Posted by John King on February 7, 2011 under Competitions | 
Springboard is a mentorship-led accelerator program for startups, providing seed capital, office space and a “smart-community” with mentors and other entrepreneurs.
Springboard comes in the shape of an intensive 13 week programme based at the inspirational ideaSpace, part of Cambridge University’s state-of-the-art Hauser Forum. It’s the product of learning from other accelerator programs (specifically Y Combinator and TechStars in the US and the Difference Engine in the UK) and adapting them to fit an international environment.
Historically, over 50% of the starts up who enter these programmes have succeeded in raising capital in the next round of funding. Alongside this each founder is provided with £5,000 (up to a maximum of three founders per startup). The founders move to Cambridge for the 13 week programme where they receive intense mentoring and business support.
Springboard culminates in an Investor Day where the teams get to present to venture capitalists and angel investors.
Applications for the Spring 2011 intake are open now.
Posted by Florian Jensen on February 1, 2011 under News |
Your chance to win £10,000!
NACUE’s National Varsity Pitch Competition is the UK’s premier start-up competition for university students and graduates across the country. It celebrates university enterprise by showcasing the brightest young minds and the breadth of businesses coming out of UK universities.
Young entrepreneurs will compete in one of seven industry semi-finals and seven finalists will have the opportunity to move on to the national finale in May 2011 after receiving a full day of training, one-on-one mentorship and coaching. Pitching to a panel of judges made up of some of the UK’s foremost entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and media personalities, the finalists will pitch for seedfunding, startup support and the National Title.
More information & how to apply here.
Posted by John King on under Competitions, Royal Holloway Businesses |
Royal Holloway students have won several awards at the national Startup Smart competition run by author and entrepreneur, Robin Bennett. The prizes will include help with set up costs, including help approaching investors, professional planning to get the company off the ground, one year’s mentoring, hands-on support when required and access to business networking.
The winners include:
- Study Buddy, a peer skills exchange run by Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs’ President Luka Blackman-Gibbs
- VEO eyewear, a social enterprise brand run by Louis Mech
- Michaela Belony’s natural haircare products for Afro-Caribbean people
Also shortlisted was last years’ President Jack Lenox, for eNovella, the online literary magazine and social network.
Congratulations to all our winner, who won more than half the prizes! If you want to emulate them then visit the Royal Holloway competitions page.
