Winners: From left, Lou Groth (Mermaid in England), Chris Prescott (Fantasy Shopper), Daniel Noz (Fantasy Shopper) and Jon Rathbone (Pourty/ Waterly Bottom Products)
Exeter-based Fantasy Shopper was crowned GWE Business West’s Born Global Business 2011 in front of an audience of 100 leading international business experts, mentors and investment angels at Leigh Court in Bristol this week.
The company beat 90 other applicants from across the South West to win the inaugural Born Global business competition and receive a prize of £20,000 in cash plus a range of bespoke PR, investment readiness and export business services.
Chris Prescott and Daniel Noz from Fantasy Shopper won over both the audience and the competition judges at the Grand Final with their innovative multi-platform social shopping game. Camilla Pond from GWE Business West, who was a member of the final judging panel, said: “Chris and Daniel’s business idea is extremely innovative and scalable with huge global potential. They’re currently still at pre-launch stage, so we cannot publicise the details of the proposition. However their business plan is ambitious and achievable and we think they’ll quickly become global players in the online social game sector. Watch this space!”
Second place was awarded to Gloucestershire-based Jon Rathbone from Waterly Bottom Products for his award-winning potty design, the Pourty. This ingenious product has a unique patent-pending pouring duct that makes the Pourty more hygienic and easier to empty and clean. Since its UK launch in February 2010 the Pourty has already become one of the best-selling potties on Amazon.com and Mothercare.com.
Jon picked up a cheque for £12,500 and a voucher for additional business services to help him develop new export markets for the Pourty and support the development of new products for the Pourty range.
Bristol-based Mermaid in England won third place with a cheque for £7,500 and supporting business services. The company’s unique AquaChange swimwear changes colour and design from wet to dry without the use of chemicals. Company founder Lou Groth will use the prize to find overseas partners to gain global distribution and fast track the development and launch of a new children’s range.
Born Global 2011 was launched in November by GWE Business West to find the best new business idea in the South West with the potential to go global. More than 90 applicants pitched propositions in the early stages of the competition at auditions in Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Gloucestershire. 30 applicants were shortlisted from auditions and this number was finally whittled down to 15 who were invited to re-present at the Grand Final yesterday.
“It was a very tense but exciting day,” says Phil Smith, managing director of GWE Business West. “The Final was a hugely demanding occasion for our finalists but they all impressed with their professionalism, the outstanding potential and innovation in their business ideas – and their ability to perform under intense pressure. They are all winners in their own right.”
For further details please go to www.born2bglobal.co.uk.