Boutique rum distillery Illegal Tender Rum Co, was crowned winner of the WA Australia Post Regional Pitchfest event in Bunbury on Friday night.
Illegal Tender Rum Co owners Codie Palmer and Hayley Wells impressed the judges to claim the $5000 first prize and the right to represent the state at the national final in New South Wales later this year.
Mr Palmer said winning the state final was so valuable to a start-up business like theirs.
“This has been a fantastic journey so far to make great new contacts, gain practical experience and build momentum to keep the business moving forward,” he said.
The aim of the program is to find the country’s most exciting entrepreneurs, artisans and small business owners, and unearth the next big business idea to come out of regional and rural Australia.
Australia Post’s chief innovation officer Greg Sutherland was on the judging panel and said the five finalists impressed with their forward-thinking and innovative business ideas that demonstrated commercial potential.
“The winning pitch was confident, creative and a fantastic reflection of what people from regional areas can accomplish when given the opportunity,” he said.
“I think we’ve attracted some outstanding examples of regional innovation and I can’t wait to see all our winners pitch their ideas at the national final in August.”
Hovea based business SpacetoCo, a website for the listing and short-term rental of spaces, was named the runner up with a $3,500 prize. The company also won the $1,500 community choice award, which was voted for by the Bunbury audience on the night.
Among the five finalists to present their ideas to the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre crowd were local business brains Angela del Pino and Tim Hayes.
Mrs del Pino is the founder and director of Delpino’s Ethical Department Store, an online platform that aims to make it easier for shoppers to buy products from brands who work to make the world a better place.
Mr Hayes, a qualified butcher, used the pitchfest to show off his modern food dehydrator – the Wizenbox – which he hopes to sell alongside Biltong and dehydrated fruit and vegetable recipes, marinades and spices.
