September 26, 2017

A Royal welcome as entrepreneurs head to UOW for Pitch@Palace

HRH, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attends Pitch@Palace boot camp in Wollongong. 

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has become Australia's entrepreneurship capital today, hosting His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, Duke Of York, along with prominent Australian business people and budding entrepreneurs for the Pitch@Palace Australia 1.0 Boot Camp.

Entrepreneurs representing the 24 finalist businesses from Pitch@Palace Australia 1.0 On Tour events have descended on UOW’s Innovation Campus for the opportunity to work with Pitch@Palace ‘Elevators’ — all prominent Australian business people and entrepreneurs — to refine their ‘pitch’ before presenting to His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, in the afternoon.

Twelve finalists will then take their honed pitches to the Pitch@Palace Australia 1.0 Final in Sydney on Thursday 28 September, where they will have the opportunity to pitch their business and connect with influencers who can support them with its development.

Two will then be selected to attend Pitch@Palace Global at St James’ Palace in London, United Kingdom on 6 December 2017.

In addition to attending the Pitch@Palace Boot Camp, the Duke of York received a formal civic welcome from Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery at Wollongong Art Gallery, officially launched UOW’s new Global Leaders Education and Development (GoLEaD) Program, met with senior University staff and toured parts of the University’s picturesque campus.

University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, said the University was honoured to welcome the His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

“As a university that has always sought to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship among its graduates, to welcome such a prominent international business and entrepreneurship leader and host such a successful international entrepreneurship program as Pitch@Palace is a truly great honour,” Professor Wellings said.

UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Strategy), Professor Alex Frino, was instrumental in bringing in Pitch@Palace to Australia.

“I was fortunate enough to attend a Pitch@Palace event in London in 2016. The level of excitement and enthusiasm in the room was most inspiring.

“The idea to bring the event to Australia was immediate and I am thrilled that, together with my contemporaries from some of Australia’s best universities, we have been able to bring Pitch@Palace to Australia and to Wollongong,” Professor Frino said.

Founded in the United Kingdom by the Duke in 2014, Pitch@Palace has already given more than 400 tech entrepreneurs the kick start they need, exposing them to some of the world's most powerful CEOs, influencers, mentors and business partners, and as a result, supporting their growth and connection into the global stage.