Teams must attend a 90-minute pitching workshop by Firestation, the central North Island business growth centre. In addition, all teams have a one-on-one pitch coaching session to finesse their pitch.
"Attendance is free, and we make sure everyone is fed and watered with nibbles, pizza and drinks throughout the evening," McGarvie said.
Debs Brockelsby launched her business StokedNZ last December and says she is excited, as well as nervous, to pitch.
"While public speaking is really not a strong talent of mine, the brand exposure through pitching makes it well worth it.
"My business came about due to a traumatic brain injury, realising life is short and you should just do something you are truly passionate about. So, I quit my full-time job last year switched to part-time work to develop my business.
"My products come from the enjoying outdoor adventures, and the challenge of getting changed after your bike, hike or swim. The awkward towel holds, the public toilet floor avoidance manoeuvres," Brockelsby said.
"It's a towel and portable changing room all in one. It lets you get changed, wherever and whenever.
"We spent a lot of time working with fabrics before deciding on a quick drying, super absorbent, compact fabric.
"We launched in December last year and have just been blown away with demand and interest. We started with one size in four colours and have grown to seven sizes and over 50 colours."
Other pitch contestants include Tammy-Lee Homes and Cara Farrelly from Little Love Foundation, Bruce Drafting from Kiwi Pods, Danielle Campbell from SponsorhubNZ, Steve Holmes from Contribute, Te Rangikaheke Kiripatea from Kai Rotorua, Laurens Goormachtigh from Chess Minds and Heather Kremen from Amokura Glass.
Each team will have six minutes to impress the judges to showcase their business or social enterprise.
Pitch Night is on Wednesday, October 31 from 5.30pm at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. The business community is encouraged to come along and help pick the crowd favourite.
To RSVP or find out more details go to www.rotoruax.nz. Pitching Teams:
• StokedNZ - Functional towels (aka Towelies) that enable you to get changed
anywhere, wherever and whenever without flashing anyone.
• Little Love Foundation - helping families with the financial side of grieving
for a young child.
• Kiwi Pods - burial pods made from recycled materials with a range of graphic
designs applied to the outside for aesthetic and cultural appeal.
• Contribute - a fundraising crowd-funding platform for New Zealanders.
• Chess Minds - getting children and adults to enjoy chess and experience the
benefits of improved decision making and strategic choices that it can bring to
other areas in the player's life.
• Kai Rotorua - help people reconnect with healthy food by growing and
selling kumara and riwai with bigger plans to develop a food hub.
• Amokura Glass - Rotorua's only glass blowing studio.
• SponsorHubNZ - a match-making service for small business and non-profits
to facilitate sponsorship arrangements.
