Student entrepreneurs will pitch for a share of £75,000 in start-up funding at the University of Bristol's 'Innovation Showcase 2023.'
During the public event on May 9, a dozen student ventures will pitch to a panel of business experts in a Dragon's Den-style competition. The day will also see an exhibition of business ideas from final year students at the University's Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and its student start-up incubator Runway.
Mark Neild, programme director for Runway, said: “Runway is all about helping our students and recent graduates have an impact in the world beyond their academic attainment. We are constantly amazed by their brilliant ideas to solve some of our pressing challenges.
“Every day, Bristol graduates are changing the world with their business ideas. The Innovation Showcase will help the next crop of budding change-makers on their way.”
Ideas that will be presented during the day include the reimagining of live classical music, using AI to teach disengaged children and new tech to help the hard of hearing.
The £75,000 grant funding has been donated by University of Bristol alumni and the Jim and Peggy Wilkinson Innovation Fund, established by the late Mr and Mrs Wilkinson to help "exciting ideas get off the ground."
The winners will be announced on the day and will be picked by a panel of University alumni who have gone on to business success.
Graduates from the University’s Innovation courses have raised £3m in funding over the last three years. Alumni include PEEQUAL, the makers of the UK’s first female urinal, and Kaedim, which slashes the time needed to make 3D models.
Earlier this week (April 3) a University of Bristol spin out secured £6.7m to continue its work to change how smartphones and wearable tech is designed.
It was also announced that the University of Bristol had signed a £500m deal with construction company Sir Robert McAlpine for the development of its Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.
Read next:
Construction firm Winvic elected for Bristol student accommodation works
Exeter entrepreneur launches elite Devon event for South West businesses
Bristol-based e-commerce agency The Pixel eyes growth after management buyout
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.
