Ten entrepreneurs from across Mid and East Antrim battle to make ‘The Ultimate Pitch’

Monday 13 October 2025

Ten entrepreneurs from across Mid and East Antrim have made the local shortlist and will battle it out to make ‘The Ultimate Pitch’ in a bid to win investment for their business idea.

The winner of the local heat, taking place on 17 October at the Ecos Hub, Ballymena will secure £1,000 and progress to the regional final in November - where they’ll be in with the chance to capture another £5,000 for the overall winner.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and show their support for the finalists at the Mid and East Antrim local heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.

Admission is free, and seats can be reserved online via Glistr at https://www.glistrr.com/events/e/the-ultimate-pitch-mid-east-antrim-borough-council-local-heat-3764-42

The competition is organised by the government-backed enterprise support service Go Succeed.

Finalists in Mid and East Antrim include Mark Rain, who has developed a training programme to improve fitness and prevent falls for the over-50s; holistic therapist Kristina McClements; and Katy Little who runs The Sunflower Circle NI, which provides sensory play sessions for SEN and trauma-affected children.

Others include Philip Downes of Downes Dental; cake baker Debbie Groves of Deb Zigns; and Emma Gilmour who runs an accessibility consultancy.

They will be joined by Grainne Bankhead who has developed the Help You Home App to aid travel safety; William Mawhinney who has a business conducting hull inspections of vessels; Mark Haveron who runs a physiotherapy clinic; and John Magill who has an online clothing business.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, said: “Many congratulations to all those that have made the local heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.

“The incredible number of entries from across Mid and East Antrim illustrates the depth of entrepreneurial talent locally and shows just what an achievement it is to have been shortlisted.

“We wish the very best of luck to all finalists, and to all those entrepreneurs that took the time to enter. The future of our local economy is obviously in very safe hands.”

Heat winners from each of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils will progress to The Ultimate Pitch regional final in the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, Co Londonderry on 19 November.

The overall winner at the regional final will receive the Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch Award, £5,000 investment, and a prize package including a photography session supplied by Brian Thompson Photography, podcast recording session supplied by Attention X Studio NI, membership of Toastmasters, and a media training session supplied by LK Communications.

Winners of sub-categories at the regional final, which include the Go Succeed Impact Award for the best social enterprise, the Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award, and the Go Succeed Rising Star Award for the most inspiring 16–25-year-old entrepreneur, will also receive £1,500 towards their business idea.

Meanwhile, members of the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite regional finalist to win the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Ardmore Group, with the winner also receiving a £1,500 cash prize.

Go Succeed (www.go-succeed.com) is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland’s 11 councils. The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support – including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and business planning – at every stage of their growth journey.