Press release
University reveals Scotland’s next business stars
Published on 1 March 2021
Scotland’s next wave of entrepreneurs have been unveiled as the University of Dundee crowned the winners of its annual competition for business concepts
Fourteen enterprising students and staff members from across the University walked away with a share of a record £38,000 prize fund after the winners of Venture 2021 were announced.
Finalists pitched their business plans to a panel of leading business innovators, watched on by a live audience that included potential investors. The showpiece event marked the culmination of the University’s annual Entrepreneurship Week, a series of workshops and lectures championing opportunities for small enterprise in Scotland.
As well as funding to help support their business proposals, all winners receive a place on Elevator’s summer business accelerator programme. The 12-week course allows start-up founders to fine tune their proposals.
The winners of Venture 2021 are:
Student Award
1st Place - Peace of Mind – Lauryn Pringle - £2,000
2nd Place - Athena Beauty - Ibitomilayo Komolafe – £1,000
School of Art and Design Student Award
1st Place - Nozzle – Glen Craig - £2,500
2nd Place - Sens - Fátima Cañas Jiménez – Elevator Accelerator Programme Place
School of Life Sciences Award
1st Place - Bless Your Brain - Hanneke MacLaren & Noelia Pelegrina Hidalgo - £3,000
School of Medicine Award
1st Place - Xavier Bionix - Firas Bakri - £2,500
2nd Place - Bridging the Gap – Abigail Johnston - £1,500
Postgraduate Researcher Award
1st Place - ExScite - Jordana Freemantle - £2,500
Science and Engineering Student Award
1st Place - Smart Crop - Antonio Rodriguez - £3,000
Recent Graduate Award
J-RAO Contemporary Apothecary - Jennifer Rao-Williams – £2,500
Talonmore Drinks Company Limited - Lewis Kennedy – £2,500
Staff Award
Joint 1st - Glen Clova Scientific - Dr John Foerster – £6,500
Joint 1st - RhaPSeda - Dr Helge Dorfmueller – £6,500
2nd Place - ENerveC – Shahin Homaeigohar - £2,000
Brian McNicoll, Head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, said, “Once again, our Venture final has highlighted the extraordinary thriving entrepreneurial culture within the University and the dynamism of our students and staff.
“Our judges were incredibly impressed by the creativity and dynamism demonstrated by all of our finalists, and choosing our winners was an incredibly tough process. Our finalists can feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and this competition will undoubtedly help all of them in pursuing their career goals.
“I congratulate all of our winners and look forward to seeing their exciting business concepts flourish.”