Enterprise Challenge Stage 2 Awards at University of Portsmouth

Posted on: 02 May 2013

The Student and Graduate Enterprise Team at the University of Portsmouth were proud to present the winners of the Enterprise Challenge Stage 2 Awards on 1^st May 2013 at Purple Door.

With so many strong candidates Jennifer Le Roux for AltMu Magazine and Holly Foley for a training model for dental injections were awarded as the winners. They both received £250 for their idea, £1750 for the business and mentoring. The runners up were TerraBite Interactive for their survival horror game. They were the happy winners for 6 months free office space at Victory Business Centre.

Entrants and guests started to arrive early, there was a real buzz in the room from the anticipation of the students and the excitement from our guests.

The students had already sent in their business proposal and pitched to the judges the previous week and eagerly awaited the results from Philip Ely, Student Enterprise Manager.

Keshia Austin was the keynote speaker: winner of last years Enterprise Challenge with her business English Direct. Her speech was inspiring and the audiences were listening intensely. ‘I had a burning desire to prove I could do anything that I wanted; I think it’s important to do anything that you want.’

Keshia Austin’s tips for University of Portsmouth students were to be tenacious, motivated, utilised your time as a student because you do have it, share your talents with other students to get things for free and network with people.

The winners so excited to have won the competition. Following the announcements and photos they began networking with the judges, University staff and externals guests from local businesses.

Jenifer Le Roux is currently completing her final year at the University of Portsmouth and has produced a digital magazine called AltMu that focuses on the behind of the scenes side of music.

Jennifer said ‘I feel very excited to win it’s been hard work running the magazine while studying it’s great to get the vote of confidence from the judges.’

The judges said that Jennifer Le Roux had an excellent presentation, a great product, a real gem which has a potentially amazing future and was a true entrepreneur.

Holly Foley’s business idea is a training model for giving a dental injection. Following being announced the winner Holly said ‘I’m just over the moon and can’t believe it, I think it’s brilliant for the dental academy. It’s nice to have someone from a science background rather than business and it shows anyone can do it.’

The judges said that Holly’s presentation was excellent, she was level headed individual with enthusiasm for idea and they could see the both product and individual going far.

TerraBite Interactive won 6 months free incubation at Victory Business Centre & business mentoring. Matthew Bollman Managing Director or TerraBite Interactive said ‘‘We're very excited to have been chosen and the additional free rent means we can invest many into software and make quicker progress than thought.'

The judges said that TerraBite Interactive were a very likeable group and were impressed that you had evidence of already 'doing something' and had shown commitment with the cash investment from each team member, they are credible with well defined objective and they judges had confidence in their ability to produce and make money.

Alan Lowe, Enterprise Centre Manager at Portsmouth City Council, one of the judges and attendees at the award ceremony said ‘It’s been really enjoyable being a judge and it’s great to see so many talented young entrepreneurs being nurtured and supported by Portsmouth Universities, Enterprise Team.’

The Enterprise Challenge is a yearly event at the University of Portsmouth that has been running for 13 years. The award ceremony is opportunity for people from local businesses to meet the upcoming entrepreneurs from the University of Portsmouth.