Students from the winning team, FITLINK, with their trophies
With July’s graduation ceremonies just around the corner, 140 final-year University of Sussex Business School students on the New Venture Creation and Business Planning module were given an opportunity to refine their entrepreneurial skills at a 'Dragons’ Den'-style event.
Running over two days in May, the event challenged the budding entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of business and academic experts, including:
- Maya Cara, Lecturer in Strategy, University of Sussex Business School
- Sam Knowles, Managing Director, Insight Agents
- Monica Masucci, Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, University of Sussex Business School
- René Moolenaar, Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Sussex Business School
- Lucy Paine, Catalyst Programme Manager, Sussex Innovation Centre
- Maria Restuccia, Lecturer in Marketing, University of Sussex Business School
- Carlos Saba, Co-Founder, The Happy Startup School
- John Tate, CEO, Tate Technology Ltd
- Shova Thapa Karki, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, University of Sussex Business School
- Claire Tingsager, Teaching Fellow, University of Sussex Business School
- Lydia Wakefield, Education and Training Manager, IPSE
The winning pitch was FITLINK, a platform application connecting self-employed health professionals and the public, and aimed at acting as a welfare brokerage.
The six innovative students behind FITLINK were:
- Giles Crisp
- Stewart Dickens
- Matthew Dunn
- Jason Forson
- Guillaume Hearn
- Mwenya Lumbwe
Each member of the winning team received a trophy and £25 Amazon voucher, with runner-up trophies presented to members of the second- and third-placed teams.
The event was organised by Dr Monica Masucci, module convenor for N1508 New Venture Creation and Business Planning, and the School’s Student Experience team.
Dr Masucci commented: “I was delighted that all the students took the opportunity of pitching their new venture ideas before a team of experienced professionals very seriously. They showed a level of commitment, passion and entrepreneurial drive that will serve them well as they prepare to leave Sussex.”