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Yachting Ventures To Host Inaugural Start-Up Pitching Competition at IBEX

This competition aims to showcase new innovations and provide start-ups with opportunities to connect with industry experts, investors, and potential partners.

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), North America's premier technical trade event for the recreational marine industry, will be held on October 1-3, 2024, at the Tampa Convention Center. The event will host over 700 exhibiting companies and expects an attendance of 8,000 industry professionals, providing a key platform for networking and business development. 


This year, IBEX is enhancing its support for emerging businesses and new technologies by introducing a Start-Up Pavilion, initially launched at their sister show, METSTRADE. The Pavilion will feature 12 start-ups presenting their innovations and products throughout the 3-day event, offering them a chance to gain exposure in the US market and attract potential investment.


Tampa is a renowned hub for start-ups in the US, presenting many opportunities for new businesses. IBEX seeks to strengthen the recreational marine start-up ecosystem by providing a platform for 12 start-ups to network and gain visibility. The start-ups in the Pavilion have been selected by Yachting Ventures, who will also host a pitching competition during the event. This competition aims to showcase new innovations and provide start-ups with opportunities to connect with industry experts, investors, and potential partners.


The pitching competition will take place on the second day of the show, Wednesday 4th October, on the Main Stage from 2-3:30pm. The opportunity is open to 4-5 start-ups, who will be presenting their products and solutions to a panel of investors and industry leaders.. Yachting Ventures will source judges from Tampa's local investor ecosystem who will evaluate the pitches based on criteria such as uniqueness, market potential, scalability, and overall impact on the leisure marine industry.


Yachting Ventures founder Gabbi Richardson comments: “We are excited to return to the US after our debut pitching competition at the Miami Boat Show earlier this year, and we see lots of potential in this market for the start-ups in our ecosystem. IBEX presents a fantastic opportunity for emerging businesses to tap into the thriving US market and gain invaluable feedback from industry professionals and potential investors.” 


If you are a start-up raising finance, we invite you to apply to pitch at IBEX 2024. The winning start-up will receive potential funding and significant media coverage across both Yachting Ventures and IBEX media channels.


The application deadline is August 31, 2024, you can apply here. The selection process will involve a thorough evaluation by the Yachting Ventures team, who will shortlist the most promising start-ups to participate in the competition. 


For more information about pitching, please contact: hello@yachtingventures.co


For more information on IBEX, visit: https://www.ibexshow.com/


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