Student entrepreneurs win Strathclyde pitching competition
A team of five Strathclyde students, including one from Strathclyde Business School, won this year's Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge run by Strathclyde Inspire.
The winning team was team StrathEssentials comprising Natasha Chitambo, Alexandros Christou, Ubong Essien, Peter McAdoo and Fidelis Usman who wee awarded £2000 at the live pitching event for Strathclyde students on March 13.
The team came up with an idea to reduce the wastage of educational resources by creating a marketplace for students to buy and sell textbooks, lab coats and calculators at affordable prices. They now plan to open in Strath Union and expand online and beyond the University to other educational institutions.
More than 200 students took part in a mix of online and in-person learning experiences as they faced the challenge of creating an idea that would address a UN Sustainable Development Goal. In the process, they gained skills of creative-thinking, problem-solving and collaboration, helping them to unlock their potential, whatever their ambitions for the future.
Finalist team ideas ranged from bringing mobile green spaces to dense urban areas, to bringing relief to conflict zones and disaster-stricken areas by repurposing shipping containers as sustainable modular homes.
There were two business school students in the winning team: Alexandros Christou and Peter McAdoo. Peter said, "We want to promote sustainability through creating a marketplace that will allow people to sell or purchase used educational resources at an affordable price.
“Through this, we hope to increase access to quality education for all students, starting here at Strathclyde and expanding in the future.”
A total of 28 teams across two cohorts developed their ideas into a single page pitch, receiving tips from mentors in Strathclyde Inspire's diverse ecosystem of entrepreneurs. Five finalist teams were then allocated a Supporter who worked with them to develop their pitch further, before presenting their idea to an audience of peers, mentors and entrepreneurs, who voted for the winner.
Flagship programme
The EEC is the University’s flagship entrepreneurial training programme. Developed by Strathclyde Inspire, it is one of several activities that encourages students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and enhance their employability.
Fiona Ireland, Head of Entrepreneurship Strategy at the University of Strathclyde, said, “The EEC is nurturing a generation of changemakers poised to tackle the world’s most pressing issues.
"The future is undeniably bright for all the students who took part. Their passion has really shown me the transformative potential of young minds in shaping a sustainable world for everyone."
Strathclyde Inspire worked in partnership with the University’s Centre for Sustainable Development to deliver a workshop on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to all of the EEC participants. The ideas generated by the students aimed to address two of the Goals: SDG4, which aims to ensure inclusive quality education for all, and SDG11, which focuses on making cities and communities safe, resilient, and sustainable.
The final heard speeches from Strathclyde Business School graduates and entrepreneurs Mark Smith and Garance Locatelli and closing remarks from Professor Jillian MacBryde, Director of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Published: 19 March 2024
