Written by Lynn O'Byrne
NTU Enterprise launched Idea Hatchery
NTU Enterprise launched Idea Hatchery, its first co-founder programme, supporting 15 students to collaboratively develop business ideas. Open to students from all disciplines and funded by Santander X, participants pitched for a share of £7,500 in pre-seed funding. The programme offered hands-on experience in forming teams, testing ideas, and pitching to live audiences. “We brought FinStra – Your Virtual CFO to life,” said Niyati. “It’s been a journey of collaboration, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving,” added teammate Anvay. Amrosh shared: “This journey was shaped by powerful conversations, challenges, and people who believed in possibility.” For more information contact will.chew@ntu.ac.uk
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University of St Andrews launches Alumni Founders Community
The University of St Andrews Entrepreneurship Centre launched its Alumni Founders Community – a new network created for entrepreneurial alumni to connect, collaborate and shape the future of alumni enterprise. The launch included a well-attended dinner on 26th June and an Open Meeting on 27th June. Both events brought together past, current and aspiring alumni entrepreneurs to network, share ideas and build lasting connections.
This initiative aims to foster a supportive, engaged community, strengthen ties with the University and spark innovation across the global St Andrews entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re excited to build on this momentum and look forward to future community events.
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MMU: Sustainable Innovation Challenge 2025 – Portrush & Belfast
100 students from Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Liverpool, Ulster University, and The Berlin School of Economics and Law joined forces to tackle a sustainability challenge for The Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Guided by university staff, employers and local experts, students explored how the championship can leave a lasting legacy in Portrush. The event fostered teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, highlighting the power of entrepreneurship and enterprise in driving real-world impact. A mammoth effort from all involved and a clear reminder that innovation flourishes when people collaborate to address meaningful challenges.
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From Ideas to Impact: ARU Students Drive a Start-Up Surge
We are proud to announce that, according to the latest HE-BCI report, ARU is one of the top institutions for student start-ups in the UK, with 123 ventures formed by ARU graduates during the latest reporting period (2023/2024). ARU is now placed seventh in the country and top across all universities in the East of England. The Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy (AREA) contributes to this success through a diverse range of support programmes, activities, opportunities, and events for entrepreneurial students and recent graduates.
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The Weave: The Essex MBA Capstone Week 2025
The Essex MBA Capstone Week 2025 brought together an ambitious cohort of emerging leaders to tackle real-world M&A challenges. Designed and facilitated by The Weave, the week blended strategic thinking, teamwork, and pitch refinement in a dynamic, high-impact format. Students stepped into C-suite roles, working intensively on live business scenarios and presenting their final pitches to an expert panel. The Weave’s unique facilitation approach embedded reflective learning, creative tools, and innovation frameworks throughout. This was a transformative experience—deepening commercial awareness, leadership skills, and confidence—celebrated in this photo outside Essex Business School at the close of an inspiring week.