Startup Pathway
Transforming a great idea into a real business can be an exciting and rewarding journey.
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Through our Startup Pathway, we'll help you develop the skills, confidence, and support to solve problems, create value, and make your mark. You'll learn how to turn your concept into a viable, scalable venture with the guidance and network to back you along the way.
Step 1 – Explore
Ignite your inner spark
No experience needed, just curiosity. These are open to all students, whether you have an existing idea or are looking for one.
Take your first step...
Don't have an idea?
Ideas Unlocked is an in-person session to spark ideas and start exploring entrepreneurship.
Have an idea but not sure where to start?
Get Started is an online challenge-based programme to test, refine, and turn your idea into action.
Take your idea further...
Ready to present your idea?
Get Pitching is a supportive space to practise your pitch, build confidence, and get expert feedback.
Want to build your idea, fast?
Build With AI helps turn your idea into a prototype, brand and website - no coding required.
Step 2 – Build
From Idea into reality
Have an idea you’re ready to validate? Launchpad is a three-day programme to examine the problem, sharpen your proposition and gather the evidence you need to judge its potential.
Launchpad was a great way to stress-test my idea, value proposition and target customer profile. The strong focus on customer discovery pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, speak directly to potential customers, and learn how to uncover their genuine opinions, which gave me valuable insights and greater confidence in my idea.
Yoana / Faculty of Biological Sciences Student
Step 3 – Grow
Scale and Thrive
Turn your tested idea into a scalable business. Venture Builder is our accelerator for committed founders to strengthen their business model, build and test an MVP, and develop a clear route to customers, commercialisation and investment.
Time to celebrate. Venture Further Awards celebrates student entrepreneurs across all four pathways, offering funding, visibility and access to a powerful network of investors, mentors and innovators.
