Metro launches Venture Candy entrepreneur contest
Free newspaper Metro is launching an initiative under the banner Venture Candy to help find business and entrepreneurs for the future.
The project launches on 16 March and will see Metro invite aspiring business owners to submit applications online.They will have the chance to win prizes that can help their business grow, including their own advertising campaign.
The panel of judges includes founder of mysinglefriend.com Sarah Beeny, director of Innocent Richard Reed, joint CEO of Outsourcery Piers Linney and founder of JoJo Maman Bébe Laura Tenison. They will select the best three proposals from each of five categories.
Venture Candy has been created to help entrepreneurs with the exposure, profile and support “to transform themselves into talked about brands.”
The newspaper will drive entries through in-paper and online promotions. Entrants will have four weeks to submit their applications across the five categories.These are design and technology, fashion & interiors, food & drink, health & beauty and green.
The Top 15 chosen by the judges will be featured in Metro across a week and readers will be encouraged to vote for the people and products they want to see succeed.
The five winners will receive an ad campaign valued at £50,000, marketing and branding help, mentorship, service support and membership of premier business clubs.
The winner will also receive support from The Scarlett Mark, who co-created and designed the project with Metro.
The Top 100 entrants will have their businesses reviewed by a panel of investors, with the potential for their businesses to receive independent investment.
Recently appointed head of brand extensions Sarah Divan says: “Venture Candy is all about celebrating the urban lifestyle entrepreneur.”
Associated Newspapers, publisher of Metro, has just won the tender awarded by Transport for London for exclusive distribution rights of the newspaper on London Underground.
