THE founders of the world's leading business plan and ideas competition for entrepreneurs wanting to enter the security market will be attending a North East investment conference next week.
Janeen Chupa and Simon Schneider, co-founders of The Global Security Challenge, will be looking for regional innovation talent at the CONNECT North East Investing in a Secure Future conference, being held at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, on April 28.
They launched The Global Security Challenge (GSC) at London Business School in 2006 to find and select the most promising security technology start-ups in the world.
Companies with an innovative technology idea that can help protect people are invited to enter the 2009 GSC Best Security Start-up Award where they could win a $500,000 cash prize and venture capital mentoring award provided by the US Government’s security organisation the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG).
"Start-ups can be a major driver of innovation in security," said Ms Chupa. "But at present it can be difficult for entrepreneurs to break through the barriers of large integrators and government buyers. So technology that could be making us all safer might not reach the public.
"Through the GSC Best Security Start-up award, we hope to bring these companies to the forefront of people’s minds and we are hoping to find potential entrants in the North East."
Innovators interested in entering the competition should attend the conference at Hardwick Hall where they will be able to meet with Janeen and Simon to discuss the opportunities.
Caroline Theobald, managing director of Bridge Club Ltd which is delivering the CONNECT North East project, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for young technology companies in the region. Whilst there is only one winner each year in the GSC, everyone who participates gains something from it. Many of the runners-up have raised funding and taken their idea to market using their GSC credentials to strengthen their appeal.
"Anyone with a start-up company focussing on making people’s lives safer and more secure will get a tremendous amount out of the Investing in a Secure Future conference."