This competition is now closed

Online voting for the Shropshire Star’s Dragons Den-style competition is launched today, with three finalists vying for the title of Star Idea winner and a £4,000 prize.

It was a tough task, but our expert business judges have picked three finalists who have gone through to the next stage of the competition.

After a day of putting ten semi-finalists through their paces, their top three of the bunch were Heather’s Harvest, The Whisky Tasting Company and Storbord.

• Edited highlights of the three finalists’ presentations in the judging chamber can be seen below. Watch the videos and then vote for your favourite by clicking in the poll box at the bottom of this page.

From young entrepreneurs with the spark of an idea to established businesses looking to launch a new enterprise, the competition once again showcased the best business ideas in the county.

Kerry Swinton, 33, of Oakengates, was the 2009 Star Idea winner for her Teeny Beanie children's character bean bags.

From inventors who had been made redundant and were using the opportunity to start their own businesses to web-based companies offering IT solutions, the spread of entries was impressive.

Our Dragons are all experienced business people, experts in their fields, with a wealth of knowledge in dealing with different types of companies and enterprises.

They are Peter Pawsey, of the Rural Regeneration Zone; Di Thompson, of the e-Innovation Centre at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford campus and Ian Morris, of leading Shropshire accountants Turner Peachey.

Di Thompson said: “I think its wonderful what the county can produce. They are all local people who have some brilliant ideas.”

Peter Pawsey said he was encouraged by the presentations from the eight semi-finalists.

“I think that its partly about the idea and partly about the person. We had some strong people and some weaker people, but overall I’m very encouraged about the spread of businesses, but they all need some extra business support.”

Ian Morris, adding it was excellent to see so many businesses launching during difficult economic times, said: “The theme that emerged from judging day was that they know what they’re trying to sell, and they know their product, but they need help in going from there to competing in the marketplace that exists today.”

The judges have one third of the vote, the online poll accounts for another third, and the final third of the vote will be go to guests at the Shropshire Business Awards 2010 on June 4 when the winner will be announced.

• Scroll down to see the finalists’ videos – and then cast your vote.

The Whisky Tasting Company

Colin Sinclair of The Whisky Tasting Company

Click here to watch the Whisky Tasting Company entry video

Storbord

Glyn Thomas and his Storbord idea

Click here to watch the Storbord entry video

Heather’s Harvest

Heather Williams of Heather's Harvest

Click here to watch the Heather’s Harvest entry video

The closing date for voting is June 3, 2010.