UniSA - HRH Prince Andrew
Tinto and I were invited to UniSA's Pridham Hall on Hindley Street to view entrepreneurs 'pitching their innovative ideas' for Prince Andrew and others.
First of all, we have never been to Pridham Hall and discovered it was a newly built facility for the University of South Australia and quite impressive. Pool and gym located downstairs below event hall - tons of people and students buzzing around the entire building.
We did not know that Pitch@Palace was Prince Andrew's pet project. We were not aware that he was going to grace the crowd with his presence. What a delight to see this humble man, clearly excited and engaged with the bright minds wanting and willing to make a positive impact on society. Prince Andrew was most kind while on a rigorous tour of Australia's major cities on a mission looking to discover the next BEST idea to improve society.
About 12 entrepreneurs pitched their ideas on stage in front of CEOs, investors, mentors, like-minded guests, students, members of the public and, of course, Prince Andrew. Each had only 3 minutes to put forth their new, exciting idea and their 'ASK' of the audience. By the end of each very short presentation, audience members were supposed to be clear about what the speaker needed in order to move his/her idea forward...or to the next level of production. Some speakers only needed another platform or a chance to get in front of appropriate businesses. Some needed to find a path into hospitals and doctors' offices. Others needed a minimum of $20,000 while another needed close to a million. The audience was asked to vote.
Can you imagine the pressure to make an impact on one of THE most important audiences you will ever have the chance in which to present? Each speaker needed to be succinct and clear about their pitch. Not all succeeded. Everyone got their speeches in within the 3 minute time bracket; had they NOT, a bugler was standing ready, in uniform, on stage, to blast them should one miss the time frame. No one wanted that embarrassment!
The strange notion was...I suppose I had expectations and the old saying goes: IF you have expectations, they will be violated! Not always true, but...I pictured very young presenters. When I hear the word 'entrepreneur', I automatically think YOUNG. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every age was on stage, from business minds to medical students, to professors and others. Only 2 females pitched, but...I assure you they were shining stars and out performed most of the men.
One woman, already found support through Westpac, and her new model of business is to assist working mothers by offering mentors (older mothers) to walk new mothers through the process of how life changes after giving birth. An older mother is assigned to a new mother through their place of employment, offering support and advice from the moment of birth until the new mother decides to return to work. This idea, as many, came from a great need. The new Mother, the presenter, had no one in her life to assist her with the multiple changes and challenges she was facing.
Other pitches were devices to help patients deal with the high level of stress when seeing a dentist AND unable to speak throughout treatment (because the dentist has a hand in your mouth!), 3-D printers made accessible to primary students, whereby engineering concepts could be taught at early education levels, and ideas and new aids to assist people whom have had strokes that will assist them for a lifetime...instead of the short 3 - 6 month rehabilitative period. New, innovative plans for people with dimentia, devices installed in EVERY new utility vehicle that will ensure no one gets in distress or an emergency if lost in Australia's massive outback territory. We have heard the horror stories - tourists go, unprepared, wide-eyed with wonder and enthusiasm, and...some do not get out alive. There is a strong possibility that scenario will never happen again! A couple presented a universal remote that can direct drones and give instructions to other devices while using ONE hand only - sounds simple, right? Many handicapped people have high tech wheelchairs and some of these current remotes require 2 hands. The one hand remote assists the handicapped, but also allows faster response time for medical responders, too. I am only scraping the surface, but the innovative ideas were quite astounding.
Find out when Pitch@Palace meets in YOUR capital city. Amazing minds are around us - we simply need to pay closer attention or be a spectator of Pitch@Palace!
Only 8 finalists will be moving forward to the pitch boot-camp in Brisbane. Presenters throughout Australia will be chosen at the grand finals. IF I remember correctly, only 2 entrepreneurs will be invited to the U.K. to make their final pitch at the palace. How exciting for them and I cannot wait to SEE some of these new services aiding, supporting, and making our communities better, more enriched places in which to live.
Thankful we ROAMED to Adelaide. Grateful for GREAT minds living amongst us, too!
Cheers, Blanco of The Roaming Stevens...roam to your capital city and discover some excitement.
PS: Please excuse any typos.
First of all, we have never been to Pridham Hall and discovered it was a newly built facility for the University of South Australia and quite impressive. Pool and gym located downstairs below event hall - tons of people and students buzzing around the entire building.
We did not know that Pitch@Palace was Prince Andrew's pet project. We were not aware that he was going to grace the crowd with his presence. What a delight to see this humble man, clearly excited and engaged with the bright minds wanting and willing to make a positive impact on society. Prince Andrew was most kind while on a rigorous tour of Australia's major cities on a mission looking to discover the next BEST idea to improve society.
About 12 entrepreneurs pitched their ideas on stage in front of CEOs, investors, mentors, like-minded guests, students, members of the public and, of course, Prince Andrew. Each had only 3 minutes to put forth their new, exciting idea and their 'ASK' of the audience. By the end of each very short presentation, audience members were supposed to be clear about what the speaker needed in order to move his/her idea forward...or to the next level of production. Some speakers only needed another platform or a chance to get in front of appropriate businesses. Some needed to find a path into hospitals and doctors' offices. Others needed a minimum of $20,000 while another needed close to a million. The audience was asked to vote.
Can you imagine the pressure to make an impact on one of THE most important audiences you will ever have the chance in which to present? Each speaker needed to be succinct and clear about their pitch. Not all succeeded. Everyone got their speeches in within the 3 minute time bracket; had they NOT, a bugler was standing ready, in uniform, on stage, to blast them should one miss the time frame. No one wanted that embarrassment!
The strange notion was...I suppose I had expectations and the old saying goes: IF you have expectations, they will be violated! Not always true, but...I pictured very young presenters. When I hear the word 'entrepreneur', I automatically think YOUNG. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every age was on stage, from business minds to medical students, to professors and others. Only 2 females pitched, but...I assure you they were shining stars and out performed most of the men.
One woman, already found support through Westpac, and her new model of business is to assist working mothers by offering mentors (older mothers) to walk new mothers through the process of how life changes after giving birth. An older mother is assigned to a new mother through their place of employment, offering support and advice from the moment of birth until the new mother decides to return to work. This idea, as many, came from a great need. The new Mother, the presenter, had no one in her life to assist her with the multiple changes and challenges she was facing.
Other pitches were devices to help patients deal with the high level of stress when seeing a dentist AND unable to speak throughout treatment (because the dentist has a hand in your mouth!), 3-D printers made accessible to primary students, whereby engineering concepts could be taught at early education levels, and ideas and new aids to assist people whom have had strokes that will assist them for a lifetime...instead of the short 3 - 6 month rehabilitative period. New, innovative plans for people with dimentia, devices installed in EVERY new utility vehicle that will ensure no one gets in distress or an emergency if lost in Australia's massive outback territory. We have heard the horror stories - tourists go, unprepared, wide-eyed with wonder and enthusiasm, and...some do not get out alive. There is a strong possibility that scenario will never happen again! A couple presented a universal remote that can direct drones and give instructions to other devices while using ONE hand only - sounds simple, right? Many handicapped people have high tech wheelchairs and some of these current remotes require 2 hands. The one hand remote assists the handicapped, but also allows faster response time for medical responders, too. I am only scraping the surface, but the innovative ideas were quite astounding.
Find out when Pitch@Palace meets in YOUR capital city. Amazing minds are around us - we simply need to pay closer attention or be a spectator of Pitch@Palace!
Only 8 finalists will be moving forward to the pitch boot-camp in Brisbane. Presenters throughout Australia will be chosen at the grand finals. IF I remember correctly, only 2 entrepreneurs will be invited to the U.K. to make their final pitch at the palace. How exciting for them and I cannot wait to SEE some of these new services aiding, supporting, and making our communities better, more enriched places in which to live.
Thankful we ROAMED to Adelaide. Grateful for GREAT minds living amongst us, too!
Cheers, Blanco of The Roaming Stevens...roam to your capital city and discover some excitement.
PS: Please excuse any typos.
An intimate gathering of
about 200 enquiring minds!
A great day for UniSA, Adelaide,
our country, AND beyond.
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