#VOOM Pitchathon: a world record attempt

 

Just when you thought Virgin Media Business VOOM 2016 couldn’t get more exciting, we’re beyond thrilled to see our Head of Investment, Andy Fishburn, take part in a world record attempt today – for the longest ever pitch.

 

For 29 hours straight three core judges will watch entrepreneurs from all over the UK pitch their business ideas. They’ll be joined by 9 guest judges who will swap in and out. No sleep, minimal breaks – just 29 hours of exciting ideas, and a chance to get in the record books. It’s an amazing opportunity for the businesses pitching as well, as they’ll get their ideas in front of some of the UK’s most respected businesspeople.

 

So without further ado, the brave core judges overseeing the whole 29 hours are:

 

Andy Fishburn, Head of Investment at Virgin StartUp

@andyfishburn

A former chartered accountant for PwC and Deloitte, Andy is now Head of Investment at Virgin StartUp. He’s also dabbled with entrepreneurship himself, including a venture called ‘My Club Mail’, an online service for football fans.

 

Julie Deane OBE, founder The Cambridge Satchel Company

@CamSatchelCo

From starting out at the kitchen table with just £600 to becoming a global brand, the story of The Cambridge Satchel Company is a true British success. Julie’s iconic bags have graced celebrities and mere mortals alike, and their distinctive style and commitment to quality makes them instantly recognisable.

 

Peter Kelly, managing director of Virgin Media Business

@PeterJohnKelly

Peter has been helping the UK’s businesses #VOOM for 25 years, driving Virgin Media Business forward to become a major player on the UK’s business connectivity field.

 

These three judges will be joined by:

 

Jamal Edwards MBE, Founder of SBTV 
@jamaledwards

From starting out by filming his friends rapping at the age of 15, Jama’s YouTube channel SBTV now has a fan base of over 693,000, seeing over 388 million views. He’s a champion of many causes, including the Prince’s Trust.

Natalie Campbell, Founder of A Very Good Company
@NatDCampbell

A world where people can feel good, live better, and do good – that’s the vision of A Very Good Company (AVGC), a global social innovation agency whose Clients include M&S, Channel 4 and Virgin.

 

Jonathan SacconeJoly, Digital Influencer and YouTuber 
@JonathanJoly

 

Jonathan is a YouTube star with over 1.5 subscribers, uploading videos every day – including ones of his marriage proposal and the births of his children.

 

 

Peter Williams, Founder of Jack Wills 
@JackWills

Peter started iconic brand Jack Wills in 1999. From £40,000 of savings and a handful of credit cards, Jack Wills has gone from a single shop in Devon to a global brand.
 

Gavan Smyth, VP of VMB Ireland 
@vmbusiness 
 

Virgin Media Ireland is a leading provider of business services to the Irish market, and Gavan oversees the B2B division.

 
Gavin Carpenter, Chief Executive of Phonovation 
@Phonovation

Gavin has extensive international industry knowledge, having worked for Esat Telecom, Energis and COLT Telecom. For Phonovation, Gavin has successfully launched numerous new services. 
 
 

Zen Terrelonge, Reporter at Real Business 
@ZenTerrelonge

 

Zen is is a journalist at Real Business, the UK’s most visited SME website, Zen Terrelonge receives pitches from business leaders on a daily basis, and is no stranger to entrepreneurial stories.
 
 

Dina Tokio, Digital Influencer and YouTuber 
@dinatokio

Dina inspires young girls to mix fashion with faith. She advocated the ‘hijab’ and the concept of modest dressing, and through social media she showcases the life of a cosmopolitan muslim woman.

 

Sharmadean Reid, Founder of WAH Nails 
@sharmadeanreid

Sharmadean started her own fanzine called WAH to promote women in creative industries after graduating from St Martins, eventually opening WAH as a nail art salon and creative space. There are now WAH Nails salons in London, Dublin and Tokyo, and a WAH product line in Boots.