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A group of entrepreneurs with ideas spanning film making, ecommerce and fashion sampling have showcased their businesses at a Newcastle event.

Founders behind 14 startups are the latest to complete Ignite's pre-accelerator programme, which aims to develop very early stage businesses that are still at concept stage or only just launched. Marking the end of the five month programme, teams were given the chance to pitch to an audience at the Boiler Shop.

Among the cohort, which received weekly workshops and mentoring as well as £10,000 equity-free funding, was Jonny Chambers with his firm Brava. The startup offers a secure way to book event tickets and facilitates services such as pre-booked drinks that are ready for collection as punters arrive at the venue.

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Mr Chambers, who is a graphic designer by trade but has also worked for online bank Monzo and as a commercial radio presenter, is now preparing to raise investment for his idea, which is born out of his experience in the events industry. Having been through business support programmes before, he said the Ignite experience was completely different.

He explained: "Because you're with these entrepreneurs in residence and mentors for five months and you have weekly sessions they really get to know you and your business. The programme very much changes and moulds around the needs of the cohort. You're not entirely sure what the next session is going to be because they can shift workshops around if they feel the cohort needs it now and not in the few months time. That's been really useful."

He added: "It's a really supportive environment in that you're encouraged to pivot - they celebrate change and if you weren't in the programme you may not necessarily have the confidence to do that pivot." Mr Chambers hailed the camaraderie among the cohort saying he had used his graphics skills to help others with pitch presentations and others had helped him in areas such as cashflow.

Brava was joined by biotech firm Affectronics, founded by Newcastle University PHD student Arthur Howard, which helps clinicians in intensive care units to care for premature babies. And online filmmaking platform Constellate, founded by Gemma McKinnie, is now looking for funding to build a prototype.