**Update** The Skunkworks team have made the semi-final and now need your votes to see them through to the final. Click here to be taken to the voting page and add your weight to their campaign. As an incentive to vote (as if you needed one) all voters will go into a prize draw to win £10,000. Not bad..
Irish brothers Chris and Ricky Martin from Portrush, who are causing a stir in the shaping world, are now making waves further afield by being shortlisted for Richard Branson’s ‘Pitch to Rich’ competition.
The duo, who are revolutionising surfboard design and manufacture, have been stirring up admirers from way outside their normal comfort zone with both business leaders and environmentalists showing their praise for the innovative surfboards.
The ten best pitches will win a share of more than £1,000,000
Successful applicants will have a chance to pitch to Richard Branson about their vision and business ideas. The ten best pitches will win a share of more than £1,000,000 in prizes - think Dragons Den but with the wonderful niceties of Branson as your mentor.
The Skunk Works Surf Co team: From left to right – Steve, the new recruit, Thomas and brothers Ricky and Chris
The Skunkworks vision is to create the most robust, high-performance soft surfboards and stand-up-paddleboards in the world while making a minimum impact on the environment.
The team believe they can become the largest surfboard manufacturer globally, a market worth over $3 billion. By solving an industry problem they have already won more the 100k in grants to put the dreams into reality. If successful and with the backing of Branson perhaps at least they would be one step closer to that reality.
To put your weight behind the Skunkworks team jump over here and add your vote - We for one think it would be great to see a small homegrown surfboard manufacturer develop from grassroots to become a major player.
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