Representatives from 12 businesses selected to pitch for cash prizes at a major regional innovation event later this month got an opportunity to sharpen their pitching skills at a special workshop session.

The Fast and Furious Pitch-Off contest will take place during Venturefest East, which is being staged at Newmarket Racecourse on May 24.

In keeping with the racing theme of the venue, the winning firm will receive a prize of 1,000 Guineas (£1,050), with two runners-up each receiving 500 Guineas.

Up to three firms will also receive automatic entry into ENGIE’s Big Pitch, to be held in London in June, where they will meet members of an ENGIE investment board which has access to a multi-million pound fund.

The pitching workshop was staged at the St John’s Innovation Centre (SJIC) in Cambridge where the finalists were assisted by experts from SJIC, SETsquared and Surrey 100 in exploring their business strengths and refining the three-minute pitches they will be making on the day.

Caroline Hopkins, development director, UK and Ireland for ENGIE, who chairmed the session, said: “We are so pleased to support the inaugural event and are very impressed by the spread of technologies being given a showcase at Newmarket.

“The companies that are represented span MedTech, the Internet of Things, Big Data, Finance, Gaming and even the re-use of airplane parts. I wish all of the companies good luck and can’t wait to hear their pitches.”