Wray Forward Pitch & Rum Punch – September 2026

Pitch & Rum Punch is the perfect platform to shine a light on ground-breaking ventures.

It allows Black-owned businesses to take the stage, pitch their business in front of expert judges and connect with a diverse and dynamic crowd of founders, professionals and industry experts.

With a chance to win exciting prizes, you do not want to miss out!

So, what's up for grabs?

• £3k for the Growth Stage Business winner
• £1.5k for the Early Stage Business winner
• or £500 for the People's Choice Winner

And that's not all, this year, we're introducing an exciting new prize, The Social Media Star, designed to put you and your business at the centre of our socials and amplify your reach... will you be our star?

What to expect

• Thrilling pitches: immerse yourself in a showcase of innovation as six founders take the stage to present their incredible ventures.
• Networking: connect with a diverse and dynamic crowd of founders, professionals and industry experts. Forge meaningful connections, exchange insights and discover collaborative opportunities that could shape the future of your business.
• Supporting innovation: cheer on the founders as they compete for the chance to access a £3,000 funding pot to fuel their business dreams. Your presence and support could make all the difference in their entrepreneurial journey.

Benefits

• Gain the opportunity to pitch your business to judges, investors and professionals.
• Chance for winning founders to access up to £3,000 to propel their business.
• Opportunity to network with a range of professionals and founders, with the chance to discover collaborative opportunities to help shape the future of your business.
• Enjoy delicious cocktails (and mocktails) and unwind amongst fellow founders.

Objectives

• Offer a chance for the founders to win up to £3,000, providing tangible support and financial assistance that can significantly contribute to the growth and development of their ventures.
• Provide a platform for the six founders to effectively showcase their innovative businesses.
• Introducing founders to the Wray Forward programme and activities on offer.
• Networking with founders and other stakeholders in the Wray community.