Get Started (Global)

Do you have an idea for a business, side hustle or freelancing opportunity? Take the first steps to make your idea a reality.

What is Get Started?

Get Started is MEC’s new online challenge-based programme that empowers you to take the first step in turning your idea into reality. Through short challenges, discover whether your idea could take flight. You can gain up to £500 and develop skills to refine your idea and leap forwards in your startup journey.

For this programme, we expect you to have an idea that you have not started to develop.

Who can apply?

• Any current student (UG, Master’s/PGT, PGR/PhD) at a University of Manchester partner institution: Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong.

What is the process?

• To participate, you will complete an initial form of short answer questions. Once you complete the form, you're in! There are no entry criteria to begin the programme.
• Completing the form will inform you of your first challenge, designed to assess the feasibility, market potential, level of innovation and creativity of your idea.
• You will have 3 weeks to complete the challenge and review. For the review, you will have access to short videos to guide you in reflecting on what you have learnt from completing the challenge and generating follow-up actions to progress the idea.
• You will submit evidence of challenge completion, your reflections and the follow-up actions.
• MEC will award up to £500 to each applicant that has actively engaged in the process and demonstrated their idea has potential to progress. The award is designed to enable you to take the next step.
• If you're pitch-ready after completing Get Started, you can apply for Ready, Set, Pitch! to pitch what you've learnt. Get Started participants get priority access to Ready, Set, Pitch! and we will hold an online version of this opportunity to enable our international partner institutions to participate. (Details will be provided to Get Started participants via email on completion of the Get Started programme.)

Have an idea? Get Started! 🚀

 

Key Dates

Get Started will launch in Semester 2 of 2024/25.

The key dates are as follows:

Activity	Date
Get Started Opens	Monday, 10th March 2025
Enrolment Period Closes*	Thursday, 10th April 2025

 

 

 

 

*Applicants have a 3 week period to complete the challenge after submitting the initial form. Your deadline will be indicated to you on submission of the form.