Event Report: Freetown Pitch Night October 2024
Date: 10th October, 2024 | Venue: 10th Floor, Freetown City Council
The Freetown Pitch Night, held on October 10, 2024, on the 10th floor of Freetown City Council, brought together young entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals to showcase innovative startup ideas. Organized by Innovation SL, the event featured Six emerging startups pitching their business ideas to a panel of expert judges and potential investors. The top three pitchers will advance to the final stage during the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024. The evening was filled with creativity, networking opportunities, and invaluable insights for both participants and attendees.
Event Highlights
Opening Remarks
The event was kicked off by the host, Madam Francess Beresford-Renner, Communication and Project Lead at Innovation SL. She warmly welcomed everyone before introducing Mr Francis Steven George, CEO of Innovation SL, to share the event’s purpose. Mr. George briefly outlined the history and importance of Freetown Pitch Night, emphasizing that this was not a competition but a pitch presentation. He noted that the top three pitchers would compete for cash prizes in November, at the Global Entrepreneurship Week. Addressing the entrepreneurs directly, he stressed the importance of perfecting their pitching skills, stating, “As an entrepreneur, you must be good at three things: 1. Know how to pitch. 2. Know how to pitch. 3. Know how to pitch.” He underscored the value of selling ideas effectively to investors and thanked his team for organising the event. Mr John Ndabarasa, a Ugandan from the International Trade Center , was then introduced. He shared that a two-day intensive training session had been conducted to prepare the pitchers and refine their pitch decks. He mentioned their plan to continue working with these startups over the next four years, connecting them to potential investors and offering travel opportunities. He concluded by encouraging the pitchers to stay confident, reminding them that losing today does not make them losers. He added, “Pitching isn’t about being a good public speaker; it’s about convincing investors or judges that you understand your product or service.” He wrapped up by saying, “Everyone here is a winner, and I wish you all the best.”
Mr. Francis Stevens George
MD/CEO Innovation SL
Mr John Ndabarasa
International Trade Center (ITC)
After his speech, the host invited the judges to introduce themselves. The esteemed judging panel included:
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- Mr Jesse Kamara: Head of Innovation at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation
- Madam Salwa Campbell: President of the Sierra Leone United States Alumni Association
- Mr Idriss Basheer: Head of Academics at Limkokwing University
- Madam Joycee Coulson- Oluwu: Education/ Entrepreneur at IPAM, USL
The Pitchers
Six startups from various sectors—ranging from e-commerce and microfinance to plastic recycling—had five minutes each to pitch their ideas, followed by two minutes for questions from the judges. They were evaluated based on the novelty of their solutions, scalability, market potential, business model, and most importantly, how well they pitched their business. Highlights included:
TechFit (Ademola Wealth): A platform aimed at reducing unemployment in Sierra Leone by connecting recent graduates with potential employers. The judges raised concerns about job acquisition and security, to which Adenomy responded that they partner with companies and conduct thorough background checks.
Grace Family Microfinance Company SL.Ltd(Mohamed .T. Koroma): A quick loan solution targeting clients with limited access to affordable financial options. When asked about risk management, Mohammad explained that he performs background checks on every client.
Jose (Josephine .A. Magona): Addressed the difficulty of booking reservations across multiple platforms by creating a streamlined solution that allows users to make bookings without switching between apps.
StartTix (Abdulai Conteh): A platform helping event organizers sell tickets by offering a digital scanning method for easy, at-home ticket purchases. Abdullah mentioned his target market as event organizers and attendees.
Soba Eco Brick (Mohammad Sannoh): Focused on turning plastic bottles into colourful, attractive furniture for homes, bars, and resorts.
Femme Trade (Georgetta Sheriff): Designed an e-commerce platform specifically for women entrepreneurs, providing them with greater visibility and access to customers.
Judges' Feedback and Winner Announcement
The judging panel, consisting of investors, business leaders, and industry experts, offered valuable feedback to all participants. Mr. Jesse Kamara commended the pitchers for their confidence and encouraged them to continue improving their pitching skills, reminding them that this is not only important for attracting investors but also for future competitions.
At the end of the night, StartTix was announced as the winner of Freetown Pitch Night 2024. TechFit secured second place, and Green Family took third place. These three startups will advance to the grand finale in November during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024, where they will compete for cash prizes and other opportunities.
Mr. Francis Steven George, known for his passion for supporting startups, also provided opportunities for the other pitchers. The two women were invited to participate in the Dare2Aspire Women in Entrepreneurship competition in November, while the remaining pitcher was also given a spot in an upcoming event.
Madam Renner then invited Mr John Ndabarasa from International Trade Center, Madam Natalie Panda from Niras International Consulting Sweden, Mr Martin Labe, and Mr Francis Stevens George to present appreciation gifts to the judges. Following this, the judges awarded certificates to all the participants/pitchers.
Networking and Partnership Opportunities
Beyond the pitches, the event offered ample opportunities for networking. Attendees, including potential investors and corporate leaders, expressed interest in exploring collaborations with the startups. Freetown Pitch Night excels in not only showcasing innovation but also fostering long-term growth through partnerships.
CONCLUSION
The ITC pitch event successfully demonstrated the vibrancy and potential of Sierra Leone’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By providing a platform for innovative startups to present their ideas, the event not only fostered creativity and competition but also encouraged long-term collaboration through networking and mentorship opportunities. With the top three startups advancing to the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024, the event highlighted the importance of honing pitching skills and developing scalable, impactful business solutions. The involvement of experienced judges, investors, and industry professionals further reinforced the commitment to supporting entrepreneurial growth in Sierra Leone, showcasing Freetown Pitch Night as a crucial catalyst for innovation and business development in the region.
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