Empower students and alumni with practical innovation and entrepreneurship skills
We believe innovation is a critical skill in an increasingly competitive world.
Our training programmes focus on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to prepare students for a successful future, whether they become entrepreneurs or innovators in established companies. They support alumni who have already embarked on careers - to create or grow a new business, or build on their innovation skills as an employee.
How we work with universities
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Interactive workshops and programmes
Through one-off workshops or a series; as part of incubators, accelerators, or curriculum, we teach students the practical skills of entrepreneurship: how to generate new ideas, test them with actual customers, size the market, create financial models, refine the business model, design and build first products, and fundraise.
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Summer Schools
Whether for prospective students still at school or existing students on a break, we design fun and inspiring weeks.
We can tailor the length and content, but students will always leave with new practical skills and increased confidence in their abilities to innovate.
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Inspirational talks
Bringing in founders and corporate innovators to share their stories; while offering students the opportunity to ask their burning questions on what it’s like to build and grow new ideas.
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Want something bespoke?
We are regularly asked by our clients to design bespoke programmes, so if you’d like to explore new ways to support your students, let’s talk!
Key takeaways from a 2024 Summer School as written by students
Testimonials
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"The content was fantastic, the facilitators were amazing and such a lovely group and a pleasure to be around - such high energy, patient and friendly and dealt with this age group perfectly. I couldn’t have asked for more!”
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“Great session, well-delivered. Interactivity was just right.”
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“The best customer development workshop I ever attended, practical tips, clear take-home messages, tons of experience from the speaker in an easy to understand and actionable points - excellent”
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“It was really cool 😊”
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“Energetic and fun storytelling kept me engaged”
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“Love the examples that are given after each new point.”
Meet some of our coaches
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Andy Ayim
Serial Founder and Investor and Founder of Angel Investing School
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Felicity Halstead
Founder of GoodWork, an inclusive youth employment programme
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Gurvir Riyat
DESIGN DIRECTORCo-founder of The BAE HQ (for British Asian Entrepreneurs)
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Abigal Foster
Founder of Elent, Financial Education and Inclusion
What we teach
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Including:
3 core principles of leadership: growth mindset, empathetic leadership and psychological safety)
How to give and receive feedback so everyone can hear and apply it
How to work in and lead teams with different personalities
How to become a thought leader
How to present your ideas powerfully
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Including:
How to identify real and big problems to solve
How to develop your first best guess business model - without writing a 20 page business plan
How to apply an investor critique to your own ideas to find and innovate out weaknesses early
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Including:
What is Lean Startup and how to save time, energy and pain applying it practically
How to identify and prioritise which risks will kill your idea fastest
How to run "agile" sprints to keep focused and progress the most important things
How to design experiments to prove at the desirability (does anyone want it), feasibility (is it possible to deliver) and viability (will it make enough money) of a new idea, to yourself, team mates and investors
How to create a "Minimum Viable Product" cheaper, faster and with better learnings
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Including:
How to define who your ideal customer segment is and why that makes everything easier
How to use customer journey maps to design better solutions and solve for frictions in your own and competitor's solutions
How to run great customer interviews and why surveys don't work in the earliest stages
How to market with little to no budget
How to develop a Go to Market strategy that allows you to start targeted, but still build something big
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Including:
How to create a funding strategy that works for you and the business
How different funding options work, and when they are and aren't the right fit
How to find and build investor relationships
How to pitch your idea to investors
How to negotiate a term sheet
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Including:
Why you need to create a personal brand and how to do it in a way that's authentic
How to know when to invest in your company brand
How to create the most powerful company brand for your audience
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Including:
How to avoid common founder financial mistakes
How to create early financial models for new ideas that are just guesses
How to create a financial pitch for investors
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Including:
How to turn dull presentations into memorable ones using storytelling frameworks
How to answer the key questions investors have in a pitch
How to use vocal tone to bring your presentations to life
How to stand on stage to give the audience confidence in you
How to warm up ahead of a pitch so you look and sound great on stage