It’s your chance to ‘Pitch’ in

And it’s not often people of any age outside our capital cities who have ideas or business prowess are given the opportunity to “pitch” their idea or concept, which may gain them a helping hand to advance it.

After some years steering warships for the Royal Australian Navy, Wagga Wagga local Dianna Somerville found there was no platform for regional people to start-up their business or e-commerce ideas that may become income streams.

She had to head to the city to gain the know-how to start up her own business – now expanded to several based in the Wagga region.

“When I came back I realised there was no platform for regional people,” she said.

“If regional people want to pitch their idea and want to get a good profile, they had to go to the city to do it.

“That’s when I thought – why not bring that to the country?”

She took it home to the farm at Collingulie and formulated the project to run a pitch event in Wagga, giving back to the community and to profile the great ideas that are “out there”.

In June last year Ms Somerville conducted her own “Regional Pitchfest” in her home town to unearth and support local entrepreneurial talent.

There were five finalists who took the stage at that inaugural event.

“Our first winner was a 13 year-old high school student, a boy who came out with a 3D printing and robotics business,” she said.

“It was absolutely brilliant and the runners-up were two guys that developed a golfing app.

“They have just been awarded a contract with PGA in the United States.”

Ms Somerville said that first Pitchfest was a labour of love.

“I did 240 hours work for $480, but it was something I had to do for my community and the region,” she said.

“Also to educate the community on what the opportunities are out there.

“I think it was really to make people realise they can build a business online, an e-commerce and scale it to the world if they want.”

“I did not realise at the time why people from Australia Post were in the audience at the event, but later found out they were scoping opportunities to support regional innovation,” she said.

They were so blown away by what she had conducted they jumped at the chance to support the development and expansion of her idea to take it to every state and territory across Australia – the ultimate Pitchfest outcome.

DIANNA Somerville is travelling 16,000 kilometres in two weeks to dozens of regional centres promoting her idea – a Regional Pitchfest.

She is backed by Australia Post and her original concept developed in her home town of Wagga Wagga last June has now gone national.

The Australia Post Regional Pitchfest is being conducted in every state and territory and the NSW state final will be conducted at the Dubbo regional Theatre and Convention Centre on Wednesday, July 5.

Ms Somerville said Pitchfest allows people with business ideas to pitch them in front of a live audience to a stage of judges.

The winner will be awarded $5000 and progress to the national finals for a chance to win an additional $7000 cash to kick-start their business.

“As well, the national winner gains a fully-funded trip to Silicon Valley,” she said.

“If you have always had a great business idea but never thought you could pursue it, your chance has arrived.

“We want the people who are tinkering away in the back shed or on the kitchen table once the kids have gone to school. It’s your time to shine now.” 

Pitchfest launches today Monday, March 6. Apply online at regionalpitchfest.com

“An idea is great but it’s worth nothing if you do nothing with it,” Ms Sommerville said.

“It’s an event specially targeted towards regional people and supported by Australia Post who is fully behind this and dedicated to growing out e-commerce businesses in regional Australia.”

Australia Post’s small business general manager Rebecca Burrows said eCommerce was providing the opportunity for any Australian entrepreneur, no matter where they are located, to reach communities across the globe.