Causeway Coast founders face 17 August pitch deadline

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-29 17:23 3 min read

Aerial view of the iconic Northern Ireland coastline at the Giant's Causeway.

Entrepreneurs in Causeway Coast and Glens have until 17 August to enter Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch, a free business competition offering up to £6,000 in investment.

The local heat will take place on 7 October, with the venue and start time still to be confirmed. The competition is open to pre-trading businesses and newly established firms operating for less than two years, across all sectors.

A route from local heat to regional final

Applicants will pitch their business idea to judges drawn from the local business and civic community. The winner of the Causeway Coast and Glens heat will receive a £1,000 investment and progress to the region-wide final.

That final is scheduled for Wednesday 18 November at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, during Global Entrepreneurship Week. The 11 local heat winners will present their final pitches to a panel of expert judges, with a further £5,000 available for the overall winner.

Causeway Coast founders face 17 August pitch deadline

The competition is returning for its third year. Last year’s local heat and overall winner was Coleraine entrepreneur Sander Van Eck, whose waterproof socks company, Noord, impressed the judges.

Who can apply and what support is available

The competition is aimed at people who are still preparing to trade or whose businesses have been operating for less than two years. The source says applications are welcomed from all sectors, including social enterprises and new ideas being developed within an established business.

Applicants can also attend pitching masterclasses ahead of their local heat. These sessions are intended to help entrants prepare and strengthen their pitch before presenting to the judges.

The overall Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch winner will receive a wider prize package, including a photography session from Brian Thompson Photography, a podcast recording session from Attention X Studio NI, Toastmasters membership and media training from LK Communications.

Additional awards include the Go Succeed Impact Award for the best social enterprise, the Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award, the Go Succeed Rising Star Award for the most inspiring entrepreneur aged 16 to 25, and the Go Succeed People’s Choice Award, decided through public votes.

Dates, location and entry details

Entry deadline: 17 August 2026
Causeway Coast and Glens local heat: 7 October 2026
Local heat venue: not specified in the announcement
Regional final: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Final venue: Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy
Cost: free to enter
Eligible applicants: pre-trading and newly established businesses operating for less than two years

Entries and the full terms and conditions are available through Go Succeed’s Ultimate Pitch application page. The competition is launched by Go Succeed, Northern Ireland’s government-backed business support service, which is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 councils.

Source: Causeway Coast and Glens Council News

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Source check Source check

The event dates, eligibility, prize details and confirmed final venue were checked against the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council source.

Checks

Confirmed the 17 August entry deadline
Confirmed the 7 October local heat date
Confirmed the 18 November final at Seamus Heaney HomePlace
Separated confirmed details from the unspecified local heat venue and start time

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