In collaboration with GEN SL, Freetown Pitch Night hosted its October event with the theme "Open Idea" at Limkokwing University of Technology Creative Technology, Hill Station, on October 11, 2023. The event kicked off with a warm welcome speech from Mr. Francis Stevens George, the MD/CEO of Innovation SL, setting the stage for an evening filled with innovation and creativity.
Partnership Announcement
Mr. Martin Michael, the Managing Director of Mercury International, announced a significant partnership with Freetown Pitch Night and GEN SL. This partnership involved providing a total seed capital of $25,000 for five sessions of FPN, with two of the sessions exclusively dedicated to female entrepreneurs.
Introduction of Judges
Ms. Lamarahna Bah, Communications Lead at Innovation SL and the host of the event, introduced the esteemed panel of judges, including Ajara Marie Bomah, Herman Chinery-Hesse, John Wearing, and Papa Njai. These judges brought a wealth of experience and expertise from various fields.
Pitchers
Seven entrepreneurs presented their innovative ideas. They had five minutes each to pitch their concepts, followed by a three-minute Q&A session with the judges.
Shanu Vandi (Connecticket SL Ltd)
● Pitch/Idea: Transforming ticketing for events with a secure and user-friendly platform.
● Judges' Questions: Gate security, ticket authenticity, and challenges in preventing unauthorised entries.
Abdul Majid Bah (Eco-waste)
● Pitch/Idea: Addressing the issue of crop suitability and soil health for farmers.
● Judges' Questions: Product cost, literacy rate among farmers, and product resilience under extreme conditions.
Victor Ikoh ("The Company")
● Pitch/Idea: Converting waste cooking oil into soaps and detergents to combat environmental pollution.
● Judges' Recommendations: Establishment of partnerships and product testing.
Alfred A. Kamara (Bullom Innovation Hub)
● Pitch/Idea: Affordable multimedia projectors for efficient learning.
● Judges' Suggestion: Use local materials for the product.
Arnold Caulker (Arnold's Renewable Energy)
● Pitch/Idea: Low-frequency inverter generator for clean and sustainable electricity.
● Judges' Questions: Safety features, product cost based on wattage, and product availability.
Oswald Dundas
● Pitch/Idea: Water Light Technology V1 and V2 Battery for clean and affordable electricity and improved waste recycling.
● Judges' Inquiries: Durability, bulb warranty, product cost, and benefits for poultry farmers.
Guest Speakers
● Emily Kumba Fanday (The Community): Shared how the $5,000 grant from a previous FPN event helped their peer-to-peer lending platform, "The Community," grow and offer loans to micro and small businesses.
● Franklyn Momoh (BeenFrankt Ltd.): Discussed how they create unique clothing from thrift garments and promote awareness about climate change with the help of grants.
Judges' Feedback/Comments
Ajara Marie Bomah, in her closing remarks, provided valuable advice to the pitchers. She emphasised the importance of captivating presentations, concise explanations, and avoiding complexity. She encouraged pitchers to brand their innovations effectively and to be aware of their direct competitors.
Winner Announcement
Certificates were presented to all pitchers, and the judges unanimously declared Oswald Dundas as the winner of the 2023 Freetown Pitch Night. Mr. Martin Michaels, MD of Mercury International, presented Oswald with a $5,000 cheque as seed capital, equivalent to 110,000 million Leones, closing the event with an atmosphere of excitement.