Brazilian delivery rider Guilherme Zogbi has won more than €10,000 from Deliveroo after taking part in the company’s first ever Big Pitch contest to include its Irish riders.

Deliveroo’s Big Pitch invites riders with new businesses or concepts to present their business case and pitch for prize money to make their entrepreneurial dream a reality. In the first such pitch open to Irish riders, Zogbi made it to the final after a selection process among 1,300 applicants, with his business idea, ‘StarCheese’, propelling him to the top of the list.

The business, which Zogbi started with his mother Miriam, produces a Brazilian delicacy called ‘pа̃o de queijo’ — a small, soft bread roll that’s made using cassava and cheese. 
 
While it began initially as a catering business, Zogbi impressed the judges with his ambitions to expand StarCheese by opening a cafe where people can sample pа̃o de queijo and get a taste of Brazilian culture. 

Zogbi said: “I was over the moon to take part in this year’s Big Pitch and present my business idea to industry experts. While I have always believed in my idea, it was heartening to get such positive feedback from Deliveroo.

“As the first Ireland-based Deliveroo rider to reach the Big Pitch final, I was very proud to represent the country which has been home to me for seven years now. I am so excited to use this funding to bring a taste of Brazil to Dublin and introduce the masses to pа̃o de queijo.”

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Country manager Breffney Brass added: “More than 60% of Deliveroo riders are interested in entrepreneurship. The Big Pitch is our way of giving those riders a way to get their idea off the ground. Deliveroo Ireland was delighted to expand the Big Pitch to riders based in Ireland this year, and needless to say we were all rooting for Guilherme.

“We’re sure his business will be a success and look forward to the day when the Irish public can order pа̃o de queijo straight from his cafe, through the Deliveroo app!” 

This year’s Big Pitch involved entrepreneurial riders from both Ireland and Britain pitching their business ideas to an expert panel including Sarah Venning, global chief digital officer at Pret A Manger, Nigel Sherwood, chief operating officer of Wagamama, and Camilla Kater, vice president for restaurant, rider and care at Deliveroo. 

The business was founded in 2013 and by now works with more than 180,000 outlets and much the same number of riders. Based in London, it operates in 11 markets, including Australia, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and the UK.