Find out how Startup Sussex can kickstart your new business.
About the competition
Startup Sussex is our annual entrepreneurship competition. It gives you the chance to win up to £10,000 to fund your business or social enterprise idea and access high-quality support.
Previous winners, who have gone on to success and media acclaim, include Darren Tenkorang, founder of TRIM-IT, and Lucy Hughes, founder of MarinaTex.
Prizes
The prizes are:
- first place: £5,000 plus business support
- second place: £2,500 plus business support
- third place: £1,250 plus business support
- additional prizes (up to £5,000) for ideas that demonstrate a clear focus on solving any of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals or look to generate a positive social impact on society.
There is a potential maximum of £10,000 cash in funding and business support for one entrant, if all criteria are met. Business Support includes an automatic place on the University's Summer Accelerator.
How to enter
Startup Sussex is open to you if you are a current Sussex student, or up to three years after graduation. We encourage all students with business or social enterprise ideas to apply.
To enter you must:
- submit a 20-minute Startup Sussex Business Plan
- produce a slide deck providing an insight into the set-up, running of and potential of your business or social enterprise.
- The Startup Sussex business plan
- Attend the Startup Sussex Launch Event on Tuesday 4 February 2025, 5-7pm, and sign up for topical workshops that can help you develop your business plan and application. Recorded versions will be made accessible to anyone not able to attend.
- Access the Startup Sussex Business Plan.
Each section of of this form will be scored individually, so ensure that you provide full information in each section regarding your proposal.
- Slide deck
When reviewing and scoring your slide deck, we will be assessing each of the following sections:
Hook/headline statement
A short, attention-grabbing introduction to your solution, problem/s you’re solving or the topic of your proposal – grab the reader’s attention!
Problem
A clear explanation of the key problems and pain points which you’ll be looking to solve through your solution.
Solution
A concise overview of your product, service or offering along with how this solves the problems previously identified.
Impact and progress
- An explanation of how your solution works and the benefits it provides, or impact it makes e.g linking in with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- Outline any progress you've been able to make to date in order to validate your idea e.g., undertaking market research, obtaining funding, generating sales etc.
Competition and landscape (growth opportunity/market)
- Analysis of the potential competitors for your offering, including strengths, weaknesses, and ways in which you differentiate yourself - what makes this innovative or stand out?
- Analysis of the market in which you would be operating, including realistic growth potential and forecast market share and/or revenue.
Customers
Outline and describe the identified customers/users of your service or offering; what pain points are they suffering and how does your offering resolve these?
Team and background
An introduction to the key members of the team, their role/s within the startup and relevant skills and experience.
How do you plan to spend Startup Sussex money?
- If your idea involves a social impact element, you can win up to 10k.
- Business ideas (without a social impact agenda), you can win up to 5k.
Research and statistics
Additional research, statistics and appropriate referencing of personal or external research.
Overall presentation (layout, format, imagery, branding etc)
- Look at an example of a good quality slide deck (please note, not all sections are covered in this example). You can find some additional examples of pitch decks by well-known companies, and further guidance on creating a good one.
- Your slides must include all of the sections mentioned above, in the order given, and ‘flow well’ from the reader’s perspective.
- There is a maximum limit of 15 slides.
- If shortlisted, you will be asked to produce a condensed pitch deck to use on pitching day.
The Startup Sussex team will hold a workshop to support applicants with their pitches, public speaking skills, and deck design on Tuesday 18 March 2025, 5-7pm.
Eight shortlisted applicants will be selected to pitch in front of a select panel of judges, including alumnus founders, business owners and industry experts.
Support and Guidance
Enrol on our Canvas site to watch recordings, access content and obtain further support with your application.
You can also book a 1-2-1 with a member of the team to discuss your challenges and ideas, along with receiving feedback to identify potential next steps. You can book either a face-to-face or telephone/online session.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep updated about support sessions and mentoring opportunities for Startup Sussex.
If you have any questions regarding the competition, or require any additional support or assistance with your application, please drop us an email at entrepreneurship@sussex.ac.uk
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