THE five finalists for the WA Pitch ’08 competition have been announced, with a winner to be decided at the WA State Library on July 11. The five finalists are biopharmaceutical company Alzhyme, agriculture company CockySmart, animation and multimedia education company Finn Cragg, environmental technology engineers Spartel, and Skylifter. Skylifter director Jeremy Fitton will pitch the company’s motorised gas balloon transport device, which is still in the development stage. Alzhyme, which will be represented by Dr Greg Thomas, commercialises novel compounds for use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, while CockySmart’s product, which eradicates fleas, lice and ticks from livestock, will be pitched by John Chamberlain. Lyn Hawkins of Finn Cragg will present the company’s educational animations and multimedia, while Dr Harrie Hofstede will present Spatel’s in-venue glass management system, which aims to provide cost savings and environmental benefits for those within the hospitality industry. The finalists will pitch their product, business or idea to a panel of judges, with the winner awarded a listing on the Australian Small Scale Offerings Board, valued at $40,000. Second and third placegetters will also be awarded, receiving a listing valued at $11,000 and $10,000 respectively. Pitch ’08 assessor Angela Hartnett said the final five presentations had significant potential in the market. “Our final five presentations were rich and diverse and have been chosen because they reflected innovation, a mature business outlook and significant market potential,” she said.