Okada – Wicker Basket
- Manahara Epton – Manny’s Kitchen
- Sam Chaplin – Palm
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 of the Day” Wildcard Prize.
The investors
The panel of investors included seven experienced business leaders, ready to share their expertise and provide valuable insights. Our very own Stuart Noakes was joined by:
- Matt Turner – Creative Pod UK
- Wesley Atkinson – Adapt Fitness
- Damien Burke – Custom Credit
- Kyriakos Baxevanis – Nostos Hove
- Penina Shepherd – Acumen Business Law
- Helena Jevons – Inflection Consultancy and Development
A roaring success
The Tiger’s Pen event was a resounding success, with all seven 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 of the Day” award went to Oanh Brophy of Return Ware, who stood out with her clear message, engaging presentation, and well-developed product. Congratulations to Oanh 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.
Keep an eye out for more updates as we continue to champion local entrepreneurs and help them roar to success!