Dorset Business Angels held its latest pitch event at the Bournemouth Carlton Hotel on Monday 14th September, bringing together more than 30 members, guests, sponsors and entrepreneurs for an evening of networking, founder conversations and live pitching.
The event began with DBA’s Meet the Founders networking session, giving attendees the opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs and fellow members ahead of the evening’s presentations. The Barclays Eagle Labs Demo Directory was available for investors to explore, with conversations continuing well beyond the close of the formal pitching session.
The line-up featured businesses spanning elite sports technology, education, carbon removal and functional nutrition, showcasing the breadth of sectors represented on the night.
Every business that pitched secured investor interest, with the evening generating 10 expressions of interest across the five businesses presenting.
Frank Guinn, Vice Chair of Dorset Business Angels, commented:
“What struck me most last night was the standard of due diligence questions coming from the floor across every single pitch. The level of engagement throughout the evening reflects the quality and breadth of the businesses coming through DBA.
Ten expressions of interest from five very different businesses is a strong outcome, and it gives our lead investors a great deal to consider carefully over the coming weeks.”
Among the largest responses of the night was a fast-growing functional confectionery brand, founded by an experienced FMCG team, whose approach to making nutrition simpler and more accessible resonated with investors in the room.
Equally well received was a software-only solution helping schools manage mobile phone use without confiscating devices. Presented confidently by its two young founders, the platform was developed in response to government guidance on mobile phone use in schools, blocking distracting apps and websites while keeping essential and medical functions available.
The evening also featured a business building the UK’s largest biochar platform, turning waste biomass into permanent carbon removal alongside the production of renewable heat and valuable biochar products. The company has already secured £1.8 million in contracts, grants and a debt facility.
A sports technology company, already working with England Rugby, the French Football Federation and a Formula 1 team, presented its enterprise-grade biomechanics platform, designed to help prevent injury and improve performance.
Closing the line-up was an AI assessment platform, already supporting 5,000 students across 20 schools, which set out its plans to scale after reporting a 15 percent increase in pupil progress at one education campus.
Thank you to our event sponsor TC Group, with George Clayson sharing insight into the key financial risks facing start-ups and how financial due diligence can help identify and mitigate them.
The expressions of interest generated on the night will now move into follow-up conversations between the businesses and interested investors, supported by DBA’s lead investors.
Next Event
Registration is now open for our next pitch event. Two ticket types are available, with full details on our Eventbrite page.
About Dorset Business Angels
Founded in 2013, Dorset Business Angels brings together investors and entrepreneurs to accelerate the growth of early-stage companies. As a member of the UK Business Angels Association and signatory to the Investing in Women Code, DBA hosts quarterly pitch events and provides a supportive ecosystem for both investors and founders. Entrepreneurs interested in pitching at future events should visit dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk for more information.
