Students’ business ideas – ranging from an AI powered personal stylist to a smarter nutrition app – have been dissected by industry experts.
The Leeds University Business School Entrepreneur Awards saw students pitch their proposals to a panel of experienced business leaders.
Ali Hussein and Yassin ElBanna, both undergraduate Business Management students, won this year’s Entrepreneur Award. They pitched an idea for a habit tracking app that keeps you accountable for your goals.
Ali said: “This programme has helped us a lot and like our app, kept us accountable for our actions.
“We are planning to launch the app very soon and are grateful for the programme helping us make new connections through the entrepreneurs who came to speak to us. During this process we were able to ask questions and learn new things.”
Yassin added: “Our 1 to 1 meetings with business alumni really did help us a lot. We are still in contact with those entrepreneurs who will be great connections for the future.
“My class last year with Rebecca Padgett, about leading and managing a small business, really helped me in this programme. The frameworks and tips have been instrumental in developing our presentation for this award.”
Left to right: Dean Bolton-Grant, Sharon Jandu OBE, Yassin ElBanna, Ali Hussein, Professor Niall Hayes, Sam Ryan.
The panel included: Sharon Jandu OBE, CEO of Yorkshire Asian Business Association; Sam Ryan, an alumnus of the University and CEO and founder of Zeelo; Dean Bolton-Grant, Managing Director of Grant Horticulture and Urban Grow UK; and Professor Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean of Leeds University Business School.
Sam Ryan said: “It was fantastic returning to Leeds and to witness the continued focus that the University, the Business School and Spark has on supporting student entrepreneurship. Leeds gave my co-founder and I an incredible foundation of ‘just get started’ so it was rewarding to be a small part of aspiring students’ journeys.”
Welcoming our successful alumni back to the University was a powerful reminder that today’s students truly can become the entrepreneurs of the future.
Professor Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean of Leeds University Business School.
The programme, which is in its third year, has been developed by Rebecca Padgett, Associate Professor and Dr Richard Tunstall, Associate Professor of Enterprise at Leeds University Business School. It had 109 students across 26 countries taking part this year. They were supported by 15 mentors, 14 of which were alumni of the University.
Rebecca said: “Once again our students have demonstrated their tenacious passion for enterprise and this programme helps to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
“Experiential learning helps prepare our students for life after University. Through this co-curriculum programme the hands-on experience from our industry mentors helps to broaden their knowledge and business acumen.”
The Entrepreneur Awards have inspired future entrepreneurs, having a profound impact on its alum. This includes Zak Kushner, now a second year undergraduate student studying music with enterprise, who won last year’s competition.
Zak said: “Since winning the award last year, I’ve been able to take part in opportunities with Rebecca Padgett in the student content creator team. I’ve helped to increase engagement by getting more students involved with entrepreneurship.
“It has also expanded my business network and I have ran ideas past my business mentor. The business planning skills I learned through the entrepreneur award have enabled me to explore new business ideas through transferrable knowledge.
“Next year I am studying abroad in Helsinki and I am looking forward to this different experience and how business is done in other countries. I hope to start my own business next year.”
Professor Niall Hayes said: “The Entrepreneur Awards have a lasting impact on our students. Welcoming our successful alumni back to the University was a powerful reminder that today’s students truly can become the entrepreneurs of the future, following in the footsteps of those who started their journey at Leeds.”
Further information
For more information, please contact Rebecca Hurrey at r.hurrey@leeds.ac.uk in the University of Leeds press office.
Picture credit: Alex Beldea.