Royal Holloway students scoop £5,750 in Bright Ideas and UnLtd Awards
Posted by John King on February 16, 2011 under News, Royal Holloway Businesses | 
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Royal Holloway students have continued their run of entrepreneurial competition wins by taking top prizes in the WestFocus Bright Ideas competitions and receiving UnLtd grants totalling £5,750.
Luka Blackman-Gibbs, Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs’ President 2010-11 won a £1,000 Bright Ideas grant and £3,500 from UnLtd for Study Buddy, her pioneering online skills exchange. Luka said, “Winning these awards is a vote of confidence for Study Buddy. Being a member of Study Buddy can increase your skills base, your employability and hopefully your grades. The scheme is flexible around your timetable, you can have unlimited numbers of buddies, or just exchange quick tips in the students forums.”
Luka has received more than £7,500 in funding since starting the project from four different sources.
Louis Mech, winner of the Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs’ Dragons’ Den competition, received a £1,000 top prize in the Bright Futures competition. His VEO social enterprise gives a pair of adjustable spectacles to a person in need for every pair of sunglasses you purchase. Louis said, “VEO promises to never forget why a group of friends started this company. We were young, ambitious and out to change the world. We still are.”
Both Louis and Luka also won support and mentoring through the Startup Smart competition.
If you are thinking of starting a business and need some funding, you can get advice on entering competitions and a list of competitions you can enter.
Do you have a bright idea for a new or improved service or product, or a social enterprise or project? Put your ideas on paper and compete with your peers. You don’t need any formal business knowledge and you can enter on your own or as part of a team.