Students at the University of Winchester pitched their ideas to a panel of ‘investors’ at a Dragons' Den-style event to round off their third year Business Start Up Module.
Steve Northam, senior lecturer in Business Management and the University’s first Entrepreneur in Residence, recruited a pool of local businesspeople to act as dragons and grill the students on their ideas.
Over two full days 32 teams pitched their business proposals during 10-minute presentations.
Prior to entering the den, the teams were required to a produce a properly costed business plan and they were marked on these as well as their presentation skills.
Just as in the BBC programme the Teams gave a valuation for their company and asked for an investment sum in return for a percentage of the business.
Unlike the TV show, Winchester’s den had a ‘real’ dragon as Steve donned a green dragon suit for the occasion.
Some teams were successful in obtaining a ‘hypothetical investment’ and all received valuable constructive criticism of their ideas.
Steve said: “I takes a lot to impress me when it comes to start-up pitches, having watched 1000s over the years but I can honestly say I was blown away by the students showcasing their ideas!”
Many of the ideas such as Hairy Fairy – a device to catch hair in the shower drain – had not gone beyond the planning stage but others were closer to becoming reality.
Farah Abdullah, Issy Calise and Georgia Scottorn who created 'Events in a Box'
“Events in a Box” - a box of themed activities to play at a party or event, dreamt up by Farah Abdullah, Issy Calise and Georgia Scottorn – so impressed Steve that he has asked the team to develop an aviation themed edition for his B&B business based in a converted Boeing 737.
Event Buddy, an app developed by Amelia Meers to help people find new friends when attending music gigs and festivals, has also gone beyond a concept and its creator hopes it will be in app stores soon.
Amelia described the Dragons Den assignment as “one of the most fun and thrilling opportunities that I’ve been given at the University of Winchester”.
She thanked Steve for his support with Event Buddy.
“He has continuously encouraged me and challenged me to do better and build the real thing rather than a concept,” said Amelia, who is studying for a BA in Business Management.
Amelia Meers, creator of the Event Buddy app, meets the Dragon
The Dragons Den is a pathway to The Hatchery – a start-up hub at the University of Winchester which aims to turn bright ideas into thriving new businesses.
Steve runs the Hatchery which can call upon an array of business mentors to help student entrepreneurs turn their plans into reality.
Steve is keen to hear from local businesspeople who would like to be involved with the Hatchery. His email is steven.northam@winchester.ac.uk.
Pictured top: Business Lecturer Seve Northam, in dragon costume, with some of the local businesspeople who joined the panel for the University's Dragons' Den event.
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