Roaring into 2022 and poised to pounce on the South East…
Network Xpress, a business founded in Sussex and the brand behind the Sussex Business Show has grown into a well-known innovator and disruptor for businesses in the South, bringing new ideas and concepts to tradeshows and events alike. The company offers game focused business expos with a range of themes such as golf, tennis, billiards and football.
With the downtime in business Sonny Cutting, the Founder of Network Xpress has been very busy with his brand, and has created the Sussex Business Show website as it develops new innovative ideas and additions to help, support and inspire both start-ups to larger scale organisations. Going from strength to strength, Network Xpress now offer businesses the opportunity to pitch for investment capital, gain invaluable business mentoring and be entered into the wild card for ‘Best Pitch of the Day’; our Tiger’s Pen event.
The Tiger’s Pen – Start-up Investment Hub
Sonny was always intrigued by the BBC programme Dragons’ Den, watching in anticipation to see how the process unfolded for its participants. Sonny was thrilled to be invited by Pete Jenkins, creator of Gamification+, to be a ‘Dragon’, alongside several other business individuals at Brighton University where graduates would pitch business plans in the hope for investment and guidance from some individuals with experience to share.
Later whilst walking with his children, an epiphany hit Sonny. With an orange brand already, a love for tigers and an enjoyment of Dragons’ Den, a fizz of something being created became a spark and Sonny had a eureka moment creating the Tiger’s Pen. A multitude of obstacles were overcome in order to bring the ‘Pen’ to fruition including, but not limited to, setting up branding, finding investors, sponsors and candidates etc.
The Tiger’s Pen was originally designed for tech start-ups, but this has recently expanded to all types of start-ups looking for investment, and some Tigers to guide, advise and invest.
Thus far, The Tiger’s Pen has helped several businesses flourish to meet their full capacity. Next year, investment is increasing with capital of up to £5,000 available for start-ups who pitch their ideas. This opportunity is for incredible energetic entrepreneurs to take the reins of their business. A brand-new website has just gone live with the process slightly changing in 2022 to allow start-ups to access business resources pre-event with a training and pre-pitch opportunity. The jungle is alive with fresh prospects and with new investor Tigers requesting to join the pack, keep your ears peeled for their roars.
A few investors that have joined in 2020 include Penina Shepherd of Acumen Business Law, Wesley Atkinson of Adapt Fitness, Emma Pearce of Pearce Marketing, Simon Rand of Kuuleats, Matt Turner of the Creative Group and Kevin Byrne, the founder of Checkatrade. With everything falling into place for the Tiger’s Pen, more amazing news was to follow with the announcement of The Tiger’s Pen being accepted by the IPO (Intellectual Property Office) which has the brand now registered and protected. The Pen are now on the lookout for start-ups, and some tech orientated companies, as the last company to win the day was a VR company, and we would very much like to see the tech format continue.
Network Xpress has been hosting four events annually for the past five years, three B2B expos for East, West and Mid Sussex and the Sussex Entrepreneurs Conference held at Malmaison in Brighton Marina, but due to personal circumstance, Sonny has decided to go ‘all in’ with one annual county business event with a casino theme for some glitz and glamour, and The Tiger’s Pen will showcase on the day as it’s a big part of the show.
If you’d like to be involved in the next Tiger’s Pen, please contact Sonny Cutting, Event Director at Network Xpress for your chance to Enter the Pen!
Visit the new website – https://www.sussexbizshow.com – Or call 01273 833 222.