Pomeroy entrepreneur makes hole-in-one to win ‘The Ultimate Pitch’ investment
Oliver Woodward, a Pomeroy-based entrepreneur, has secured £1,000 in investment
A POMEROY-BASED entrepreneur has wowed judges at the local Mid Ulster Ultimate Pitch heat, securing their place in the regional final with their business idea for an app that analyses and improves users’ golf swings.
Oliver Woodward secured £1,000 in investment for their business idea SwingSight and a place in the regional Ultimate Pitch Final in November where they’ll pitch for an additional £5,000 to grow their budding business.
The pitching competition is organised by the government-backed enterprise support service, Go Succeed.
Oliver came up with the idea for SwingSight when, as a student, he could not afford £50 to £100 an hour for golf lessons, turning to online videos to help.
Eventually, he began to build SwingSight, a platform currently under development that will turn any smartphone into an AI golf coach that diagnoses swing faults and fixes them.
Oliver was among 10 entrepreneurs from across the Mid Ulster District Council area to pitch at the local heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch, held in The Royal Hotel in Cookstown.
Among them was Shannon Gilmour of FRC Recruitment Consultancy, who won the Rising Star award.
Councillor Eva Cahoon, deputy chairperson of Mid Ulster District Council, said: “Every successful business starts with an idea - and the confidence to take that first step. We’re proud to have been able to support local entrepreneurs take that step through Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.
“Congratulations to everyone who entered and reached the local heat final, and a huge well done to Oliver on an outstanding achievement. We’re looking forward to following your journey through to the final in November!”
Heat winners from each of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils will progress to The Ultimate Pitch regional final in Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry on November 18.
The overall winner who will receive the Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch Award will also receive a prize package including a photography session supplied by Brian Thompson Photography, a podcast recording session supplied by Attention X Studio NI, membership of Toastmasters, and a media training session supplied by LK Communications.
Subcategory prizes will include the Go Succeed Social Impact Award, the Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award, the Go Succeed Rising Star Award for the most inspiring 16-25 year-old entrepreneur, and the Go Succeed People’s Choice Award for the contestant with the most public votes. Each winner will receive £1,500 towards their business idea.
Go Succeed (www.go-succeed.com) is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 councils. The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support – including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and business planning – at every stage of their growth journey.