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Pitch your business to win
Ulster Bank Accelerator Pitch competition
Get a slice of the £60k pie
Have you got brilliant ideas and a burning passion to grow your business? Yes? Then it sounds like you're ready to enter!
To enter, send us a 60-second video telling us how the funding will grow your business and complete a short profile form.
Our judges will select 12 Semi-Finalist based on the strongest presentation of how the funding will help their business grow and who can demonstrate a strong track record of setting and achieving their business goals. Those Semi-Finalist will be invited to attend a semi-final event at Ulster Bank Accelerator Hub on 10th March 2026.
A public vote will open one week prior to the semi-final event, where by the public can vote for their favourite shortlisted candidate. Voting will take place via the Belfast Telegraph Website.
The winner of the public vote will automatically secure a place in the final. All other 11 shortlisted candidates will have to deliver a 60 second pitch followed by a 3 minute Q&A session. Following this 3 business will be selected to progress to the live final by the judging panel.
All 4 semi-final winners will progress to the live final at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards being held at Crowne Plaza Belfast, 117 Milltown Road, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast, BT8 7XP on 25 March 2026 as the Finalists.
At the live events, the Finalist will get up to 4 minutes (comprised of a 60 second pitch and up to a 3-minute Q&A) to deliver their pitch about their business journey, how the prize money will grow their business and why they should win and have a Q&A with the judges. At the final the audience will play an active role in deciding the winners. Public voting will be combined with judges’ scores to determine the winners.
Judges’ decision is final.
Who can enter?
You’ll need to be:
- A registered Limited Company in Northern Ireland
- Incorporated between one to five years (trading between January 2021 and January 2025)
- Turning over up to a £1m
- 18 or over and a UK resident
- You don’t have to be an Ulster Bank customer to apply
You must not be a Strategic Partner, an employee of NatWest Bank Group of companies, their families or anyone associated with this competition.
If you have been a Finalist or have won a prize in another NatWest/Ulster Bank Accelerator Pitch Competition you are not eligible to participate in this or any future competitions.
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Specific competition terms and conditions will apply. Read the full terms and conditions.
The prizes
Our winners of Ulster Bank Accelerator Pitch will walk away with…
- 1st place - £50,000
- 2nd place - £5,000
- Two runner up prizes - £2,500 each
Monetary prizes will be in the form of a grant, and will be paid via BACS transfer which will take between two-three working days to be received in winners account, subject to winners providing full business account name, account number and sort code in a prompt and timely manner.
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What do I need to commit to?
Please note, applicants successful in reaching the semi-finals and finals will be required to:
- Attend live semi-final and final pitch day
- Respond in a timely manner to pre-event invites and communication
- Feature in media activity including but not limited to, print, online and broadcast opportunities. Winners will need to commit a total of no more than 4 hours to PR & Marketing initiatives until the end of 2027.
- Take part in video content creation including but not limited to, the day of the live finals and post event follow-ups
- Respond in a timely manner to Ulster Bank communication following the competition for future media activity.
Impress us with your business
Who are you and what’s your business all about? Keep it short and punchy.
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Boast like a boss
Don’t be modest. Share your successes and milestones. What makes your business stand out?
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Getting biggie with it
If you win the cash, what are you going to do with it? How will it help you grow and by how much?
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What's so special about you?
Why should the judges choose you over everyone else? What’s your USP?
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General Guidance
- Be Authentic: Let your passion and personality shine through
- Be Clear and Concise: Stick to your most powerful points and make every second count. Remember your video shouldn't be longer than 60-seconds
- Be Specific: Provide a clear plan and vision
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How to film
- Good Lighting: Ensure you’re in a well-lit space, facing the light source
- Clear Sound: Choose a quiet location to avoid background noise
- Steady Camera: Use a tripod or place your camera/phone on a stable surface
- Framing: Position the camera at eye level and make sure you're centred in the frame
- Practice: Do a few practice runs to get comfortable
*File size guidance – maximum of 60mb
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