Spark: An Idea for Business - A Student Enterprise event as reported by Briohny Williams
Hundreds of business plans were entered for a chance to win up to £1000 to support an entrepreneurial vision. Those entries were whittled down to 7 finalists and Friday the 19th of February was judgement day.
So let’s meet the judges and find out what they were looking for:
(left to right) Jeremy Jones (Fulcrum Direct), Abi Carter (Forensic Resources), Gareth Evans (Cardiff University), Phill Mullins (Santander)
Judge 1 by bribriwilliams
A good pitch, a unique selling point and the ability to make money; those are the orders.
The finalists had 4 minutes to persuade the judges that their business deserved the cash prize. Then the judges had 8 minutes to ask questions and grill the contestants. A bit like a Student Enterprise dragon’s den.
THE FINALISTS
Josie West
Business: Dinky Ducklings.
Thoughts on the day
Josie 1 by bribriwilliams
After the pitch
Josie 2 by bribriwilliams
Anton Miloushev
Thoughts on the day
Anton 1 by bribriwilliams
After the pitch
Anton 2 by bribriwilliams
Jason and Matt
Business Idea: Lace LTD.
Thoughts on the day
JM1 by bribriwilliams
After the Pitch
JM2 by bribriwilliams
David Stribling
Business Idea: Lasuni
Thoughts on the day
DAVID 1 by bribriwilliams
After the pitch
DAVID 2 by bribriwilliams
Lucy Fox
Business: Rift Books
Thoughts on the day
Lucy 1 by bribriwilliams
After the Pitch
Lucy 2 by bribriwilliams
Dave Stone
Business: UK Loupes
Thoughts on the day
DAVE 1 by bribriwilliams
After the pitch
DAVE 2 by bribriwilliams
Beth Coslett
Business: Make Up Artist Company (MUA Ltd)
Thoughts on the day
Beth 1 by bribriwilliams
After the pitch
Beth 2 by bribriwilliams
The business ideas were varied which meant the judges had a tough decision on their hands. Some of the applicants were surprisingly calm and others were a nervous wreck. But what really made judges sit up and listen?
Judge 2 by bribriwilliams
The top prize of £1000 went to UK Loupes, with runners-up prizes of £500 each to Lasuni and Mua.
Winners by bribriwilliams
Have you been inspired by Spark? Get your thinking cap on and if you think you’ve got what it takes to be a young entrepreneur, look out for other schemes that could help you.
Whycenterprise by bribriwilliams
Other coverage of the SPARK event
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/articles/winner-looks-to-take-bigger-bite-out-of-the-market.html
http://www.gairrhydd.com/news/919/cardiff-dentistry-student-wins-business-enterprise-competition