The Virgin Media Business (VMB) Voom 2016 competition

Virgin Media Business (VMB) is calling for entries to the VMB Voom 2016 competition for a chance to Pitch to Richard Branson and win a share of £1 million (€1.2 million) in prizes.

There are two major award categories: 
Start-Up: This category is for fresh and exciting businesses that are in the early stages – you’ve either not started trading or just begun.

Grow: This category is for businesses with revenue that are looking to grow. 

Entrants may also choose to 

• Enter either the Impact Award or the Great Award.
• Raise funds for their entry via Crowdfunder.

DEADLINE

May 10, 2016.

PRIZES

The total value of the prize fund is over £1,000,000. The prize fund is broken down by Category and Awards as follows:

Grow Category

Winner:

• £250,000 advertising campaign which includes two weeks on JCDecaux’s Waterloo Motion – the biggest indoor screen in Europe. At 40M long it allows for amazing creative execution to launch the winning brands. The slots will be active for a two-week period. 
• £ 50,000 cash;
• 12 months full internet and fixed voice package from Virgin Media Business (including up to 1GB of MIA and MT Lync for up to 150 employees) valued at up to £150,000.
• Social media and PR support from Virgin Media Business;
• Mentoring from VOOM professional advisors;
• Financial advice from ICAEW

2 x Runner-up:

• £20,000 advertising campaign;
• Broadband and telecoms package from Virgin Media Business valued at up to £150,000;
• Social media and PR support from Virgin Media Business;
• Mentoring from VOOM professional advisors; and
• Financial advice from ICAEW.

Start Up Category

Winner:

• £250,000 advertising campaign including which includes two weeks on JCDecaux’s Waterloo Motion The slots will be active for a two-week period.
• £50,000 cash;
• 12 months full internet and fixed voice package from Virgin Media Business (including up to 1GB of MIA and MT Lync for up to 150 employees) valued at up to £150,000.
• Social media and PR support from Virgin Media Business;
• Mentoring from VOOM professional advisors; and
• Financial advice from ICAEW.

2 x Runner-up:

• £20,000 advertising campaign;
• Broadband and telecoms package from Virgin Media Business valued at up to £150,000;
• Social media and PR support from Virgin Media Business;
• Mentoring from VOOM professional advisors; and
• Financial advice from ICAEW.

3 x Finalists:

• Virgin StartUp Business Advisory Support and a Personal Mentor offering 2 hours of face to face mentoring over 12 months; and
• Financial advice from ICAEW.
• 20 x Semi-finalists:
• Access to a Virgin StartUp Business Adviser Session and Training Day; and
• Financial advice from ICAEW.

80 x Shortlisted Entries:

• Free membership to Virgin StartUps subscription programme 'Hive'
• ICAEW Business Advice Service –package of pro bono advice covering a range of vital issues including access to finance and grants, tax compliance, developing your business plan and how to achieve your full potential.

All entrants:

Free Virgin StartUp Digital Business Toolkit

Crowdfunder Award

Winner:

• £50,000 cash (£25,000 from Crowdfunder and £25,000 from Virgin Media Business) ; and
• Support package from Crowdfunder and its partners (JCDecaux, XERO and Crowdcube) valued at approximately £80,000 to assist with increasing the winner’s profile.

All entrants who fundraise with Crowdfunder:

Invitation to apply to Virgin StartUp for a match-funding loan of up to £5,000

VOOM Impact Award

Winner:

• All expenses paid trip to Necker Island for the winner and one guest, to attend the four day Leadership Gathering ‘Disrupting for Good’ in 2017
• Six hours of mentoring and business workshops provided by the Virgin Unite Entrepreneurs’ team; and
• The opportunity to pitch for investment to the Virgin Impact team

VOOM Great Award

Winner:

• A one-to-one mentoring session at 10 Downing Street with one of the Prime Minister’s Business Ambassadors
• An invite to attend the VIP Exporting is Great reception in 2016;
• Contact with a dedicated UKTI professional who will recommend a range of bespoke export services based on the winner’s specific company growth ambitions. These could include:

1. detailed market reports;
2. support to attend a future trade mission; and / or
3. access to a digital trade advisor to increase the winner’s company’s online presence and develop its e-commerce strategy; and

• 2 tickets for 1 days' entry to the International Festival of Business at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool on a day of the winner’s choosing between 13 June to 1 July 2016 (subject to ticket availability on the chosen date).

ELIGIBILITY

• Entrants must be

1. 18 years of age or over
2. A UK or Ireland resident with a UK or Ireland based business.

• Entrants warrant that the entry is their own original work or the original work of the business.
• Entries are to be registered in the name of the individual who will represent the entry throughout the duration of the Competition.
• If entering as a co-owner, entrants must ensure they have consent from the co-owner(s) to enter this Competition. Co-owners will not be able to participate in the later stages of the competition, there can only be one representative per entry.

JUDGING CRITERIA
For Selecting the Semi-Finalist

• Displays a strong vision and plan
• Shows evidence of ability to achieve the vision
• Displays creativity, innovation and passion
• Demonstrates that the idea is viable
• Quality of the pitch
• Meets all eligibility criteria; 

For Selecting the Finalist

• The judging criteria listed above and
• Performance in specific challenges set by the judging panel that are undertaken at the workshops;

For the VOOM Crowdfunding Award 

Shortlisted entries will be judged by a panel of judges to select the winner based on the following criteria (scored from 1-10 with weighting as specified):

• Best video (20%);
• Best rewards (20%);
• Best description (20%); and
• Crowdfunding campaign – updates, messaging and marketing (40%).

OTHER KEY DATES
The Public Vote Opens
5 April

Voting Closes
23 May. The 80 entries with the most public votes in each of the Categories will go through to the Shortlist (160 in total).

Shortlist Announced
25 May

The Pitchathon - London
1-2 June
Judges will review the Shortlist entries from each Category in order to decide the 20 semi-finalist in each Category (40 in total).

Semi-finalists Announced
3 June

Impact Award Entrants - Speed Interviews - London
6 June

Entrepreneur Semi-finalist workshops - Birmingham
13-14 June
The 20 Startup semi-finalists will attend on 13 June and the 20 Grow semi-finalists will attend on 14 June.
Judges will review the semi-finalists during the workshops in order to decide the 3 finalists in each category (6 in total) to take part in the live finale event

Impact Award entrants - Phone interviews
13 and 14 June

Finalists announced
16 June

Finale Training Day, Edinburgh
21 June

The Live Finale, London
28 June.
Richard Branson, Peter Kelly and other judges will decide the winner of each Category (2 winners). Winners will be announced.

APPLICATION INFORMATION PAGE

https://www.vmbvoom.com/

Source and Photo Credit: Virgin Media Business Voom 2016