Winners of Big Venture Challenge will get an initial £25K grant and the chance to access up to £150K of seed funding if matched by loans or equity from co-investors, plus first class business support and mentoring designed to keep pace with high growth social entrepreneurs. 

• people with big ideas to transform disadvantaged communities across England
• people who have got what it takes to build credible ventures
• people who have the ambition to scale up impact fast

If you think these could be you, visit the Big Venture Challenge website to enter.

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.

What is Dragons’ Den?

Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs’ Dragons’ Den is an idea pitching competition based on the hit BBC TV series of the same name. Students will pitch their ideas – for businesses, social enterprises, charities or individual projects – to a panel of ‘Dragons’ which includes:

• Jess Ratcliffe, a RHUL student who featured on the real Dragons’ Den
• Robin Bennett, author of Start-up Smart, who will be offering attendees the opportunity of up to an additional £5,000 business funding
• Rhiannon Horsley from UnLtd, the top UK social enterprise organisation.

The ‘Dragons’ play the role of potential investors in you and your idea. The competition takes place on Thursday 7^th October 2010 at 7pm in the Students’ Union.

How do I enter?

The competition is now closed, but you can still attend the event for fun!

What happens next?

All entrants will be given the opportunity to attend a pitching workshop on Wednesday 6^th October at 1pm in MX34. At this workshop you will learn how to pitch professionally and be given the opportunity to practise and hone your pitch. The final selection of students who will be put through to face the Dragons will be announced at the end of this workshop and emailed to any students who were unable to attend.

How do I win?

Winning ideas are likely to be those which are innovative, solve a genuine problem or meet a real need, and are likely to be achievable. Although you will not be marked on the quality of your pitch, a good pitch will help you put your idea across.

What is the format of the pitching competition?

You will pitch for just 2 minutes and will have 3 minutes to answer questions.

Who can enter?

Current students at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The UK’s Must-Attend Student Enterprise Conference

March 26-28, 2010

University College London

Sponsored by: NCGE, Lloyds TSB. FIG, UCL Advances, Meltwater, The Cube

www.nacue.com/nsec

Engage with Julie Meyer, Penny Power, Meltwater, Google, Huddle, Microsoft, UnLtd, Tata, MMC Ventures, SIFE, Smith & Williamson, Find Invest Grow, Social Enterprise Coalition, Worksnug, Enterprise UK, Groupspaces, Shell Livewire, Newspepper, The Cube, Enternships, The Next Women, Sun Microsystems, Brave New Talent, Student Hubs, eOffice and many, many more…

Network with 200 like-minded young entrepreneurs and enterprising students, global entrepreneurs, innovative corporates and leading business support organisations during a weekend of inspiring and engaging talks, workshops, debates and exhibitions. Pitch for the chance to win £1000 from Shell Livewire and chat with UnLtd to learn about how to get up to £15,000 funding for a social enterprise.

The UK’s must-attend event of 2010 for enterprising students and young entrepreneurs.

Website: www.nacue.com/nsec
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRrbpp8XoQA

UnLtd Sport Relief Awards are funded by Comic Relief and provide opportunities for young people to bring communities together, to help promote understanding.

You can apply for up to £10,000 of funding to try, shape or grow a project idea. Visit http://www.unltdsportrelief.com/ to find out more!