An equity-free cash prize of £15,000 is available for entrepreneurial students and recent graduates across the UK.
The Varsity Pitch Competition rewards UK students and recent graduate entrepreneurs who have enterprising ideas that they wish to turn into viable businesses; enabling participants to showcase their unique, creative ideas to the wider community.
The business/idea must be the entrants’ own idea and/or an idea that they are free to disclose. Additionally, entrants must be able to own and run a business or social enterprise in the UK.
The 2022 award categories are as follows:
- TATA Social Impact: for businesses focused on critical challenges in the UK and worldwide, and those addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
- TATA Early Stage: for businesses with fledging ideas and early stage concepts, that have not yet become revenue generating but with an idea that could be transformational.
- Health and Wellbeing: for businesses covering clinical needs, physical and mental health, as well as improving livelihoods, patient outcomes and general wellbeing.
- Genuine Innovation: for businesses seeking to disrupt, improve or enhance the way things are done in an enhanced or unique way.
- Creative and Design: for businesses working within the creative industries, arts, design, fashion, gaming, marketing, media, music and software development.
- Digital and Technical: for fast growing businesses in the global economy through apps, hardware and online products or services.
Entrants must be either a current student at a UK university, college or further education institution, or an individual who has graduated after 2017.
Category semi-finals will take place later in the year. The final will take place during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November and the winner will receive £15,000 of equity-free cash for their start-up.
The closing date for applications is Friday 9 September 2022 (12:00 BST).
How To Apply
The deadline for applications is 9 September 2022 (12:00 BST).
Entries are invited under seven unique categories, via the submission of a 60 second video outlining the business idea. The videos will be judged by experts to find a shortlist. Fololowing this, the People's Vote will open for all supporters to vote for applications.
The final will take place during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.
Further details can be accessed at the NACUS website.