2. Eligibility Criteria

2.1 The competition is open to individuals aged 16 years or older.

2.2 Participants must be residents of Northern Ireland and registered on the Go Succeed service to apply. If you are not yet registered you can register here - Sign Up Today | Go Succeed (go-succeed.com)

2.3 The competition is open to those promoting a pre-trading or new start business, trading for less than 2 years by 18th August 2025.

2.4 Businesses are classified as those seeking to make profit and performing a business function including social enterprises.

2.5 Participants must attend a mandatory workshop ‘Pitch Perfect’. Dates TBC

2.6 Participants need to be available on the date of their local council heat (see dates on application form) and for the regional final on 19th November 2025.

3. Application Process

3.1 All applications must be submitted through the Go Succeed website by the specified deadline on Monday 18th August 2025.

3.2 The application requires submission of:

• A completed application form.

4. Competition Stages

4.1 Local Heats:

• 11 local council heats will be held across Council areas in Northern Ireland.
• Participants must attend a mandatory pitching workshop before the local heats.
• The finalists who will have the chance to pitch live at the local council event will be shortlisted by a panel of judges based on predefined criteria.

4.2 Regional Final:

• Winners from each local heat will compete in the regional final during Global Entrepreneurship Week on Wednesday 19th November, 2025.
• The final will include live pitching to a judging panel.

5. Judging Criteria

5.1 Initial applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• Ability to articulate your idea: Being clear and focused on what your business will offer to its market (30%)
• Understanding of target market: Clarity in identifying, understanding and addressing the needs of the target market (30%)
• Plans For Growth: What are your growth ambitions for the next 2-5 years? (20%)
• Your Goals: How you see the competition adding value to you and your business (20%)

5.2 Live pitches at the heats will be judged on the following criteria:

• Ability to articulate your idea: Being clear and focused on what your business will offer to its market (30%)
• Understanding of target market: Clarity in identifying, understanding, and addressing the needs of the target market (30%)
• Entrepreneurial mindset and presentation: Clarity and passion in the pitch (20%)
• Plans For Growth: What are your growth ambitions for the next 2-5 years? (10%)
• Ability to pitch in person: Effectiveness in delivering a compelling and engaging in-person pitch (10%)

6. Prizes and Awards

6.1 The competition includes the following prizes:

• Local Council heats: £1,000 cash prize
• Overall Winner: £5,000 cash prize, incubation space and mentoring support.
• Special Category Awards: Prizes for Youth (Go Succeed Rising Star), Social Enterprise (Go Succeed Impact Award), and Inclusive Entrepreneurship (Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award), with each winner receiving £1,500.
• People’s Choice Award: £1,500 cash prize

6.2 Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

6.3 Prize winners must sign and return a declaration accepting the terms and conditions of the award before the prize is disbursed.

7. Responsibilities of Participants

7.1 Participants must ensure that their entries are original and do not infringe on any third-party rights.

7.2 By entering the competition, participants grant the Go Succeed on behalf of the 11 Northern Ireland councils the right to use their pitch and associated materials for promotional purposes.

8. General Conditions

8.1 Belfast City Council reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions at any time.

8.2 The competition may be cancelled or postponed at the discretion of the organisers.

8.3 Any disputes arising from the competition will be governed by the laws of Northern Ireland.