Challenges and Competitions: Explore, Learn, Pitch

Find opportunities to grow your idea, develop your skills and pitch for funding and awards.
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Business Explore Club

As part of Discovery Week, the Business Explore Club is a week of activity designed for students and graduates who want to gain the skills and knowledge to explore a business idea to see if it is viable with growth potential.
Get in the business mindset with our four day Boot Camp Programme where you will learn the basics of how to explore the viability of a new product or service idea ready to pitch for £1,000 in start-up funding at the end of the week.
This programme is open to those with a business idea and those who just want to get the know-how on how to start a business to further develop their creative skills and business acumen to maximise future career potential.
Be inspired by your peers as you develop your skills and learn everything you need to know to test if a business is viable. With two and half days of workshops you’ll learn how to model an idea in a simple way, learn market research, finding the target customers and pitching skills. Giving you a roadmap to take your idea from just a spark to a completed concept.
Business Explore Club - Discovery Week
On the last day of the programme eligible participants who have a business idea will have the opportunity to pitch their business for a cash prize of £1,000* (from Santander Universities UK) towards start-up costs.
@ Interactive sessions on Business Modelling/Building a Minimum Viable Product/Market Research/Finding Customers/Pitching
@ Support to develop your pitch
@ Peer vote on final pitches for £1,000
*Overseas students can join the Business Explore Club and pitch their business idea to gain knowledge, experience, receive feedback but cannot launch their business while studying on a Tier 4 Visa or access the £1,000 prize.

Workshop weekly themes

Date Time Venue Workshop theme
Monday 19 May 10:00–16:00 Fitzroy 006 Ideas • Business modelling • Building a minimum viable product (MVP) • Market research • Finding your customers • Finalising your business model
Tuesday 20 May 10:00–16:00 Fitzroy 006 Ideas • Business modelling • Building a minimum viable product (MVP) • Market research • Finding your customers • Finalising your business model
Wednesday 21 May 10:00–12:00 Fitzroy 006 Learn how to pitch effectively – ready to compete to win £1,000
Thursday 22 May – Fitzroy 006 (available) Work on your pitches independently
Friday 23 May 10:00–12:00 Fitzroy 006 Pitching competition – pitch to your peers for the chance to win £1,000
 
 

Eligibility

  • You must be a current student or graduate from the University of Plymouth.
  • You must be able to attend all sessions.

Book your place

To book your place please email your Business Explore Club participation form to thecube@plymouth.ac.uk. And register for all sessions on myCareer.
If you are eligible and wish to pitch for the £1,000 funding at the end of the programme you will also be required to register on Santander X. You will receive details of how to do this once your application form has been received.
 
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