We know it can be challenging to start your business without some funding in place.
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Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE)
Win up to £20,000 to start and grow your enterprise
Applications open on 31 January 2023 and close on 31 March 2023
DBACE supports visionary creative entrepreneurs who are over 18 years of age, and are driven by a mission to create and sustain social value through their enterprise.
DBACE aims to reach ambitious individuals from all backgrounds with ideas that will improve the lives of others and the communities we live in.
Deutsche Bank is partnering with MeWe360 to deliver this unique programme.
The prize package is designed to give you everything you need to power up your idea or existing business so that you can take it to the next level.
If you would like some support with your 2023 application, please book an Enterprise Appointment via CareerSPACE or email student-awards (@gold.ac.uk).
The Mayor’s Entrepreneur Awards
Enter this award to win £20,000 for your business idea.
Open to students and recent graduates from London Universities the competition is looking for business ideas that can improve the city we live in.
The Mayor’s Entrepreneur competition is looking for your business ideas to make London cleaner, greener and ready for the future.
There are four categories you can submit an idea to (Creative Industries, Environment, Health and Tech) and each has a top prize of £20,000 start-up funding to help you turn your idea into a real business.
For more details about this competition and the challenges London is facing take a look at the website.
The team that run the competition will be running some free workshops in January and February to support you with your application. Open to all, whether or not you decide to apply for the competition.
For the last two years a Goldsmiths student has made it to the Final of the Mayor’s Award. So definitely think about applying.
If you would like some support with your 2023 application please book an Enterprise Appointment via CareerSPACE or email student-awards (@gold.ac.uk).
Santander X UK Awards 2023
The deadline for applications for 2022 has now passed. The 2023 information and dates will be posted here as soon as they are available.
In 2022 Santander Universities ran an open call for applications and the competition was open to University startups from any UK university.
The 2022 competition had two categories:
Launch (for new businesses)
Accelerate (for growing businesses)
Innovative and disruptive university start-ups were able to enter to win a range of exclusive prizes, including mentoring, start-up support and a share of £150,000 in equity-free funding.
There were six winners overall (3 per category), who as well as getting funding and a range of other prizes, will automatically progress to the Santander X Global Award, Santander's international university entrepreneurship competition to compete with fellow entrepreneurs from countries across Europe and South America.
A total of 100 businesses were selected to participate in the UK Awards and joined the bespoke six-week training programme which included:
Expert-led masterclasses to kick off or scale their start-up
A face-to-face all day Entrepreneurs Summit in Birmingham
One-to-one support from mentors and advisers from Enterprise Nation
Pitch practice sessions to help participants perfect their pitch for the pitch heats and National Final
Networking with over 100 like-minded entrepreneurs from across the UK.
Tata Varsity Pitch Competition 2023
The deadline for applications for 2022 has now passed.
Since the inception of Varsity Pitch over 10 years ago, we have seen thousands of innovative and creative businesses from students and graduates.
The concept of the competition is to actively support early-stage student and graduate start-ups throughout their entrepreneurial journey, providing them with access to support, mentors and the opportunity to compete for the prize pot of £15,000, equity-free.