Pulse, WDMP and Elvis are among eight agencies which have pledged up to £50,000-worth of support for start-up businesses, in the annual “Win an Agency” competition run by the Marketing Agencies Association.
The Dragon’s Den-style scheme – now in its third year – is part of Marketing 4 Startup Britain, founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2012 to boost new business in the UK. The programme has the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron.
In the first year, two start-up firms won backing, while last year nine grabbed support.
This year, a total of 14 start-ups, selected from 130 entries, pitched their businesses to the panel of agencies at an event held at Iris head office in London late last week. Eight will now share the £50,000 prize:
CaféPod (premium instant coffee capsule brand) – WDMP
Concoction (bespoke shampoo brand) – The Lounge Group
Cornerstone (premium men’s shaving online-only brand)– Elvis
Face For Business (telephone answering service) – Initials
Honest Brew (direct mail craft beer brand)– Pulse
Nanna Kay’s (nutritious ready meals for children) – Geometry
Student Grub – (food box delivery service for students) Ignis
Tea Huggers – (high quality tea brand) RPM
Pulse, headed up by Mike Spicer (pictured), partnered with frozen vodka cocktails brand Rocktail’s in the first event. The agency explained its rationale behind choosing Honest Brew as, “we’re passionate about startup brands – and beer as well”.
Meanwhile MAA managing director Scott Knox added: “Start-up businesses always assume that good marketing is expensive and something to do when they’re bigger. But get your messaging right from the start, with a well thought out long-term strategy, and it will save you a fortune in the long run.”
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