That’s why Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) created ‘Key 5’—a new flexible, interactive learning experience designed to equip students with essential entrepreneurial skills for any career path, whether you're interested in starting your own business or excelling within an organisation.

Key 5 delivers valuable, real-world skills in an interactive and flexible format. Even if you don’t yet know the career you want, you’ll gain skills you can use right now - from acing your next interview to leading group projects like a boss. 

What is ‘Key 5’?

Key 5 is an innovative microlearning suite - five bite-sized modules you can finish in just 10-15 minutes each:

• Effective and Powerful Communication: Learn how to express ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Networking: Discover how to build connections that can open doors to new opportunities.
• Market Awareness: Understand the environment you’re operating in and how to respond to it.
• Opportunity Recognition: Develop the ability to spot potential and act on it.
• Building Confidence: Strengthen your ability to lead, present, and excel in group settings.

What Makes It Fun?

What sets Key 5 apart is its scenario-based learning design. You'll engage in dynamic, interactive challenges - negotiating with aliens, slaying dragons, and inventing world-changing products in a futuristic multiverse – all while boosting your skills.

Learn in Your Own Time, No Pressure

You can do it all on your own schedule, wherever you are. Do you have 15 minutes between lectures? Perhaps you’re waiting for the bus? You can access Key 5 anywhere, anytime, on any device. And it’s risk-free – no need to worry about assessments or grades, learn without pressure.

Who Should Try It?

Whether you are new to entrepreneurship or a seasoned pro, Key 5 will help you sharpen your skills, but we expect first- and second-year undergraduates will benefit most.

See what it's like! Find out more about Key 5 with our short video:

Ready to Start? 

Are you ready to start your journey? Jump into Key 5 and start building the skills that will make you stand out in any career.

Let us know what you think! Leaving feedback at the end of each module helps us know what works for you so we can design future learning experiences.

Find out more about the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) .

R2I is a bespoke entrepreneurship training programme for final-year PhD students, PDRAs and early-career researchers from across all faculties with ambitions to develop commercial ventures or to create impact from their academic studies.

The programme includes a series of interactive personal and professional development sessions, which introduce the concept of commercialisation, equipping researchers with strategies to take ideas forward and discover new pathways to funding.

Read more about the researchers recently supported to further their ideas.

and register now to attend one of our short  to hear more about the programme and how to apply.

Key Dates

Cohort 1:

• Introductory Sessions: In person and online across 16^th and 17^th October 
• Applications Open: 17th October
• Application Deadline: 28th October
• Programme: 14^th November - 19^th February 2025

Cohort 2:

• Information Sessions: March 2025
• Programme: April – June 2025

The MEC Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme is supported by the University’s Innovation Academy. The Innovation Academy is a pan University initiative and joint venture between the , the  and the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research.

This prestigious award is designed to support students, postdoctoral researchers, recent graduates, and encourage new student cohorts to engage with MEC, in launching new businesses that involve graphene or other 2D materials. It’s all about sparking innovation and making a real impact in the commercial world, turning groundbreaking research into real, game-changing solutions for the future.

With awards of £50,000 and £20,000, we’re excited to celebrate the individuals or teams who showed how their graphene-related technology can be turned into a business. The applications were judged based on how solid their plans were for creating a new business related to graphene or 2D materials.

This award gives winners the perfect launchpad they need to kickstart their business. The University of Manchester understands how crucial flexible early-stage financial support is for these kinds of ventures, to help make these dreams a reality and bring a product or technology to the market.

This year, the top prize of £50,000 went to Kun Huang of Solar Ethos. Kun has a Master’s degree in Corrosion Control Engineering and a PhD in Material Physics. The second prize of £20,000 was awarded to Hafiza Hifza Nawaz of Fabstics, who has a PhD in Materials. We also congratulate the other finalists - Mohammadhossein Saberian of EcoTarTech and Ozan Zehni of Dorlion SHM.

The winners, pictured above with Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Deputy President Luke Georghiou:

• Left: First place - Solar Ethos
• Right: Second place - Fabstics

All finalists received support throughout the competition, which included: pitching workshops, help with applications by Scott Dean (CEO of Graphene Trace), and IP advice from Innovation Factory. These resources were key in helping them navigate the challenges of starting a business and turning their groundbreaking ideas into real-world solutions.

Our top-tier judges included Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manchester; Lynn Sheppard, Masood Entrepreneurship Centre Director; Jessica McCreadie, Investment Director at Northern Gritstone; James Baker, CEO Graphene @91ֱ�� at The University of Manchester; and Gareth Jones, Project Manager - Electronics at the University of Manchester Innovation Factory. Their expertise and dedication to encouraging innovation played a key role in choosing projects that could make a big difference.

We offer a huge congratulations to all the participants! We can’t wait to see the fantastic impact of their innovative work in the commercial world. By supporting these entrepreneurs, we're not only helping them achieve their dreams but also paving the way for future advancements that can tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Along with the awards, we heard inspiring speeches from high-profile individuals such as Lynn Sheppard, Professor James Baker, Dr. Vivek Koncherry, Liam Johnson, and Professor Luke Georghiou. They shared amazing insights about graphene and other 2D materials, emphasising the transformative potential of these technologies and the importance of ongoing innovation. We were also joined via Zoom from California by Dr. Eli Harari, founder of SanDisk, the memory storage technology company. He encouraged attendees to "Think Big!".

Eli & Britt Harari Award 2021 winner Dr. Vivek Koncherry, the CEO of Graphene Innovations 91ֱ��, is making significant strides in connecting graphene technology with global business opportunities. Last year, he signed a $1 billion partnership with Quazar Investment Company to create a new company in the UAE aimed at tackling global sustainability challenges. Recognised as 91ֱ��'s answer to Elon Musk, Vivek recently impressed judges to win the North West heat of KPMG’s Tech Innovator in the UK 2024. With a strong background as an alumnus and researcher from The University of Manchester, Vivek exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Some notable quotes about the competition include Lynn Sheppard's encouragement, "For all the winners and nominees, your journey does not stop here, it goes on," and Prof. James Baker's insight, "Graphene can make a big difference in addressing the climate change challenges." Dr. Vivek Koncherry highlighted 91ֱ��'s entrepreneurial spirit by stating, "91ֱ�� is very good for entrepreneurship," while Dr. Eli Harari inspired with, "We need people like you to aspire in making the world better." Liam Johnson appreciated the award's impact, saying, "The award allowed me to turn this idea to something tangible," and Prof. Luke Georghiou emphasised the importance of support with, "It's our duty to build an ecosystem to support the development of graphene."

Their words emphasised the event's theme of driving change and shaping a brighter future through cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship, wrapping up the event on an exhilarating high.

The Options Roundabout event on the 12^th June 2024 was the culmination of the R2I programme which saw our researchers pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs, funders and commercialisation experts. The event which was an opportunity for the cohort to network and celebrate their achievements was hosted in our MEC Enterprise Zone, a dedicated entrepreneurship space in the Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School. 

The R2I programme aims to inspire and accelerate the translation of the knowledge created through academic research into products, services or processes to deliver tangible benefit through a series of bespoke workshops and mentoring opportunities. The workshops helped researchers articulate their ideas by taking them through a lean start-up pathway to explore the commercial potential of their research.

The Innovation Enabling Awards were granted to acknowledge the impact and growth potential with early career researchers receiving between £2000 to £8000 to further develop the commercial potential of their ideas and businesses.

Aline Miller, Professor of Biomolecular Engineering and Associate Dean for Business Engagement and Innovation, presented the Innovation Enabling Awards to the seven winning projects.

Award Winners

Innovation Enabling Awards: £8,000

Personalised phage therapy for bacteria infections 

Dr Rosanna Wright (School of Biological Sciences)

“The Researcher to Innovator programme has been an incredibly rewarding experience; the workshops, support and mentorship have helped me to understand the potential impact of my research and develop skills to better communicate with stakeholders. I am thrilled to receive an Innovation Prize which will accelerate our pathway to translation. Thank you R2I!”

UrbanWatt

Josiah Edebiri (School of Engineering)

"The Researcher to Innovator program has been a great experience; I enjoyed connecting with the other aspiring entrepreneurs and found the workshops hugely beneficial in developing my skillset to progress my enterprise moving forward."

Innovation Enabling Awards: £5,000

Scrap Metal Separation

Dr Kane Williams (School of Engineering)

"R2I enabled me to make contacts in areas of my research that I would not have had otherwise. These contacts will allow me to develop my research further and branch out into new areas." 

Gait Analysis System

Muhammad Taimoor Adil (School of Engineering)

“Participating in the Researcher to Innovator programme has been a transformative experience. The award validates my research's potential and provides essential support to turn it into an impactful solution. I'm grateful for the opportunity and excited to advance my deep-tech startup journey.”

Innovation Enabling Awards: £2,000

Breaking the barrier: A science-art hub

Dr Soheb Mandhai (School of Natural Sciences)

 “The R2I journey has opened my mind to new horizons and has equipped me with the foundational skills that I need to build my enterprise.”

Select Xpress

Matthew Reaney (School of Engineering)

“Having completed the program I can say our idea is in a better place and I feel I have skilled-up in terms of my communication of scientific ideas and willingness to reach out to potential collaborators.”

Colorolicous

Hongning Ren (School of Natural Sciences)

"I gained more appreciation of how to use my research to actually make a difference - sometimes it's better stepping out from lab to talk to real people, then you can solve some real problems."

The prize winners will also receive expert support and signposting to regional and national accelerator programmes and all the participants on the programme will have access to further support, mentoring and guidance from internal professional support teams, including the opportunity to build relationships with business engagement, Innovation Factory and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.

The organisers wish to thank the  Fellowship for their sponsorship of the Innovation Enabling Awards.

Get Involved

If you are an early career researcher looking for an exciting opportunity to develop your innovative thinking and enhance your understanding of creating and developing impact join the next round of the R2I programme. Find out more .

The MEC Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme is supported by the University’s Innovation Academy. The Innovation Academy is a pan University initiative and joint venture between the , the and the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research.

The annual competition, which boasts a substantial £100,000 prize fund, saw a record-breaking 143 applications this year, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. The competition attracted innovative business proposals across five categories: Healthcare, Services, Technology, Environment, and Social.

From sustainable solutions in the Environment category to revolutionary healthcare innovations and transformative technologies, the breadth and depth of ideas showcased by our finalists have been astounding. On top of that, impressive entries in the Services and Social categories highlighted our students and recent graduates' commitment to addressing a wide range of social issues and needs.

The night started with Lynn Sheppard, Director of MEC, addressing the quality of the entries and the competition’s significant growth from its previous years. She introduced the evening’s keynote speaker, Mustafa Khanwala Founder and CEO of MishiPay, Venture Further winner in 2016, who described his successful entrepreneurial journey. Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Luke Georghiou spoke about the entrepreneurial roots of the University of Manchester in our Bicentenary year and today’s innovation ecosystem which will support the winners. He introduced competition judges Lee Pugalis (MEC Deputy Director), Matilda Page (MEC Enterprise Business Development Executive), Sam Patchitt (Investment and Portfolio Manager at GC Angels), Meredith Greey (Head of Programmes at Hatch) and Natalie Jameson (Chief executive and inventor of YZen.ai) who presented the prize-winners in each category.

The Venture Further Awards dinner, held on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, was an evening of celebration and recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation within our community. Winners of the first (£15,000) and second (£5,000) prizes in each category were announced and awarded for their remarkable efforts and potential to make a significant impact in their respective fields.

Venture Further 2024 Winners

Environment Category

• 1st place winner: Timothy Capper, OptiSpark                
• 2nd place winner: Nayab Raza, ALGAVERSE

(Winners pictured with Lee Pugalis, Deputy Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre)

Healthcare Category

• 1st place winner: Tunde Oremulé, Airyn 
• 2nd place winners: Liam Johnson, MouseAble and Steven Mayers, Zeus Biologics Ltd

(Winners pictured with Matilda Page, Enterprise Business Development Executive at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre)

Services Category

• 1st place winner: Moradeke Orekoya, Skinpli
• 2nd place winner: Mark Kashumba, UGAFARM

(Winners pictured with Sam Patchitt, Investment and Portfolio Manager at GC Angels)

Social Category

• 1st place winner: Danielle Fatunla, The Onyx Group 
• 2nd place winner: Chanel Ehi-Palmer, EHI

(Winners pictured with Meredith Greey, Head of Programmes at Hatch)

Technology Category

• 1st place winner: Harvey Lowe, Arcube (pictured above with co-founder Prithveesh Reddy)
• 2nd place winner: Ed Engleback, Altaia

(Winners pictured with Natalie Jameson, Chief Executive and Inventor of YZen.ai)

The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre extends its congratulations to all winners and participants. We are incredibly proud to be a part of these bright minds' entrepreneurial journeys. With the conclusion of this year's Venture Further Awards, we look forward to the innovative and impactful ideas that next year's competition will undoubtedly bring.

The night concluded with the announcement that Lynn Sheppard, Director of MEC, will be stepping down from her role after 24 years. On behalf of The University of Manchester and the Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School, we express our gratitude for her dedication. She has been the trailblazer for MEC and a pioneer of entrepreneurship for staff, students, and graduates at this university.

As a hub for all entrepreneurial activities at The University of Manchester, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre will continue to champion our students, recent graduates, and staff's entrepreneurial aspirations. We remain committed to offering a wide array of co-curricular activities, such as competitions, speaker events, workshops, and start-up support programmes, to help our community gain invaluable experience and kick-start their entrepreneurial journeys.

For more information about the Venture Further Awards or the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, please visit .

Sid was frustrated with the slow and costly process of acquiring new glasses from high street opticians in the UK. This frustration led to the birth of Specscart, a game-changing solution in the eyewear market. Sid kickstarted Specscart in 91ֱ�� in 2018. Since then, the business has grown into a global retail and online force to be reckoned with and is on track for a 2024 turnover of £5m. Specscart already ships to more than 120 countries worldwide – from the Maldives and Saudi Arabia to the Falkland Islands and Cape Verde.

Sid's entrepreneurial journey began with a modest £2,500 investment. His determination was evident as he painted and wallpapered his first shop himself and slept in his car while travelling across the UK to sell glasses. The 2018 Venture Further Awards winner’s dedication and hard work have transformed Specscart into a brand synonymous with high-quality, fashionable, and affordable eyewear.

Specscart’s core mission is to revolutionise the eyewear shopping experience. They not only ensure the delivery of high-quality eyewear within 24 hours but also aim to transform glasses from a mere instrument of sight correction into a fast-fashion accessory. This innovative approach has undoubtedly positioned Specscart as a trailblazer in the eyewear industry.

Specscart brings together a high street retail offering of three bricks and mortar shops across Greater 91ֱ�� with innovative e-commerce which sees the affordable glasses they make in-house at their Bury headquarters, delivered in 24 hours.

Sid also said, “Specscart will be using this hugely prestigious win as rocket fuel in our business. This accolade is a triumph for me, and everyone at Specscart, but it’s also a win for 91ֱ��, the North West and UK plc.”

Sid succeeded against competition from thousands of award nominations to make it on to the list having wowed Forbes editors and expert industry judges with his game-changing retail and global e-commerce offer.

The would like to congratulate Sid and his team for the incredible work they’ve been doing with Specsart and wish them all the best going forward.

To find out more visit .

The Venture Further Awards are dedicated to identifying and nurturing innovative business proposals that showcase the greatest potential for success – contributing to economic growth, social progress and sustainability. The competition spans across five categories: Healthcare, Services, Technology, Environment, and Social.

The annual competition, offering a substantial £100,000 prize fund, has seen a record-breaking number of 143 applications this year, marking a 34% increase from the previous year, showcasing a diverse range of innovative, research-informed and disruptive business ideas.

In the Environment category, we have finalists presenting various sustainable solutions. Nayab Raza's ALGAVERSE proposes low-cost, microalgae-based biomass biofertilizers for agricultural lands. OptiSpark, pitched by Timothy Capper, aims to use buildings as energy storage units. Kieron O'Sullivan's ReMake Materials is a marketplace platform connecting material suppliers with users needing leftover stock materials. Josiah Edebiri's UrbanWatt offers state-of-the-art charging stations in urban areas for low-power electric vehicles.

The Healthcare category sees innovations in medical technology and treatments. Liam Johnson's MouseAble presents a method of recording ECGs from free-moving mice without surgical implants. Steven Mayers' Zeus Biologics Ltd plans to manufacture recombinant proteins for the research market. Joel Yupanqui Mieles's biomedical engineering business offers innovative solutions for repairing and enhancing damaged skin tissues post-tattooing. Airyn by Tunde Oremulé aims to revolutionise rhinitis treatment.

The Services category features ideas targeting a wide range of sectors. Moradeke Orekoya's Skinpli plans to revolutionise the African skincare landscape with telemedicine, personalised skincare, expert guidance, and community engagement. Xiang Zheng's PurFetch is a one-stop mobile app that brings pets and pet owners together. Subodh Agarwal's TFM Overseas Education Consultants guides Indian students in pursuing master's degrees abroad. Mark Kashumba's UGAFARM aims to help African communities grow fresh, healthy food using environmentally-friendly farming techniques.

In the Social category, finalists focus on addressing critical global and local social issues. Muhammad Asad Butt's BasicX presents a revolutionary approach to address period poverty and empower women in Pakistan. Cesare Giulio Ardito's I3Italy CIC is a resource hub for Italians in England. Danielle Fatunla's The Onyx Group is a tech-based organisation for black students providing mentorship, consultancy and opportunities. Chanel Ehi-Palmer's hair care brand aims to narrow the 'texture gap' within the hair industry.

The Technology category sees Harvey Lowe's Arcube proposing customised traveller loyalty programs. Grigorii Rodionov's Flashaid is a mobile application designed to revolutionise emergency medical response. Ed Engleback's Altaia is a drone manufacturer focused on creating fully customised high-performance drones at low cost. Jakub Zemek's Aerospace Group 7 offers environmentally friendly drone solutions.

The Venture Further Awards celebrates these entrepreneurial talents and their potential to make a significant impact in their respective fields. The winners will be announced at the Venture Further Awards Dinner on Wednesday, 8 May 2024.

Our winners consistently strive to make a significant impact in their respective fields. Many have leveraged their initial success to grow into larger-scale businesses. For example, Scott Martin's venture, Re:course (AI), from our 2018 cohort, notably secured $4.3 million in seed funding last year. Also from the 2018 winners, Sid Sedhi, founder of 'Specsart', continues to innovate in the eyewear industry. His Bury-based company now ships their products worldwide. Winning the competition, he recalls, was a "turning point for Specsart,[…] one of the most important milestones in our journey".

Most recently, from our 2022 social category winners, we highlight Alternative Football. Co-founded by Beth Barnes, a PhD student from the University’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the Alternative Football League (AF League) is now the North West’s only fully inclusive football league for women, non-binary and transgender individuals.  UK-registered MEC supported startups have received £29.5m in equity fundraising in the last 6 months.

At the , we are the hub for all entrepreneurial activities for students, recent graduates, and staff at The University of Manchester. Recognising the vital role of entrepreneurial skills in the modern world, our mission is to provide students with abundant opportunities that aid in gaining invaluable experience. This positions them to either secure their desired job or kick-start their own venture.

Beyond our academic programs, we offer a wide array of co-curricular activities. These include bootcamps, competitions, speaker events, workshops, and start-up support programmes. All these are aimed at students who are eager to learn, develop or launch their entrepreneurial journey. Becoming a part of our thriving entrepreneurial community.

R2I is a bespoke entrepreneurship training programme for final-year PhD students, PDRAs and early-career researchers from across all faculties with ambitions to develop commercial ventures or to create impact from their academic studies.

The programme includes a series of interactive personal and professional development sessions, which introduce the concept of commercialisation, equipping researchers with strategies to take ideas forward and discover new pathways to funding.

Read more about the researchers from cohort 1 supported to further their ideas.

and register now to attend one of our short to hear more about the programme and how to apply.

Key Dates

Cohort 2:

• Introductory Sessions: In person and online across 20^th and 21^st  March 
• Applications Open: 21^st March
• Application Deadline: 1^st April
• Programme: 16^th April - 13^th June 2024

The MEC Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme is supported by the University’s Innovation Academy. The Innovation Academy is a pan University initiative and joint venture between the , the  and the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research.

This week-long event was specifically designed for students eager to explore ways they could boost their career opportunities, especially in the realm of self-employment and entrepreneurship. This series of events was not just about imparting knowledge, but about providing a comprehensive understanding of the potential career paths that lay before students. The sessions were structured in a way that encouraged thought and discussions about the future, making one ponder the endless possibilities that stem from using an entrepreneurial mindset.

The event also catered to those who had a concept or an idea but were unsure of the next steps. The guidance and resources provided in 'Introduction to Starting a Business' were instrumental in helping students shape their ideas into actionable steps. The sessions conducted by experts in various fields gave the students the necessary tools and techniques to take their ideas forward.

One of the unique features of the week was the opportunity to learn directly from successful freelancers and individuals who are currently navigating the world of self-employment. These included a group opportunity to ask questions and learn from the fields of marketing, TV, translation, photography, journalism, and more. These interactive sessions were a treasure trove of first-hand advice and insights. Listening to their experiences and learning from their journeys was truly inspirational and provided a real-world perspective that academic resources can't always provide.

For example, certain key takeaways revolved around:

• Finding niches in your desired field and re-skilling yourself to fill that gap.
• The importance of building yourself up to companies.
• Getting inspiration from the career path of people you follow.

Wednesday’s event provided an in-depth understanding of social enterprises. The session took us through the intricacies of what a social enterprise is and how it operates. The idea of a business that balances making profits with making a positive impact on society was thoroughly discussed, leaving students with a lot to think about. It was pleasing to see several students staying around to network with each other and asking our speaker Leigh Wharton some follow-up questions.

Another key focus of the event was on improving networking skills. The importance of a strong network in the entrepreneurial world was emphasised throughout the week. The sessions in the week aimed to equip students with the skills and confidence needed to proactively build meaningful professional connections through LinkedIn and in real-life scenarios. The 'Networking for Beginners' session delivered by Adam Taylor from the careers team was particularly helpful, offering practical tips and advice on active listening, being remembered, and understanding your personal goals to help with your networking strategy without feeling overwhelmed.

Each day of the week was filled with engaging interactions from the audience. Monday’s 'Intro to Starting a Business' delivered by Jessica Lewis-Tatton was a great way to kickstart the week, providing foundational knowledge and skills for their entrepreneurial journey. 'Meet the Freelancers' was another standout session that allowed attendees to network with current freelancers in various fields. The 'How to be a Socially Impactful Entrepreneur?' session was an eye-opener, teaching students about the importance of creating a positive social impact in their paths.

One of the standout quotes came from freelancer Tremaine Senior, “Think of the traditional jobs that you would apply for and see if there are areas or pockets that you could niche yourself into”. This statement summarises perfectly the main takeaway from the event: the importance of self-awareness in understanding your strengths and weaknesses and having a vision of where you want to get to.

In conclusion, Self-Employment Week was not just an event, but a journey that provided an incredible amount of insight and resources. It was an inspirational and educational experience that every student interested in entrepreneurship could benefit from.

The Options Roundabout event on the 19^th February was the culmination of the R2I programme which saw our researchers pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs, funders and commercialisation experts. The event which was an opportunity for the cohort to network and celebrate their achievements was hosted in our MEC Enterprise Zone, a dedicated entrepreneurship space in the Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School. 

The R2I programme aims to inspire and accelerate the translation of the knowledge created through academic research into products, services or processes to deliver tangible benefit through a series of bespoke workshops and mentoring opportunities. The workshops helped researchers articulate their ideas by taking them through a lean start-up pathway to explore the commercial potential of their research.

The Innovation Enabling Awards were granted to acknowledge the impact and growth potential with early career researchers receiving between £2,000 to £10,000 to further develop the commercial potential of their ideas and businesses.

Aline Miller, Professor of Biomolecular Engineering and Associate Dean for Business Engagement and Innovation, presented the Innovation Enabling Awards to the five winning projects

Award Winners

Innovation Enabling Award: £10,000

NeuWave - AI solutions for rapid offshore renewables transition

Jana Stella (School of Engineering)

Innovation Enabling Award: £5,000

Purple Point- A precise and cheaper option for defeating chlamydia

Jorge A. Servert (School of Biological Sciences)

Innovation Enabling Award: £3,000

Transforming ​the Future of ​Bone Implants

Dr Nazanin Mirhosseini​ (School of Engineering)

Innovation Enabling Award: £2,000

Roboglove

Dr Anthony Siming Chen (School of Engineering)

Innovation Enabling Award: £2,000

DISSCO (The Diabetes Severity Score)

Dr Salwa Zghebi (School of Health Sciences)

The prize winners will also receive expert support and signposting to regional and national accelerator programmes and all the participants on the programme will have access to further support, mentoring and guidance from internal professional support teams, including the opportunity to build relationships with business engagement, Innovation Factory and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.

The organisers wish to thank the  Fellowship for their sponsorship of the Innovation Enabling Awards.

Get Involved

If you are an early career researcher looking for an exciting opportunity to develop your innovative thinking and enhance your understanding of creating and developing impact join the next round of the R2I programme. Find out more about the programme and how to apply in the upcoming for cohort 2 taking place on 20^th and 21^st March.

The MEC Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme is supported by the University’s Innovation Academy. The Innovation Academy is a pan University initiative and joint venture between the , the  and the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research.

Over the course of two action-packed days, participants delved into the core pillars of startup success. From refining ideas to building robust proof of concepts, navigating business structures to conducting meticulous market research, every facet of entrepreneurship was meticulously covered. The highlight of the bootcamps was the deep dive into the Business Model Canvas, providing attendees with a comprehensive framework to map out their ventures with precision.

These intensive sessions weren't just about developing their understanding of starting a business, but also instilling the principles of social entrepreneurship. In a nod to the growing importance of social impact in business, Peter shared his knowledge and insights on social entrepreneurship, shedding light on what truly defines a social enterprise and the strategies needed to create meaningful societal impact while building a successful business.

All the hard work and dedication to the day-long bootcamps concluded with pitching and pizza from I Knead Pizza, where attendees showcased their newfound skills in an exhilarating pitching session, pitching their idea in two minutes or less! From fashion brands and Indian handicrafts to physiotherapy and networking apps; we saw a broad range of ideas across the two days, all gearing up to enter the this year.

Attendees were then invited to stick around for networking and drinks, which resulted in new friendships and collaborations amongst budding entrepreneurs, including two entrepreneurs who became co-founders!

These Startup Bootcamps weren't just about equipping students with entrepreneurial skills; they were about igniting a passion for innovation, fostering social responsibility, and empowering the next generation of changemakers. With the knowledge gained and connections forged, these 45 individuals are poised to chart a course towards success, armed with the tools to not only build thriving businesses but also make a lasting impact on society.

Did you miss out on the bootcamps? Not to fear! We’re pleased to announce the Semester 2 dates for our MECitHappen Workshop Series including, Personal Branding, Introduction to Starting a Business, Ideas Generation and Time and Project Management.

Got a business idea but want to know your first steps? Come and meet a member of the team in one of our 30-minute and let us help you kickstart your idea today!

The week-long event is specifically curated with a focus on students who are:

• Eager to explore their career opportunities in the realm of self-employment and entrepreneurship. We aim to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of their potential career paths.
• Possessing an idea or concept but are unsure of the next steps. We aim to provide guidance and resources to help shape their ideas into an actionable next step.
• Interested in learning directly from successful freelancers and individuals who are currently navigating the world of self-employment. We aim to offer interactive sessions where students can gain first-hand advice and insights.
• Keen on delving into the intricacies of what a social enterprise is and how to be a socially impactful entrepreneur.
• Looking to improve their networking skills. We understand the importance of a strong network in the entrepreneurial world, and we aim to equip our students with the skills and confidence to build meaningful professional relationships.

During the week, there are several events to get involved in:

Monday 19 February 

- 13:00-14:00 (The Atrium, University Place)

This workshop is designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to embark on your entrepreneurial journey, whether you're interested in starting a side hustle, managing an existing one, or simply gaining insights into the inner workings of businesses to enhance your career skills.

Tuesday 20 February

- 13:00-14:00 (The Atrium, University Place) 

This session will allow you to learn from and network with current freelancers in the world of marketing, TV, translation, photography, journalism and more. You will have the opportunity to explore how freelancers access work opportunities, how they organise and prioritise their workloads, as well as gaining an insight into the benefits and constraints of working in this way.

Wednesday 21 February 

- 13:00-14:00 (The Atrium, University Place) 

This hour-long workshop, delivered by Leigh Wharton, Director of Bubble Enterprises, teaches you all you need to know about what it means to be a socially impactful entrepreneur, not just when working for yourself but also throughout your career.

Thursday 22 February 

- 13:00-14:00 (The Atrium, University Place) 

In this hour-long session, we will look at how you can quickly and easily start networking without too much pressure. We will consider the best tools to use to start networking, places it can be useful to approach from a networking standpoint and how to make it work for you.

You can register for events using the hyperlinks embedded in the event titles above. Alternatively, to read more about the week and register for events, head over to the Careers page .

In 2020, the University of Manchester Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) and Students’ Union came together to discuss how to promote entrepreneurship and help students build an entrepreneurial mindset.

Alongside mentorship and support for students looking to launch businesses, projects, and events, an important outcome was PitchIt! - a student societies’ entrepreneurship competition.

PitchIt! is ideal for students who are driven to develop their entrepreneurial skills, strategic thinking, and network with like-minded individuals.

Societies are encouraged to form an innovative project team to develop a proposal to win up to £1,250 from a £6,000 prize pot to help support projects and initiatives that will generate income for their society and expand impact.

All societies that submit an entry must be registered with the University of Manchester Students’ Union. These societies will benefit from a valuable Pitching workshop session, following which 10 societies will be shortlisted who will have to attend a closed ‘Practice Your Pitch’ session. The PitchIt! Finals will be an open event where our 10 finalists will face off and winners will be announced!

Do you think your society has what it takes? PitchIt!

You can find detailed information on the application criteria, competition process, key dates, FAQs and T&Cs .

Please fill out the following to submit your entry.

Our start-up competition has a £100,000 prize pot, where business ideas could win up to £15,000 in one of our five categories: Environment, Healthcare, Services, Social & Technology.

If you are interested in finding out more, then come along to our information session on Thursday 14th December in the Enterprise Zone (AMBS) from 5-6pm. The event will also be streamed online for those who cannot attend in person.

The Session will include a short presentation about the competition and application process, and then plenty of time for you to ask the MEC team questions.

Aren’t sure whether your idea is developed enough? Can’t decide which category your business fits into? Need help with elements of your application? Then this is the perfect event for you.

The link to book is .

If you have any questions about VFA or would like support with your application, you can book a 30 min 1-to-1 appointment with the MEC team or email venturefurther@manchester.ac.uk

Applications for VFA24 close on Thursday 22^nd February 2024 - 

This year we awarded 27 Bright Ideas with funding up to £200! The Bright Ideas Judging panel were very impressed with the quality and high standard of applications this year, that saw applicants submitting one-minute videos, describing their idea.  

From walking suitcases to fashion brands, compostable solutions to bottles and exhibitions about migration in 91ֱ��, Bright Ideas this year was full of unique and diverse ideas.  

Take a look at some of the winning entries below!

Seb Norman, BSc (Hons) Management, won £200 with his Fashion brand, Desguisement. 

“My participation in the Bright Ideas competition challenged me to present my brand in a more formal way, forcing me to fully articulate my brand's message in as little as a few sentences, which I've had trouble with before. With this in my mind I feel more equipped to ensure future releases/media can be consistent to the brand to create a definitive image, something vital for fashion. 

I see this competition as the first of many times I work with the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, as I feel they can greatly boost my skills, development and portfolio when it comes to entrepreneurship.” 

Kaito Fukushima, BSc (Hons) International Business, Finance and Economics and the team won £100 with their idea U-Pillow. 

"The experience I have gained during both my Bright Ideas competition in 2022 and 2023 was fascinating. Me and my teams have managed to secure a win on both competitions and we are happy to say that it helped us to develop our critical thinking skill, communication skill, leadership skill, as well as planning and presentation skill further. 

Bright Ideas is a great opportunity for you to extend your business skills into further level and also a great place to show what you are capable of doing. Although this competition requires a lot of work and planning, it is definitely worth applying and it will for sure help your path to the future career."  

Lesley Cheung, MA Student in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, won £200 with her idea for her exhibition “Rituals of Passage - Migratory Orbits” celebrating diverse populations in 91ֱ��. 

“I am thrilled to be awarded in the Bright Ideas Competition. The submission format of a one-minute video helped me find focus and clarity for my project idea, and I am grateful the judging panel found it promising. The recognition is an important proof-of-concept for me to turn the idea into reality and aim higher. 

Thank you also to Jess who provided constructive feedback on how I could take the project further, as well as to Masood Entrepreneurship Centre for supporting and incubating our side hustles.” 

Mehuli Basu, MSc Adv Computer Science, with her idea for online medical and healthcare services. 

“I was overjoyed upon learning that I have been named the winner by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre. This news absolutely made my day. The moment I saw "Congratulations, you are the winner," I couldn't contain my excitement and jumped out to call my mother in India to share the wonderful news.  

Thank you immensely for this opportunity. I am eagerly looking forward to growing this venture with my friends and colleagues in 91ֱ��.” 

If you missed Bright Ideas this year, but have an idea you’d like to pursue, book an appointment with one of the MEC Team. 

If your idea is more established, consider submitting your idea to our Venture Further Awards Competition for your chance to win up to £15,000 for your start-up.  

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration highlighting the significant role entrepreneurs play in our society. It's a chance to acknowledge the hard work, creativity, and determination these individuals put into their businesses. It's a time to recognise the resilience they show in facing business challenges and to appreciate the difference they make with their commitment and creativity. Their innovations and advancements not only drive economic growth, but also shape our future in profound ways.

The week was brimming with enlightening talks, engaging workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. The exchange of innovative ideas and the genesis of new collaborations promise to drive entrepreneurship to unprecedented heights, marking a significant milestone in MEC's journey.

We would like to extend special gratitude to the speakers who generously shared their valuable time, extensive knowledge, and personal experiences. The insights and advice shared have been invaluable, significantly benefiting all participants. Additionally, the tireless efforts of MEC's diligent staff ensured the smooth execution of over 10 events, which had more than 100 in-person attendees. Their dedication and unwavering commitment played a crucial role in the Week's overall success.

Events included the following talks and workshops:

• Matthew Scullion, CEO of Matillion
• In Conversation with David Levine, CEO of Glenluna Ventures
• Intro to Starting a Business Workshop
• Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation
• Your Next Move...Sport Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise with Beth Barnes
• Personal Branding 101 Workshop
• ElevateX: Student Startup Sprint Workshop by Accelerate ME
• Building a Startup Step by Step - with Ash Rust

Lastly, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our student group partners such as TEDx University of Manchester and Accelerate Me. Their unwavering support underscores their commitment to fostering a vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our collaboration with TEDx University of Manchester for their successful event ‘Catalytic Continuum’ showcased six inspiring speakers who sought to motivate the student audience with their own personal journeys. Among them was Prithveesh Reddy, co-founder and CEO of Arcube, who remains in close contact with MEC regarding his rapidly growing tech startup in 91ֱ��.

The standout feature of this week was undoubtedly the high level of participation we witnessed during our in-person sessions. Seeing the enthusiasm and active involvement from the participants was a genuinely inspiring experience. This level of engagement not only exceeded our expectations but also gave us valuable insights and feedback. It has also contributed significantly to shaping our approach for future events. The successful interaction and exchange of ideas have given us a clear vision of what to aspire to in our forthcoming sessions and events.

MEC is immensely grateful for the widespread participation and support received and eagerly looks forward to welcoming everyone back at future events. We remain committed to promoting the entrepreneurial spirit and fostering innovation within our community.

This exciting initiative promises to provide a golden opportunity for students to engage with the entrepreneurial community, learn from seasoned business leaders, become more employable and hone their own entrepreneurial skills. 

Throughout the week, MEC has organised various workshops, panel discussions, and networking events. These activities will cover a broad range of topics designed to inspire and empower budding entrepreneurs, including strategies for fundraising and business model development. 

This initiative by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre is a testament to its commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among its students. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in improving on your current skills, these events promise to be both informative and inspiring. 

Details about the schedule of events and the registration process can be seen below: 

• Monday: 
  • MEC GEW2023 Launch with Matthew Scullion of Matillion (Online and in-person)
• Tuesday: 
  • In Conversation with David Levine, CEO of Glenluna Ventures (Online and in-person)
• Wednesday: 
  • MECitHappen Workshop - Intro to Starting a Business (In-person)
• Thursday: 
  • Entrepreneurs@MCR - Emma Jones CBE, Founder of Enterprise Nation  (Online and in-person)
  • Your Next Move…Sport: Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise panel discussion (In-person)
• Friday: 
  • MECitHappen Workshop - Personal Branding 101 (In-person)
  • Elevate X: Student Startup Sprint - Workshop by Accelerate Me (In-person)
  • Building a Startup Step by Step - with Ash Rust of Sterling Road VC (Online and in-person)

More information about the events, locations and registration can be found . 

The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre encourages all interested individuals to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Stay tuned on our social media channels to catch a glimpse on this exciting week of entrepreneurial exploration and learning. 

We are the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), the main hub for enterprise and entrepreneurship at The University of Manchester. Our goal is to help students like you understand the importance of entrepreneurial skills in today's world, and to provide you with numerous opportunities to gain valuable experience that will help you to spot opportunities, fast-track your career and secure your desired job, innovate and develop new projects or launch your own business.

We're passionate about creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures the next generation of outstanding innovators and supports the development of start-up businesses that benefit both the economy and society worldwide. We're here to add value to your experience of being part of The University of Manchester, and to encourage and support you in creating your future and making a difference.

In addition to our extensive range of (the majority of which are open electives available to all students), we offer a range of extracurricular activities that we think you'll gain a lot of value from, especially in terms of building your confidence and developing your networks. These include competitions (with total awards exceeding £180,000 per annum), speaker events and interactions with leading entrepreneurs, workshops, and start-up support programs for students who have ambitions to learn or launch their ideas. We can't wait to see what you'll achieve!

You can find us in the following locations during Welcome Week:

• Monday 18 September - Stopford Building (9am-12pm); Humanities Bridgeford Street Building (1-4pm)
• Tuesday 19 September - Stopford Building (9am-12pm); Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School Fair (1-4pm)
• Wednesday 20 September - SU Fair (10am-4pm)
• Thursday 21 September SU Fair (10am-4pm) 
• Friday 22 September - 91ֱ�� Engineering Campus Development (MECD) Community Fair (1-4pm)

We'd love to meet you at our stalls and share more about the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre!

If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, we’re also recruiting for our Entrepreneurship Champions role, 

The MEC Team 🐝&�Բ�����;

Following the successful launch of the EY-ZERO1 NFT collection in July 2022, Etihad Airways has extended its partnership with Arcube to add a new livery to its NFT collection, as well as development of an industry-first "Staking-for-miles" platform.

The upcoming livery will be themed after the partnership between Etihad Airways and Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One. The original EY-ZERO1 collection featured exclusive benefits to buyers, including Etihad Silver Tier status for 12 months, access to a NFT holders' event at the Formula 1 at Yas Marina Circuit, and participation in Etihad's exclusive online community discussion forums.

For the latest Mission: Impossible livery NFT, Etihad are providing even more benefits to the limited 300-piece issue. As before, members can enjoy 12-month Etihad Silver Tier promotion, which includes priority check-in, 25% extra Etihad Guest Miles, lounge access at Abu Dhabi International, and more. Additionally, buyers will be granted membership to the Etihad: Virtual Club, which provides an additional 10% extra miles, a fast-track promotion from Silver to Gold Tier for 6 months, and a customised Etihad membership card for online and app use.

Holders will also receive added benefits with the Etihad "Staking-for-miles" programme, branded the Etihad "Horizon Club". Arcube is working closely with Etihad to develop this program, set to launch in September 2023. NFT owners will have the opportunity to lock up their NFTs and earn Etihad Guest miles. This platform represents a world-first using NFTs to personalise traveller's digital experience with Etihad, where holders can explore their 3D NFT, benefits, and stay up-to-date on Etihad's web3 initiatives. Miles earned in the programme can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other exciting rewards.

Arcube plans to extend this blockchain-based loyalty and digital engagement platform to other airlines and companies in the hospitality and travel sectors, reimagining loyalty programs from the ground up.

The new 300-piece Etihad NFT collection will be available to public for sale from 1^st August 3:00 pm UTC on 

Stay connected with Arcube's and Etihad's dedicated NFT Twitter account () (), for the latest updates and information.

Averywell has developed a proprietary technology to detect microRNA biomarkers at the early onset of lung cancer – attracting attention from the global scientific community.

More than 75% of UK lung cancer patients are still being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.

The mirLung Dx lung cancer detector is the brainchild of Dr Cherry Na Yu Chia who launched her start-up after her studies at The University of Manchester and with the help of the at the Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School.

Dr Chia, founder and CEO of Averywell, said: “This test is a game changer for the millions of people around the world who hear the devastating words ‘you may have lung cancer’ every year. The current test for lung cancer is expensive, not 100% accurate and involves invasive procedures.

“Averywell is a patient-centric company and our vision is to make picking up lung cancer, in its early stages, easy, painless and convenient.

“Patients will be able to collect their own blood and send it back to us for testing. The convenience of a simple blood test aims to encourage regularly testing so cancer can be spotted early because when the cancer isn't too large and hasn't spread, it is more likely to be treated successfully.”

These include:

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Securing laboratory space, mentoring and business support after Averywell was one of the top 10 global winners of the 2022 Innovation Forum life sciences accelerator programme.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Winning first prize on the Alderley Park Accelerator Programme, in Cheshire.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Joining the Barclays Eagle Labs business support programme.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Winning the MedTech and HealthTech category at the 2023 North West Start Up Awards.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Joining the Royal Academy of Engineering regional talent engine programme – a six-month pre-accelerator programme for early-stage founders.

She said: “Being nominated, shortlisted and winning awards and prizes on accelerator programmes is really tangible and motivating to a scientist like me. It feels like our aim of having our mirLung Dx lung cancer detector device in the hands of clinicians is getting closer and closer.

“We’ve developed a product that people need and want and everyone we speak to about the technology is very excited by it. Potential customers – such as public and private clinical laboratories - are interested in it but investors have also really bought into it and want to be part of Averywell as it grows.

“The aim is to get investment and start clinical trials in the UK before the end of the year. We need institutional and other professional investors in order to take it to the next level.”

Dr Laura Etchells, Enterprise Development Manager, Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, said: “Having supported Dr Chia on her entrepreneurial journey we’re delighted to see Averywell going from strength to strength and wish Cherry and all the Averywell team every success as they embark on the next stage of further growth and development.”

To find out more visit www.averywell.com.

Firstly the assembled finalists and guests heard from Physics alumnus and founder of global flash-memory giant SanDisk, Dr. Eli Harari, who joined the awards event as a guest speaker, live from the USA. He described the aim of the competition, since it started in 2013, to encourage students, researchers and visionaries toward innovation and risk taking.

Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Award Winners

The award winners were announced and presentations made by chair of the judging panel Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester.

First prize of £50,000 was awarded to Liam Johnson, Ph.D. Student (Engineering) and his team (Ed Hayter) who are manufacturing the first on-skin device for wirelessly monitoring the cardiovascular activity of free-moving mice (using electrocardiography, or ECG).

Professor Luke Georghiou presenting first prize to Ed Hayter.

MouseAble will use screen printable graphene inks to engineer an on-skin, wireless ECG sensor for laboratory mice. This device would reduce animal burden and allow ECG acquisition immediately without need for recovery or invasive surgery. A non-invasive device will also enable the collection of better quality data, as removing the burden of an implant may reduce animal stress and the impact this has on the results. By providing a faster, more humane method of collecting data a non-invasive system could offer researchers freedom to be more ambitious with their experimental plans.

In second place and claiming the £20,000 prize was Aayush Chadha, Ph.D. Student (Graphene NOWNANO CDT) with Eye Venture, aiming to manufacture smart contact lens systems using 2D materials in order to deliver unobtrusive detection and monitoring of ocular and systemic diseases (glaucoma and certain types of neurodegeneration) which pose high social and economical costs.

This year again saw the inclusion of an additional prize that celebrates the University's position leading the world on sustainable development. The winners of the £10,000 Eli Harari Sustainability award were  Dinara Mangusheva, undergraduate student (Biomedical Science) and team (Luke Marden, Atif Riaz, Izehiuwa Ehimatie) with Aqua Catalysis. This venture aims to enhance the treatment of industrial wastewater by refining existing technologies and boosting photocatalysts through UV absorption.

Introducing the Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Award 2023 Finalists

The three winning teams were selected by a panel of professional judges from a shortlist of five finalists all seeking to secure funding to drive their ideas forward. Watch the video to find out more.

The award is co-funded by the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester through the support of Dr. Eli Harari and his wife, Britt. It recognises the role that high-level, flexible, early-stage financial support can play in the successful development of a business targeting the full commercialisation of a product or technology related to research in graphene and 2D materials.

The programme examines the various aspects of the commercialisation of research and is very much project-based; allowing you to develop commercialisation ideas based on your own area of research. You will evaluate first-hand the business opportunity, developing a commercial business case based on the idea; and then prepare a 5 minute pitch and a business proposal canvas.

The programme includes a series of lectures along with study group tutorial sessions. There are also follow on sessions and events to outline the opportunities available for you particularly if you wish to take the idea forward to the next stage.

Join the programme this autumn to; 

• develop commercial awareness;
• enhance communication skills;
• boost confidence and;
• strengthen your CV.

Delivery format: In person and online 

Semester 1 Cohort Start Date: 27 September 2023 (over 10 weeks, Wednesday 10am. – 12pm.)

Download the  now to secure your place.

Discover more about MEC Researcher Training .  

The Annual Showcase commenced with an atmosphere of excitement and inspiration as attendees from various academic disciplines and backgrounds gathered to witness a collective commitment to fostering innovation and cultivating entrepreneurial spirit.

The event featured an array of inspiring speakers, including students and recent graduates, who shared their valuable insights and experiences, shedding light on the importance of community, employability skills, and the profound benefits of taking part in entrepreneurial initiatives.

Yair Sakov, Founder and Managing Director of Tel Aviv University's Entrepreneurship Centre, shared some impressive milestone achievements in establishing the Centre and how these have profoundly benefited both his students and the institution. His inspiring presentation delved into the evolution of entrepreneurship as a pivotal life skill and mind-set, drawing parallels to the process of learning an instrument or creating art, emphasizing the gradual development and cultivation of this essential trait.

Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manchester, spoke of the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation for student experience and career development whilst at university, recognising their key role in the City’s entrepreneurial eco-system.

Caroline Everson, Careers Manager for the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester, addressed the vital role of enterprise as a key employability skill. She emphasised how entrepreneurial thinking is highly valued and sought after by graduate employers, positioning students for future success.

The event also provided an excellent opportunity for teaching and learning staff from various departments and schools across the university to join the MEC Community of Interest. These colleagues enthusiastically championed the value of entrepreneurial learning and pledged their support in ensuring that enterprise and entrepreneurship programmes are accessible for all students across the campus.

The Social Enterprise Discovery Bootcamp brought together students from across each Faculty at the University of Manchester, demonstrating MEC's unwavering commitment to driving positive social impact through entrepreneurship. This year's program witnessed a remarkable influx of talent and creativity, further solidifying the centre's position as a leader in promoting sustainable business practices and fostering a culture of responsible innovation.

Throughout the intensive 1.5-day programme, participants engaged in a series of hands-on workshops, mentoring sessions, and team-based activities, which challenged them to think beyond traditional business models. The bootcamp encouraged a broader perspective, encouraging participants to explore the intersection of profit and purpose, aiming to create businesses that can make a genuine difference in the world.

Key highlights of the Social Enterprise Discovery Bootcamp included:

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Inspirational Speakers: attendees heard from , social business coach, and MEC Social Enterprise Ambassador , Social Entrepreneur and visiting lecturer at Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School. Further insights were provided by , who recently co-founded the ground-breaking new charitable funding platform .

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Collaborative Learning: Participants collaborated in interdisciplinary teams, fostering a dynamic environment where diverse perspectives merged to generate new ideas and solutions.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Sustainable Business Models: The bootcamp emphasised the importance of incorporating sustainable practices, inspiring participants to create businesses that have a positive impact on both people and the planet.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Mentorship and Guidance: all attendees have benefitted from ongoing personalised guidance to nurture their entrepreneurial aspirations.

As participants immersed themselves in the challenges faced by real-life social enterprises, they were tasked with devising viable business plans to address pressing social and environmental issues. Anika Dubey, programme attendee and MSc International Development student, shared her feedback: “From business planning and the Social Business Model Canvas to perfecting pitches and writing compelling proposals, we honed our skills and received valuable feedback from peers. I'm grateful for the supportive environment fostered by the bootcamp.”

Meanwhile, fellow attendee Kexin Zhang, MA English Literature & American Studies student, reflects: “The bootcamp has ignited my passion for social entrepreneurship and equipped me with valuable tools and knowledge to create positive change.”

MEC’s Social Enterprise Discovery Bootcamp has proven to be a steppingstone for visionary entrepreneurs who aspire to redefine the landscape of business for a brighter and more sustainable future. The centre's dedication to fostering innovation and empowering individuals to create meaningful social impact remains unwavering.

"We are immensely proud of the remarkable talent and dedication demonstrated by all the participants in this year's Social Enterprise Discovery Bootcamp," said Lucy Hutchinson, Community Development Manager at MEC. "The ideas and solutions they've generated showcase the potential of entrepreneurship to drive positive change in our society. As a centre, we remain committed to supporting these aspiring changemakers as they continue on their journey to create businesses that make a lasting difference."

About the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC): MEC is a leading hub for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at the intersection of profit and purpose. Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of socially conscious entrepreneurs, the centre welcomes all students, staff, and graduates from the University of Manchester.

Lynn Sheppard, Director of the commented: “This year’s Venture Further Awards were again an amazing demonstration of the entrepreneurial spirit of students and graduates from across the University.”  

Twenty teams reached the final round, across five categories – Environmental, Healthcare, Services, Social and Technology. Four teams competed for the top cash prize of £15,000 with second place winners receiving £5,000.

This year’s winners of £15,000 are:

Environmental Category: Naxca Ltd. 

Naxca is on a mission to optimise and electrify space heating systems. Using technology and data-driven strategies to unlock the potential for lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions. 

Marco Antonio Rodriguez Frias, Ph.D. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, Alumni Class of 2020

Healthcare Category: NanoGraft Ltd.

A health tech start-up focussed on helping restore sensation to lower limb amputees. NanoGraft are developing a wearable device that provides sensory stimulus to the user allowing them to feel the ground when they walk. 

Gergana Ivanova, MEng Material Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences   
Omar Haroun, MEng Material Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences

Services Category: Hive: Student and Industry STEM Solutions Ltd.

Through HiveSpace’s industry sponsored space projects, space businesses across the UK can connect with the next generation of talent and students can explore space-related design projects generating the high-demand skills they need to kickstart their space career. 

Thomas Chiu, MEng Aerospace Engineering with Industrial Experience, School of Engineering

Social Category: Active Ageing Initiative

AGI supports older adults across Ghana to age with dignity and respect. They train partner institutions to implement the AGI framework, advocate and prioritise care for older adults and conduct research to develop the framework to drive real change. 

Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku, Ph.D. Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Alumni Class of 2019  
Kwame Asamoah Kwarteng, MSc International Development: Globalisation Trade and Industry, School of Environment Education and Development, Alumni Class of 2019

Technology Category: Metofico Ltd.

Metofico supplies custom solutions for life scientists to manage and process the deluge of data produced by modern life science experiments. The mission is to provide the best solutions to enable researchers to produce the best scientific outputs. 

Mehdi Boutagouga Boudjadja, Ph.D. Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Alumni Class of 2022

Organiser of the Venture Further Awards Competition, Ellie Buckley commented: “Over the past 20 years, Venture Further has provided student and graduate founders with the vital support and funding required to develop their businesses. 75% of VFA businesses are still active today and collectively have secured over £21M in investment. This is a real testament to the quality of the ventures being developed through this competition. This year’s finalists have been equally impeccable, and we look forward to supporting all the founders in furthering their start-ups and making them a success.” 

If you missed the live stream of the awards evening, you can watch a recording: 
 

Venture Further Awards 2023

Are you curious about the different opportunities and career paths after University? How might your unique life experiences shape your journey ahead? Do you want to meet and learn from people who have made their own pathways to success?

This is an unmissable opportunity to BUILD YOUR NETWORK, GET INSPIRED and GAIN INSIGHT from real people who have worked hard to and done amazing things in their career journeys so far, whether that is through entrepreneurship or using an entrepreneurial mindset in their work.

Join us for which is all about supporting personal progression after university,

• Increasing awareness of pathways and career opportunities
• Connecting and networking with successful diverse industry professionals
• Access to additional opportunities, professional development workshops, Events and Competitions

You'll have the opportunity to learn from and connect with successful entrepreneurs, social innovators, and professionals from a wide range of backgrounds.

Speakers include:

John Eades

John Eades has worked in the sports & events industry for over 30 years holding director level positions at 91ֱ�� United and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Having worked on major events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Football Championships, Ryder Cup and a FIFA World Youth Championships he now heads up the UK arm of DAIMANI. This Swiss based company whose e-commerce platform is a global market place for VIP hospitality experiences are exclusive rights holders on this year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Rugby World 2023 and next year’s UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. John started his academic journey as a mature student, completing a HND in Leisure Studies in 1991 and a BA in Business & Management in 1994 at the age of 29. 

More info:

Samson Owolabi

Samson leads Bearded Fellow’s creative department from the initial campaign concept through to the delivery of the final production assets. With a background and education in Theatre, TV, and Film, he brings deep insights and knowledge about how the creative process can solve business challenges. Samson has experience in managing successful online and TV campaigns with the likes of Warner Bros, Remington, Reebok, EE, Princes, Google and more. Samson spends a good proportion of his time creating visual concepts, writing scripts and storyboards, and shooting films as a cinematographer and director in addition to editing films. He also takes the strategic lead on education and speaks frequently on entrepreneurship panels.

More info:

Jonathan Edgerley

Jonathan is a Clinical Scientist specialising in rare disease genomics within the 91ֱ�� Centre for Genomic Medicine and the North West Genomic Laboratory Hub. Alumni of the University of Manchester and of the National School of Healthcare Science, Jonathan has successfully completed the Health Education England NHS Scientist Training Programme, obtaining a MSc in Clinical Sciences (Genomics) and graduating with distinction. Jonathan’s career progression sees him enrolling on the Higher Specialist Scientist Training Programme towards becoming a Consultant Clinical Scientist, leading on translational genomic research and diagnostic service innovation along the way.

More info:

Feya Mattis

Feya Mattis aka '' is a marketing consultant and a multi-disciplinary artist from 91ֱ��. She calls attention to the interconnectedness that exists within the world. She constantly explores various disciplines to broaden her own understanding and uses them to develop her skills as a marketing consultant and cultural curator.

More info:

Madeleine Penfold

Driven by people and the power of storytelling, my work focuses on creating Energetic, Impactful, and Emotive visual work for local to global projects. Stories have the power to shift perceptions and change the world - I am driven by an opportunity to create visual work that contributes to creating an equally representative and inclusive visual landscape, across mainstream media, capturing stories that inspire and encourage positive change.

I am passionate about human movement, creativity, sports and stories of growth.

Experimenting with different forms is all part of the fun - photography, moving image, creative retouching and digital art are part of what I do.

Born and raised in North 91ֱ��, I grew up taking pictures with any camera I could get my hands on - mums disposables, dads compact old digital. I was inspired by the world around me, a nearby football pitch and rows up on rows of terrace houses was my youth. As I got older, I became curious of the wider world, especially stories of my grandma’s upbringing in Kenya, which lead me onto exploring the world of image making in a number of communities and culture.

My passion led me to the USA, South East Asia and South Africa and West Africa. Driven by purpose, I made my way around by working at summer camps, photographing for charities and cofounded a charity project in West Africa. It was within these experiences that I realised the power of storytelling for good and formed a natural, intuitive and immersive style of photography.

Today, I love to work with other passionate creatives, collaborating on projects, playing with ideas and working with my team or alternative team with the aim of making work that matters.

More info:

Christina Taylor

Christina started teaching her friends dance at a local youth centre aged 13. By 16 she had 23 other young people in her dance group. between 16-19 years old she received £70,000 funding to deliver projects under her community organisation. Aged 17 her group placed 2nd at UK Hip Hop Dance Championships and she raised £8000 to take herself and 5 children to represent the UK at World Hip Hop Dance Championships where they reached the semi-finals.

During her studies at University, her lecturer introduced her to the concept of social enterprise whilst the youth service was in the midst of being cut.

Due to her continued work in the community, she was awarded a full scholarship for her Masters in Enterprise where she wrote her dissertation on transitioning voluntary and community organistions into successful social enterprises. Her masters dissertation was used in a government report led by Michelle Mone the was commissioned by former Prime Minister David Cameron on how to mobilise people in underprivileged areas to create successful businesses. She then followed her own advice and created The Aim Sky High Company in 2013.

The purpose of Aim Sky High is to help socially mobilise children and young people and address social issues through the medium of dance. The message shines through and the young people have danced for Justin Bieber, were personally requested by Stormzy for his headline Wireless Festival performance and have had a CBBC documentary filmed and aired about the dance school.

Aim Sky High has gone from 23 children to over 200 in the performing arts school and the company works with an average of 500 school children a week. The school boasts current European and World Streetdance Champions.

The company also provides additional free of charge community dance sessions in the deprived areas of Greater 91ֱ��. The company has won awards such as:

• Barclays School for Start- Ups Social Enterprise 2013
• Lenovo Social Impact Award 2014
• 'Inspiring Youth' Award @ Social Enterprise UK Awards 2015
• Duke of York Young Entrepreneur 2016

Christina is also a Lloyds Bank Social Enterprise Scale - Up 2016 and holds a close relationship with the CEO of HSBC and is regularly mentored by a Business Relationship Manager at HSBC.

In June 2019, Christina stated Aim Sky High Talent agency that has taken off very well.

More info:

 Joining the program

Individuals, or groups of researchers, can now submit details of your research to impact proposal to join the programme.    

The deadline for submissions is 17 April 2023.    

A Selection Panel (comprised of key University Faculty, Innovation Factory, MEC staff and external domain experts) will then shortlist individuals or teams to go on to the next stage of training and you will be informed of the outcome of your application by 21 April 2023.    

All shortlisted individuals, or teams, will be given Faculty support, permission to attend and awarded up to £500 to spend on justifiable expenses incurred during the programme to support the ongoing development of your opportunities.    

There is no better time to take your spark and your ambition and learn how to turn a research idea and innovation into a reality from leading experts and identify the best route to impact.    

Don't miss this opportunity; complete the application form by 17 April 2023.

While we may also be able to consider applications received before 21 April, places on the programme are limited, so we recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment.

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This programme is being coordinated through the , which is an umbrella initiative and joint venture between the Business Engagement and Innovation Team, the and the and has the aim of bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research.

Taking place in the MEC Enterprise Zone (2nd floor, Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School), this bootcamp will provide you with essential entrepreneurial skills increasing your knowledge and confidence around business doing good. It will also provide useful tools and resources that you can then apply into your further studies, your own enterprise development and of course your future careers, all in an environment where you will work and learn together in teams.

We will cover key themes such as:

• Entrepreneurial mindset;
• Idea generation;
• Value proposition;
• Impact measurement;
• Social business modelling & planning as well as
• How to pitch yourself and your ideas for success - and much, much more!!

Participants on our last Bootcamp left it feeling; -“Awesome and Motivated” “challenged, inspired, encouraged”.“Empowered. Resourceful. Purposeful” “Informed, confident, prepared”.

This exciting opportunity is not to be missed so !

* Please note that this workshop has a value upwards of £500 per person, so we require full commitment for both days to maximise learning and participation. Applicants who are unable to complete full registration and confirm their commitment to attend both days will unfortunately not be offered a place. *

Agenda

Day 1: Wednesday 21st June;

09:30 - 10:00 Welcome and refreshments

10:00 - 17:00Training and Development workshop (including lunch and refreshments)

17:00 - 18:30 Drinks and Networking

Day 2: Thursday 22nd June;

09:30 - 10:00 Welcome and refreshments

10:00 - 13:00Training and Development workshop (including refreshments)

13:00 Close

Peter Ptashko FRSA is a social entrepreneur, funder and supporter of impactful businesses and social change leaders. He is also a change management consultant working with a range of clients across the Public and Private sectors. He holds a series of leadership and Board-level positions across these two sectors, with a particular focus and interest in Education.

He has 15 years of experience working in the field of Impactful Business globally, having launched his first venture back in 2005 whilst at university – raising £25,000 in only 7 hours. Since then he has worked for UnLtd: the UK foundation for social entrepreneurs, supporting thousands of social entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses across (in particular) the Youth and Education sectors, securing an investment of almost £10m for universities across England from the UK Government.

He is the former Director of the Global Social Entrepreneurship Network (GSEN), leading its 60 members (from banks to universities; foundations to incubators) in over 70 countries to better support social entrepreneurs around the world – providing them a voice and capacity to flourish wherever they may be. Before this he was based in their Mexico City office, with a focus on Impact Investment across Latin America.

He launched Cambio in 2019 as a response to the growing need for mainstream, high quality, internationally-informed and tailored support to social entrepreneurs in the UK, and beyond. Since then he has worked with a range of clients, including foundations, international networks and corporates. He has a specialist focus in Higher Education and is a Social Entrepreneur in Residence at a range of top universities – including Coventry, Kingston, Warwick, Imperial and Leeds. He lectures in impactful business at a variety of business schools, including Bedfordshire, Kingston, Ravensbourne, UCL and 91ֱ��.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA) and is passionate about Education, Politics, Economics, Music & Performance. He has so far visited and worked across 60 countries.

Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material, is a game-changing UK discovery and its properties make it one of the most important breakthroughs in recent memory. Graphene is a wonder material, with incredible electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties.

Prizes of £50,000 and £20,000 will be awarded to the individuals or teams who can best demonstrate how their technology relating to graphene or other 2D materials could be applied to a viable commercial opportunity. We will also be including an additional prize that celebrates the University's position as one of the leading institutions in the world on sustainable development.

Applications will be judged on the strength of their business plan to develop a new graphene-related business. The award then becomes seed funding to allow the candidate to take the first steps towards realising this plan. It recognises the role that high-level, flexible early-stage financial support can play in the successful development of a business targeting the full commercialisation of a product or technology related to research in graphene.

The final deadline for completed competition entries is midday on Friday 16 June 2023.

Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Award 2023: introduction and overview

Join us on Tuesday 9 May and hear from Tony Walker, Deputy Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, who will give an overview of the competition, and share with you hints and tips as to what the judges will be looking for in your application.

You will learn about the support available to support you with your application and how to access this.

We're also pleased to welcome and introduce you to a previous winner of the competition, who can share with you their experience and how they have progressed with their idea since being involved with the Harari programme.

Key Dates*

• Monday 13 February - competition opens for expressions of interest
• Tuesday 9 May - information session for competition entrants
• Week of 29 May - meet with application experts from GEIC
• Week of 5 June - meet with commercialisation experts
• Friday 16 June - entry deadline, 12pm
• Wednesday 21 June – Finalists notified
• Monday, 26 June - Finalists invited to pitch to Mock Panel
• Monday 3 July – Mock Panel pitch
• Tuesday 4 July- Finalists invited to pitch in the Final Judging Panel
• Friday 7 July - Final Judging Panel 1-4pm.
• Friday 14 July - Winners Awards Event 3.30-5pm.

*timings may vary 

Congratulations to our winning ideas:

Tapiwanashe Trevor James (School of Arts, Languages and Cultures)           
App monitoring human rights abuses in Africa.

James Griffith (School of Arts, Languages and Cultures)           
Alternative Provision Music School (AP music school).

Vanyaa Surana (School of Biological Sciences)           
App for livestock breeding.

Adrian Ko (School of Biological Sciences) (team: Florence Cleminson, Joshua Tan, Kaito Fukushima, Kirstin Jeynes)           
TOCO - Wear it with ease. Wear it with style.

Manya Girdhar (Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School) (team: Aïssata Berthé)           
GoSafe app for University students.

Ananya Kaul(Anthropology)           
A super-app structure for a perimenopause and menopause care app.

Khooshbo Hafizi (School of Social Sciences) (team: Suzet Bayar)           
AI powered networking app.

Subodh Agarwal (Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School) (team: Narayani Ramalingam)           
Advice service for students from India to study in the UK.

Binjie Wang (Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School)           
Digital tool to accelerate the efficiency of the transaction monitoring process for financial institutions.

Teya Fontaine (School of Biological sciences)           
Galpal - an app that connects women who want to solo travel.

If you’re looking to pursue a business idea or develop career-enhancing entrepreneurial skills, sign up to and other MEC activities and events at entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk.

Celebrations kicked off on Monday 14 November with MEC’s inaugural MCR Makes market, a market showcasing some of the product-based businesses which have been set up by students and staff whilst at university. From artisan gin to a leading football brand for women and girls, the market gave students the opportunity to see where entrepreneurship can take them.

Tuesday and Thursday saw the GEW audience go online for two panel sessions giving attendees practical advice and skills on how to establish tech start-ups and social enterprises. Streamed live on MEC’s Facebook channel, “failing fast” for tech entrepreneurs, to asking yourself “what difference do you want to make in the world” as a social entrepreneur, were amongst the top pieces of advice.

Wednesday saw the week’s flagship event, Entrepreneurs@91ֱ��, take place with Baroness Karren Brady CBE, Vice Chairman of West Ham United Football Club, a Peer in the House of Lords and featured on BBC’s The Apprentice. Hosted by MEC’s Director, Lynn Sheppard, Karren, recognised as the first woman in football, shared her insights on how to become a successful entrepreneur.

Ellie Buckley, event organiser, said “It’s our mission to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem across campus. Global Entrepreneurship Week gave us a great platform to showcase the entrepreneurial individuals at 91ֱ��, and encourage those who aren’t aware of these activities to get involved and learn new skills.”

The week finished with two events running in tandem. In partnership with 91ֱ�� Students’ Union, MEC ran its first society-led makers market, Societies Supermarket, where University societies used their entrepreneurial skills to make additional income.

MEC also held its first Mini Summit, a panel session discussing the importance of developing entrepreneurial student talent in second cities and innovation districts. Deputy Director of MEC, Tony Walker was joined by colleagues from a series of leading centres in cities synonymous with entrepreneurship, innovation, and talent development across the EU and US.

For more information on MEC’s activities, please visit: .

Taking part alongside nine other finalists also giving their highly polished, professional pitches, Niki presented One World Together: a community for Global Citizens where you can enhance the impact of your charitable giving while engaging directly with the local communities and organisations that your funds support in the UK and low-income countries around the world.

The judges were unanimous in their conviction over how difficult judging was due to the quality and diversity of ventures presented and were asked to provide funding based on those ideas they felt the money could progress on a business level and where the funds could make a big impact.

Overall three ideas were selected:

• Dr. Nicola Banks was awarded £45,000 for One World Together;
• Dr. Lucy Kelly (Bristol) was awarded £30,000 for Re-imagining the Diary;
• Dr. David Rosenthal (Exeter) was awarded £15,000 for Hidden Cities.

Niki commented “One World Together are proud to have designed a system that turns existing charitable giving on its head. Your funds will reach our partner organisations around the world on a long-term, predictable and unrestricted basis: absolutely the best form of support for stronger and more agile communities around the world, able to think and invest strategically for the future and respond to the challenges they face.

With the ARC funding we hope to launch in May 2023. Please sign up to our mailing list or email us to keep up to date with our progress. We hope to see you in our community space soon!"

Find out more:  

ARC is part of ASPECT - a Research England funded project developing a growing network of organisations working together to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialisation in social sciences. 

The Aspect Research Commercialisation (ARC) Accelerator is specifically designed to help academics and researchers in SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) explore turning their research ideas into businesses or ventures to help people, society, and the economy.

If you’re a University of Manchester researcher or academic within SHAPE disciplines, applications for are now open. For more information, please email us at entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk. 

Venture Further is organised by the .

Anyone can have a bright idea and bright ideas can come from anywhere. If you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student here at The University of Manchester and have an idea - no matter how big or small - you could win £200 to help move it forward.

Bright Ideas is a competition aimed at students in all three Faculties new to enterprise and entrepreneurship who are interested in learning more about spotting opportunities and generating new ideas.

Last year we received a high number of entries covering all sorts of topics, from a smart watch to monitor and support medication for people with memory illnesses, to making plant based dog foods to be available to pet owners in supermarkets and a device scanning and translating into braille. 

The idea you enter is limited only by your imagination.

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 We must create actionable solutions to climate change. These include passive housing, using efficient energy solutions, working with eco-friendly materials and quality furniture makers which keep our planet in mind.

Founded by experienced architectural designer and University of Manchester graduate Sophia Major, IGOLO aims to become the #1 sustainability tool for homeowners, renovators, and building professionals across the UK. With the support of winning the 's competition back in 2021, awarding IGOLO first place in the environmental category, Sophia was able to launch her business this year.

“Homeowners, renovators and building professionals find it difficult to source authentically  sustainable products amongst a sea of greenwashing and complex product information.”  (Sophia Major, founder of IGOLO) 

Each item listed on IGOLO has been rigorously assessed to ensure that it meets the highest standards in social, environmental, and health practices.

IGOLO is a community of brands with the goal of providing an easy, guilt-free service for those seeking sustainable home design and renovations. They are excited to spotlight some of their favourite sustainable brands, such as Goldfinger, Caracara Collective, Jott Studio, Ty Syml and many more companies who are taking substantial leaps towards sustainable change. 

One of the brands part of the IGOLO community states that “Today’s linear “take, make, dispose” model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy, and it is a model that has reached its physical limits.” (Wehlers) 

IGOLO is much more than a shop - it is on a mission to educate, inspire, and raise awareness of the need for sustainable home design and accountable companies, creating an environment of conscious consumerism.

To find out more about IGOLO visit .

The project’s consortium is committed to mainstream network intelligence (nIQ) – a system-change methodology developing digital competencies at the ecosystem level for innovation and networking. The goal is to empower purpose-driven entrepreneurial people to amplify growth opportunities from the networks they build to innovate better, faster and have long-term resilience.

Network IQ Alliance’s 2030 vision, via nIQ, is to create systemic impact in higher education at the institutional level by integrating innovation and entrepreneurship into the core strategies of higher education institutions (HEIs), building leadership capacity to execute them and connecting them better with their city-level ecosystems and globally.

The project calls for harnessing the power of networked communities to scale-up and accelerate the impact of entrepreneurial universities, enabling them to:

• build forward better ecosystems both physical and digital;
• use existing and new networks more effectively;
• direct better capacity building for stakeholder and client success;
• optimise existing networks for better sharing, selling, innovating, partnering and fundraising;
• build self-confidence, responsible leadership and change leaders;
• address the innovation ‘stickiness factor’ for long-term benefit;
• drive real social change at scale in the research and innovation community.

Network IQ Alliance partners aim to accelerate the health, manufacturing, green and digital transformation, and deepen the integration of industrial regions, which are Emerging Innovators with regions that reinvented themselves and became Moderate and Strong Innovators.

Through the Innovation Vision Action Plan, the project aims to execute and act on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Strategic Innovation Agenda. Network IQ Alliance is focused on transforming individuals and teams with skills to immediately reach out to their network, procure resources, achieve purpose and objectives for immediate success and long-term impact – all using technology.

During the pilot phase the project will:

• support five innovative SMEs via multidisciplinary research teams;
• train 130 students with nIQ skills for developing innovation, fundraising and global market access, including 15 students mentored;
• train 15 academic staff and mentor 5 in nIQ to embed in their HEI’s innovation/entrepreneurship education;
• train 15 non-academic staff and mentor 5 to embed nIQ in their HEI’s strategy and processes;
• establish two nIQ ‘train the trainer’ centres at HEIs for popularising the methodology;
• form one new collaborative partnership in the knowledge triangle.

The Network IQ Alliance results and outcomes will be successfully translated into real-world impact aligned with the priorities of EIT Manufacturing, EIT Health, ETI Digital and EIT Climate.onths!

About the EIT’s HEI Initiative

The EIT’s HEI Initiative is a key objective for the EIT as part of its new strategy, the . The initiative aims to support higher education institutions with expertise and coaching, access to the EIT innovation ecosystem, and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans complementing the needs of individual higher education institutions. As part of its Pilot Phase, the initiative has provided funding to 23 projects, with the next call for proposals expected towards the end of 2021.

About the EIT

The (EIT) strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, among leading companies, research labs and universities.

Firstly the assembled finalists and guests heard from Physics alumnus and founder of global flash-memory giant, SanDisk, Dr. Eli Harari joined the awards event as a guest speaker, live from the USA. He described the aim of the competition, since it started in 2013, to encourage students, researchers and visionaries toward innovation and risk taking. He also highlighted 91ֱ��’s development as the ‘Graphene City’ and how this was reminiscent of the early years and potential of Silicon Valley and concluded with  advice for the competition finalists.

Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Award Winners

The award winners were announced and presentations made by chair of the judging panel Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester.

First prize of £50,000 was awarded to Dr. Aled D. Roberts, Research Fellow  (School of Natural Sciences) and his team (Aoife Taylor, Helen Park and Sunny Vowles) at . This venture is developing  a green, bioinspired alternative to ceramic tiles that not only avoids energy-intensive firing, but also consists of captured carbon dioxide in the form of  carbonate minerals.

Professor Luke Georghiou presenting first prize to Aled Roberts and Aoife Taylor.

Taking inspiration from natural materials such as pearl and seashells, then using natural chlorophyll resources to give colour, they have developed a bio-based composite (biocomposite) material that will incorporate graphene to meet strict performance requirements necessary for commercialisation - by improving flexural strength and hydrophobicity.

The Graphene Bio-tiles (GBT) stand out from the competition by having a far lower (and potentially negative) carbon footprint compared to conventional ceramic tiles.

Aled commented: “Our team was immensely humbled and honoured to have won the 2022 Harari Graphene Enterprise Award. We honestly weren’t expecting to win, given the strength of the competition this year, and we were speechless when the announcement was made. Now that its sunk in, we’re really excited for what we’ll be able to achieve with this transformational amount of funding. We plan to use the prize money to expand from my cellar and kitchen into some proper laboratory facilities – my wife isn’t too happy about the 50-tonne hydraulic press that currently occupies the living room, or when I accidentally made a poison gas in the microwave. We’re also looking forward to dedicating our full effort to developing our materials, rather than being limited to evenings and weekends. We’re also excited to obtain some high-quality characterisation of our materials at the (GEIC) in 91ֱ��, as we have largely depended on favours from friends and free testing done at trade-shows to date.”

In second place and claiming the £20,000 prize was Joseph Neilson with G-Sense, using atomically thin monolayers of graphene as the strain sensing element in transparent, precise, stretchable, and wide-area strain sensing applications from aerospace to fitness tracking. This technology opens new opportunities for making air and road travel safer, reducing glass waste, and delivering unprecedented transparent sensing functionality for an increasingly interconnected world. 

Joseph commented: “I am incredibly grateful towards all the organisers, and to Eli and Britt Harari for funding the award, which presents excellent opportunities for innovation breakthroughs using graphene. I am also grateful for the staff at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, for all their help and fruitful discussions over the past few months. I was elated, and a little bit shocked, to win the £20,000 prize, which will allow us to upgrade our deposition equipment, scaling up the maximum area of G-Sense films from 25 square centimetres to over 600 square centimetres. With the support of and , we are confident that we can secure additional investment to fund the future of G-Sense and grow the business’”.

This year also saw the inclusion of an additional prize that celebrates the University's position leading the world on sustainable development. The first winners of the £10,000 Eli Harari Sustainability award were Omar Haroun and Gergana Ivanova from . Nanograft aim to develop a neuroprosthetic device that allows amputees to feel the ground as they walk with their prosthetic leg. The device takes pressure input from an insole equipped with sensors and transmits this signal to the severed leg's nerves. By stimulating the nerves once again this technology could potentially help to alleviate phantom limb pain more effectively as well as improve the comfort and quality of life of the patient.

Omar commented: "The team at NanoGraft are wholeheartedly delighted to receive the first ever Sustainability Award for the 2022 Harari Graphene Enterprise Awards at AMBS. As undergraduate Material Science and Engineering students at The University of Manchester, this award exists as a celebration of the academic excellence of our institution. Looking back at all those who have won this prestigious award, and where they are now, this strengthens our resolve to follow in their footsteps and push the boundaries of neuroprosthetics."

Introducing the Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Award 2022 Finalists

The three winning teams were selected by a panel of professional judges from a shortlist of five finalists all seeking to secure funding to drive their ideas forward. Watch the video to find out more.

The award is co-funded by the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester through the support of Dr. Eli Harari and his wife, Britt. It recognises the role that high-level, flexible, early-stage financial support can play in the successful development of a business targeting the full commercialisation of a product or technology related to research in graphene and 2D materials.

The artworks included in the EY-ZERO1 collection are designed around Etihad’s 787  Dreamliner fleet, reinventing the once physical aircraft models. A total of 2003 limited-edition collectibles, will go on sale at 6pm. UAE time on 21 July through . The traits and rarity of the meticulously designed NFTs will only be revealed on the 24 June. 

NFT collection of 3D aircraft models will provide owners with benefits and support procurement of sustainable fuel.

By tailoring the collection to both aviation and web3 enthusiasts, instant utility can be granted to buyers of the collection, in the form of Etihad Guest Silver Tier membership.  Long-term benefits are also given to those who continue to support Etihad’s web3 roadmap such as  unlocking access to special Etihad events and a chance to be part of Etihad NFT club for exclusive holder benefits. 

By minting on the energy-efficient Polygon blockchain, NFTs have lower carbon footprint and all CO2 emissions of the project will be offset with Arcube’s partner, Aerial. 20 EY-ZERO1 NFTs will be distributed to members who register on before 16 July, giving everyone the chance to obtain a key to the future roadmap. 

Each NFT is priced at US$ 349 plus local taxes, with all profits from the collection being used to purchase sustainable aviation fuel by Etihad Airways.    

Limited-edition Etihad and 91ֱ�� City merchandise will be distributed through Etihad Airways’ Discord channel, which can be joined using the link: .    

For further detailed announcements on the NFT release, follow Etihad’s dedicated Twitter account (@etihadNFT).

Arcube founders have been supported by MEC's fund.
 

Martin Henery, Lecturer in Enterprise, represented MEC in Florence, presenting a Pecha Kucha style presentation about MEC and all the support we have on offer.   

This recognition comes just in time for our Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Awards 2022 as we make our way to the final on Monday 4 July, when five teams from across the University of Manchester will pitch their promising proposals to a panel of professionals in a bid to secure significant funding to drive their novel ideas forward.   

The winners of the competition will then be announced by Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester, in the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre on Friday 8 July.   

To find out more, head over to our for the latest support, workshops and funding opportunities.

Aline Miller, Professor of Biomolecular Engineering and Associate Dean for Business Engagement and Innovation, presented the  Innovation Enabling Awards to the six winning projects.

Award Winners

Innovation Enabling Award: £10,000

Organoid Solutions      
Chrisoula Chappell (Doctoral Prize Fellowship, Materials).

Innovation Enabling Awards: £5,000

RE-FLOURISH   
Ting-Chen (Chloe) Hsu (Ph.D. Student, Biological Sciences).

Sprotone   
Rinta Mathew (Ph.D. Student, Medical Sciences).

CMV (cytomegalovirus) detecting Test Strip   
Robert Bagley (Ph.D. Student, Natural Sciences).

Talking Tool   
Anamaria Churchman (Lecturer, Health Sciences).

FungiDX   
Bright Ocansey (Ph.D. Student, Biological Sciences).

The prize winners will also receive expert support and onward access to places on regional and national accelerator programmes and all the participants on the programme may receive mentorship and guidance from Faculty Innovation Champions and internal professional support teams, including the opportunity to build relationships with the and the .

The Faculty focussed Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme programme has been coordinated through the FSE Innovation Academy, which is an umbrella initiative and joint venture between the FSE Business Engagement and Innovation Team, the and the and has the aim of bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research from FSE.

More than 80 entrepreneurs, colleagues from The University of Manchester, investors and wider support partners gathered to learn how entrepreneurial individuals have benefitted from the support provided by MEC over the last 20 years and network amongst exhibiting start-ups.  

Professor Vikas Shah MBE DL, a CEO of the Swiscot Group and Honorary Professor at the Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School, spoke at the event. Chairing a panel of five MEC alumni from the last 20 years, Vikas explored their entrepreneurial journeys and the advice they would give to those starting out.  

MEC’s core mission, to deliver ‘Entrepreneurship for All’ on campus, aligns around three core pillars of Learn, Develop and Launch. Demonstrating some of these, the Showcase featured talks on the (Increasing and Evaluating Student Impact in Knowledge and Learning Exchange) project in partnership with UCL and the (Aspect Research Commercialisation) Accelerator in partnership with The University of Oxford. It also highlighted the programme, focussing on the development of research ideas stemming from the Faculty of Science and Engineering researchers.  

Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School Honorary Professor Dr. Daria Tataj, author of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. A Growth Model for Europe beyond the Crisis also gave her inaugural lecture ‘An Insight into . How to Make Innovation and Entrepreneurship Thrive’.  

Lynn Sheppard, Director of MEC commented: “We continue to develop innovative programmes that give all students across the Campus an opportunity to engage with entrepreneurship. It is vital to equip our graduates with the confidence to ‘make things happen’, to help them to grasp and realise the many opportunities that their futures will bring.”  

Deputy Director of MEC Tony Walker said: “This Showcase has given us the opportunity to demonstrate the entrepreneurial talent which is thriving at The University of Manchester.  

“What’s fantastic is that so many people from many different backgrounds joined together at our inaugural Showcase event. We heard from a great range of entrepreneurs with different business concepts, all of whom are at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. All our entrepreneurs gave an insight into their companies and how MEC’s wide range of support has helped them progress, including some of the challenges they’ve faced.”  

He added: “The most exciting element for me was the ASK@MCR quick fire pitching session. We’re always looking for new ways to support our businesses and introduce them to potential partners.”  

Streamed live, featured nine MEC start-ups who pitched their ‘ask’ to the panel of investors and business leaders, be that investment or essential connections. The start-ups ranged from a social enterprise fighting food poverty on multiple front’s, to a biotech company developing high quality diagnostics products for early cancer detection. Audience members were given a QR code so that they could get involved in supporting the entrepreneurs.  

MEC has evolved into an organisation with a multi-disciplinary team devoted to the delivery of sustainable, refined and integrated on- and extra-curricular programmes to foster enterprise and encourage entrepreneurial thinking.  

Ellie Buckley, Enterprise Business Development Executive and event organiser commented: “We’ve received phenomenal feedback from everyone who attended the Showcase. It gave our entrepreneurs a prime opportunity to celebrate what they’ve achieved and make some great connections.”

For more information, please visit .

If you’re an international recent graduate from The University of Manchester with an interest in starting your own business, then you may be eligible to apply for endorsement for the Start-up Visa via the .

The new businesses will need to be innovative with a clear sustainable competitive advantage over existing provision, they will need to be scalable with potential to create substantial jobs and growth not just in the UK but abroad as well, and that the applicants will need to be able to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and competencies to run the business.

This call is open to recent graduates and current students or postgraduates who will be graduating on/before 30 September 2022.

Application forms can be obtained by contacting us (entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk).

Completed applications should be submitted to startupvisa@manchester.ac.uk by 8:00am. (GMT) on Monday 6 June 2022.

To view our informative webinar on Start Up Visa please visit this link:

The sad news is that the scheme will be suspended, if not permanently discontinued, at the end of September. So if you haven’t already graduated or will not graduate this year, then you will not be able to apply for this scheme.

We will probably have a second and final call deadline in late August 2022, but this depends on whether we still have any of our quota left (we have a maximum of 15 endorsements we can make between 5 April 2022 and 30 September 2022).

Lynn Sheppard, Director of the commented: “The annual Venture Further competition is an opportunity for our students and early stage graduates to pitch their start-up ideas and win a significant cash injection to help realise their business goals.” 

25 teams reached the final round, across five categories – Environmental, Healthcare, Services, Social and Technology – five teams competed for the top cash prize of £10,000. Second place winners were awarded £3,000 and third place £2,000.

This year’s winners are:

Environmental Category

Urban Panel: Steve Philip, MEng. Civil and Structural Engineering, School of Engineering

A building material manufacturer and building contractor who are seeking to streamline the construction industry.

Healthcare Category

Organoid Solutions Ltd.: Chrisoula Chappell, Ph.D. Materials, School of Natural Sciences and Dominic Williams, Ph.D. Materials, School of Natural Sciences

A biotech start-up rebuilding fat tissue by utilising an artificial blood capillary network, for women that have undergone complete mastectomies due to invasive breast cancer.

Services Category

91ֱ�� Students’ Group: Farris Ramzy, LLM Healthcare Ethics and Law, School of Social Sciences (Alumni Class of 2019)

An online platform enabling instant communication and sharing with the student community, providing a tool for them to find themselves by finding the right things to do and the right people to do them with.

Social Category

Alternative Football: Bethany Barnes, Ph.D. Cellular Biology, School of Biological Sciences

Providing the first inclusive, adult women’s and non-binary football league in the North of England, creating an atmosphere that each individual is comfortable with, regardless of skill, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or financial background.

Technology Category

Praeferre Ltd.: Abhishek Ghosh, MBA, Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School (Alumni Class of 2019)

Praeferre is strengthening privacy management with blockchain. The Praeferre SaaS platform provides individuals with a single point of control for data privacy and customer rewards across all their digital touch points.

Organiser of the Venture Further Competition and Enterprise Business Development Executive at the , Ellie Buckley, said: “It’s been wonderful to celebrate our finalists in person. The standard and quality of business proposals submitted were impeccable.  

As we saw in the celebration video, Venture Further is a springboard for success, giving student and graduate founders that vital support required to start their business. We look forward to supporting all the winners in furthering their start-ups and making them a success.  

This is just the beginning for our finalists. There are exciting things to come, so watch this space.”

Venture Further Awards 2022

Venture Further 2022 was supported by:

IBM and Slalom.