The makers of hemp clothing, digital IDs and non-alcoholic craft beer infused with bush tucker have impressed Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and now want to prove themselves among other entrepreneurs across the globe.
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On Tuesday, 17 entrepreneurs from Queensland and the Northern Territory took part in Pitch@Palace at Bond University, which was the second time the event came to Australia.
The event was designed to give entrepreneurs an opportunity to meet with people who can help make their business dreams a reality.
The group of entrepreneurs had just a few minutes to meet with Duke before the pitch event.
“I make no bones about putting you under pressure,” he told the group.
“The whole idea is to put you under pressure. Because when you’re under pressure you perform at a much higher rate."
The Duke also told them to have fun and enjoy the experience.
They had just three minutes to make their pitch to the room full of about 200 people, including the Duke of York, business leaders and Bond University alumni.
Calls to be introduced to influencers such as Emma Watson, Prince Charles and Sir David Attenborough were also made.
Ideas including autonomous tree-planting robots, GPS safety solutions and eco-friendly yoga mats were shared, but just eight were chosen to progress as well as a wild card entry.
The nine finalists:
- Powerwells - a small off-grid energy supply system capable of delivering a basic, reliable source of power
- Kynd - an app that helps connect people with the right local carers, based on their needs
- Sobah Beverages - producer of premium non-alcoholic craft beer and other craft "adult" beverages infused with Australian bush tucker
- IDU Identification - a digital ID authenticator app to make it easier for licensed venues and their patrons
- SkyGrow - solving the world's deforestation problem with autonomous planting robots
- iStaySafe - A GPS-based safety solution to keep loved ones safe
- Folktribe Clothing - an online fashion retailer with an emphasis on environmental and humanitarian sustainability
- UPTEK - a wireless training device that uses blood flow restriction to help build muscle quicker
- SiteSee - an infrastructure analysis service to telco, towerco, power and oil gas
Sobah Beverages founder Clinton Shultz said he developed his idea for non-alcoholic craft beer about four years ago when his children asked him to stop drinking alcohol.
"I quickly realised there weren’t many adult alternatives, particularly when you go out," he said.
"I truly believe people will make better decisions around their drinking behaviour if there are more adult-tasting choices available."
Mr Shultz said despite his product being alcohol-free it was 100 per cent beer and tasted like beer.
Folktribe clothing co-founder Emma Sommerville said she lived a do no harm lifestyle and emulated that in the company's clothing products which are made of hemp, have coconut buttons and organic cotton tags.
"We figured we would start a clothing brand, we have the capacity to do it, we've got the creativity and the knowledge and we really pride ourselves on research," she said.
Ms Sommerville said botanical dyes were used on the hemp products and the product could be broken down and putt into the garden once it's worn out.
The Bond University event was the last stop of the five-leg national tour completed by the Duke.
The eight finalists and wildcard entry from the Queensland event will be part of a group of 42 entrepreneurs who will attend a boot camp event in Brisbane on Wednesday where 12 will be chosen to deliver another three-minute pitch while the remaining 30 will prepare a 30-second pitch.
On Friday evening all the entrepreneurs will deliver their pitch to an audience of investors, mentors and business executives at an event at the Brisbane State Library.
An audience vote will determine one winner to travel to the Pitch@Palace global competition in London.
