An online music magazine, a tool for training dentists and a spooky video game have won prizes at the University of Portsmouth’s Enterprise Challenge Awards.
The awards were held on May 1, 2013 and were organised by the University’s student and graduate enterprise team.
One of the first prize winners was Jennifer Le Roux, who is 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 so it’s great to get the vote of confidence from the judges.”
Holly Foley, a student at the University’s Dental Academy, also won first prize. She has developed a training model for wannabe dentists to practise giving injections. She said: “I’m just over the moon and can’t believe it. It’s nice to have someone from a science background rather than business and it shows anyone can do it.”
The winners and runners up
Jennifer and Holly each win £2,000 to be spent on developing the business as well as on being mentored.
Runners up TerraBite Interactive have created a survival horror game. They win free office space at the Victory Business Centre for six months.
Keshia Austin was the keynote speaker. Keshia won an award last year for English Direct, a scheme to help students for whom English isn’t their first language improve their language skills. She currently works at recruitment consultants Matchtech and is involved with the council’s Shaping Portsmouth scheme.
Keshia offered some advice to current students. She said: “Be tenacious, be motivated, use your time wisely, share your talents with other students to get things for free and network with people.
“When I was a student I had a burning desire to prove I could do anything that I wanted, I think that’s important.”
The Enterprise Challenge is an annual event held at the University of Portsmouth and has been running for 13 years. The award ceremony is an opportunity for people from local businesses to meet upcoming entrepreneurs from the University.
Enterprise events co-ordinator, Carley Cummings, said: “We are very proud of our students and their entrepreneurial spirits. This event is always a great reminder of how much talent we have at the University.”
