East Midlands' small businesses, start ups and budding entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their business ideas to win a bespoke package of innovation support at this year's iFestival innovation EXPO (iEXPO).

The Last Business Standing competition takes place during the iEXPO on Tuesday 12 March at Athena in Leicester, as part of the annual innovation Festival (iFestival).  

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation (the region's innovation council), the iFestival celebrates the importance of innovation with a programme of over 150 events across the region between 12 March and 23 April.

Last year, two former primary teachers and mums from Nottinghamshire beat more than 50 participants with their idea to develop Piccy Plates, a range of children's tableware that would encourage healthy eating.

Over the last 12 months, Sue Amphlett and Vonny Shelley, from Piccy Products, have worked with specialist advisors and experts, including prototype engineers and market researchers, to help get their product into the market.

"Winning Last Business Standing last year really got the ball rolling in terms of moving our ideas forward," Sue explained. "We've had some invaluable financial, marketing and legal advice and we are looking forward to the tooling process and seeing our first plates come off the production line!"

Last Business Standing participants will make short pitches to a number of business advisors across a range of support services, who will score the presentation based on a number of innovation, feasibility and originality criteria. 

The person receiving the best score during Last Business Standing will win a package of innovation support best suited to develop their idea. 

"Last Business Standing gives the winner an opportunity to turn their idea into reality with the help of the region's business services, said David Wallace, Innovation Director at emda. The competition is open to anyone with a new initiative, whether they are new to the business world or have an idea to improve an existing product or service.  Judging from last year there will be a real buzz at the event.  It will be challenging for those taking part, but will also be a lot of fun and I encourage people to come along and sound out their ideas with some of the region's experts."

Sue and Vonny will be speaking at the iEXPO about the ups and downs of their journey over the last year.  

The iEXPO will bring entrepreneurs, businesses, researchers and the wider community together to talk, share information, learn and be inspired to innovate. A number of inspirational speakers will offer practical skills and advice, including Richard Noble, who rocketed to fame when, against the odds, his Thrust Supersonic Car (SSC) went supersonic. There will also be an opportunity to find out about the range of support services operating in the East Midlands.

Places at the iEXPO and to enter Last Business Standing are free but registration via www.iexpo.org.uk is required.