The Cube - funding and competitions

Discover what is available

University of Plymouth 'Dragons Den' 2021*

Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their business ventures (freelance business included) to a panel of experts competing to win a share of £10,000!

This competition offers you an opportunity as students or graduates of the University of Plymouth, individually or working as a team, to grow an enterprise and to have the experience of 'pitching' your business.

It is also a route through which trading businesses looking to scale up, can obtain funding to support their growth.

It is an excellent learning experience and also a bit of fun. The competition is open to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students as well as graduates.

Either individually, or as a team, you are invited to develop and present a business in one of the two categories:

1) a commercial/business
2) a social enterprise

Download our criteria document and Expressions of Interest Form.

5 February 2021 - Deadline for Expressions of Interest
5 March 2021 - Semi-Finals Competition
26 March 2021 - Finals

Sponsorship for this competition comes from Santander Universities.

*based on 'Dragons' Den' on TV ('Shark Tank' in the USA), just go to YouTube

Santander funded awards

In response to the pandemic and alongside its ongoing support, Santander Universities is making £25,000 available to new businesses run by students or recent graduates, who can now access small grants to help them stay in business in the current difficult climate.

The money, distributed through the University’s award-winning business incubator, Formation Zone, means that up to 30 early-stage businesses could receive a lifeline.

Please keep watch for other Santander funding applications offered during 2020/21.

Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards 

The annual Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards is a business pitching competition which encourages and supports university students to be more entrepreneurial and is open to all students and graduates from University of Plymouth. The awards benefit student and graduate entrepreneurs by offering cash prizes, mentoring and startup support. Since the competition’s launch, more than £420,000 has been given to startups and small businesses. 

Applications for 2020 have now closed… watch this space for 2021 open applications