Dragons’ den style event for graduates in Lisburn

The event, the first of local celebrations to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, will see five local graduate entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in a bid to win £1000.

The Fly or Die event is based on the concept of the Dragon’s Den, where business men and women deliver a sales pitch to successful business owners (or Dragons) in order to secure funding for their business.

The event is part of the Lisburn City Council’s Graduate Into Business Programme, which offers a range of support activities to assist business development for graduate entrepreneurs, which is delivered through Lisburn Enterprise Organisation. Graduate into Business is part financed by Lisburn City Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.

Five lucky graduates will have the opportunity to deliver their sales pitch to a panel of three local Dragons and face some tough questioning about their business. The panel is made up of local successful business people who will judge the entrepreneurs on originality, financial viability and Entrepreneurial spirit.

Dragon for the event Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn City Council’s Economic Development Committee, comments: “in these challenging times for small businesses, our local graduates are leading the way and providing inspiration for all. New ideas, innovation, and emerging trends are all providing our graduates with ways in which they can drive their business forward. I’m looking forward to challenging the graduates on their business idea and recognising their efforts with the award of £1000.”

The remaining panel of Dragons consist of Denise Watson, sports journalist and media consultant and Andrew Robinson, Managing Director of Boomer Industries, a leading plastics extrusion company based in Lisburn.

Fly Or Die, will take place on the 17th November from 12noon in the Studio Theatre, Lagan Valley Island and is open for members of the public to attend. To register contact [email protected]