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Pitchers Hitting Home Runs - Vic Pitch '08 Announces Winners

Melbourne, Victoria (PRWEB) August 16, 2008 -- Five of Victoria's inventive small businesses 'pitched' their ideas to a panel of industry experts and potential investors at Vic Pitch '08 on August 7.

Launched at the Treasury Theatre, Melbourne by Joe Helper MP, Minister for Small Business, the Vic Pitch '08 challenge saw Humanitee take out the grand prize for their innovative pitch, followed by ICT Distribution Pty Ltd and Counsel Link Pty Ltd, in second and third places respectively.

Humanitee (http://www.humanitee.com.au/) produce high quality clothing using organic fabrics and fair trade business principles. Their styles are modern classics, designed to be versatile and long lasting and the business model values social, environmental and fiscal profit equally. Second prize winner, ICT Distribution Pty Ltd is Telstra's largest distributor of business products across their mobility, fixed and data suite. With a network of 500 IT skilled channel partners utilising ICT's connection services, ICT has a competitive advantage and significant market potential for growth. Third prize winner Counsel Link Pty Ltd provide an online counselling service that will match clients with psychologists, enabling them to meet online anonymously and effectively, regardless of location.

"These businesses represent not only the calibre of entrants to this year's competition, but also the quality of businesses emerging in the Victorian market," Small Business Minister Joe Helper said.

Each winner will receive access to the Pitch '08 development pathway, to fast-track the growth of their business and offer them a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Winner Peter Abbott of Humanitee couldn't be happier with the outcome of this year's competition, stating, "Being a part of the Pitch '08 process has enabled us to analyse our business more closely, in particular, our focus on the investor. Pitch '08 has also helped us to connect with a wide network of other entrepreneurs, business mentors and investors."

Humanitee has won a listing on Australian Small Scale Offerings Board (ASSOB) and corporate multimedia package, valued at $40,000 (based on an average of $500,000 capital raising), while runner-up, ICT Distribution Pty Ltd won a listing on ASSOB valued at $11,000, and third-place winner, Counsel Link Pty Ltd received a listing on ASSOB valued at $10,000.

The 10 businesses who were short-listed for Vic Pitch 08 all received business mentoring through ASSOB, access to Victorian Government resources as well as presentation and pitch training in the lead up to the event. Five finalists were then selected to present their ideas on the day and be eligible for one of the winners' prizes.

Pitch '08 will continue next in NSW on September 6. For further details about this event, please visit www.pitch08.com.au.

Interview opportunities are available with:

- Peter Abbott, Humanitee, first prize winner

- Ben O'Leary, ICT Distribution Pty Ltd, second prize winner

- Alison Hardacre, Counsel Link Pty Ltd, third prize winner

- Kate Ingham, Director, Vic Pitch '08

- Brookes McTavish, Managing Director, Australian Small Scale Offerings Board Limited

For further information, interview opportunities or images of the event please contact:

Philippa Giles

Pitch '08

P: 02 8920 2623

M: 0402 828 434

E: philippa.giles@pitch08.com.au

Event Hosting Partners

Victorian Government's Energise Enterprise 08 is a small business festival held annually throughout August. It comprises hundreds of events staged in regional and metropolitan Victoria aimed at providing inspiration, ideas and information on how to start or grow a business. Energise Enterprise 08 is an initiative of The Victorian Government. http://www.business.vic.gov.au/energise

The Australian Small Scale Offerings Board Limited

The Australian Small Scale Offerings Board (ASSOB) provides an organised platform for investors to gain information about early-stage investment opportunities in some of Australia's most innovative and fast-growing unlisted companies. Using the ASSOB system, an unlisted company is able to raise up to $5 million each year by selling its securities through a simple and affordable process. ASSOB utilises the fund-raising provisions of the Corporations Act, 2001 and accords its exemptive relief under Class Order 02/273 of Section 708 to companies listed on the Board, allowing them to bring their investment opportunity to the attention of interested investors. See http://www.assob.com.au

Terms and Conditions

For full competition terms and conditions please visit http://www.pitch08.com.au

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