A BASINGSTOKE wedding and lifestyle photographer is focused on Richard Branson’s Pitch To Rich competition.

Natasha Newland of Ikonworks hopes to be in with a chance of winning a £250,000 marketing campaign.

Virgin Media Business, which is a subsidiary of Virgin Media, headquartered in Hook, launched an accelerator fund of £1million, and is offering up to £250,000 to entrepreneurs who impress Virgin boss Richard Branson and a panel of start-up judges. It will also provide internet and mobile services to the winning businesses.

There are three categories comprising start-ups, for early-stage businesses, new things, for disruptive ideas and grow, for established, growing businesses.

The funding prize varies for each category, with £150,000 available to the winning start-up, £50,000 for disruptive ideas and £250,000 for a growing business.

“I know exactly where I want my business to be and I know I’ve got the skills and experience to get it there,” explains Natasha.

“The Pitch To Rich concept is absolutely fantastic and there was no way I’m going to pass up the opportunity of growing my business with some help from someone who I believe is the consummate entrepreneur.”

Natasha founded her business in 2009 whilst working as a PA but stepped away from her executive support career in 2012 to concentrate solely on photography. Since then, her work has been seen on magazine covers, in a wedding and lifestyle magazines and on some of the UK’s major wedding blogs. She’s also been commissioned to attend fashion shows and events with her camera in hand to produce images for publication.

Natasha said she knows exactly how she would like Ikonworks to develop, adding winning The competition would transform her photography business “in a flash.”

To view Natasha’s Pitch and to vote for her, visit virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/grow/ikonworks/

Stella James , who has developed a gaming app teaching children about online safety and the dangers called Gooseberry Planet is also a contender for the competition.

To vote for Stella visit virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/start-up/gooseberry-planet-/