The winners of the Tectona Business Challenge are announced during a celebratory awards event, attended by participants and sponsors.
Where are they now?
Find out how winning the Tectona Business Challenge has helped these business ideas
Tom Scott and Jonathan Holt
Tectona Business Challenge award winners January 2014
Jon and Tom decided to develop an award-winning app that Jon created as
part of a Hackathon held in Plymouth. The Hackathon was sponsored by Devon
County Council who opened up data sets to developers and the general public in
order to inspire useful software projects, all created within 24 hours.
The two University of Plymouth students entered the Tectona Business Challenge
where they accessed free workshops and expert advice sessions to create a
business plan for the app that provides customisable information on an area
based on user preferences. After judging by an independent panel of experts,
they were awarded a business start-up package including seed-funding from
Santander, support from Formation Zone and a tailored market report from
Marketest .
Six months on and their company, WeStreet, has been set up with a pilot app
due to be launched very soon with a local estate agency. The Marketest report
has enabled them to get a clear idea of their target customer which has informed
their marketing, brand and pricing strategies. Seed funding has ensured that
the company has a robust IT infrastructure, effective website terms and
conditions as well as business tools to fund productivity.
Support provided by Formation Zone advisor sessions has also helped to
produce product timelines and financial forecasts.
"Everything that we have achieved as a result of our presence in the Formnation Zone has enabled us to take our concept and business to the next level and allowed us to explore our service possibilities."
Francesco D'Alessio and Theodore Moule
Tectona Business Challenge Award Winners June 2014
Francesco and Theo entered the Tectona Business Challenge in June 2014 in
order to get support to develop their business: Future Framework.
The idea behind Future Framework is to give people the skills needed to
thrive in a more connected world.
Whilst accessing the range of workshops and expert one-to-one sessions available through
the Tectona Business Challenge, they launched a pilot programme of interactive
workshops in the areas of digital literacy, communication and enterprise across
seven schools in Plymouth and Devon. Feedback was good - over 85% of students
who participated in the workshops felt that their future employability had
improved.
After submitting their business plan they were delighted to discover that
they had won seed funding from Santander, a marketing session with A E Group and an UnLtd 'Do It' grant.
Tectona’s practical support also allowed Francesco and Theo to develop
their product and strategy away from a solely schools focus to a wider range of
markets including business and individuals.
"Winning the Tectona Business Challenge has given us such a fantastic boost forward with the business."
Geoff Hunt
Tectona Business Challenge Award Winners June 2013
Geoff was part of the team who got support for a business idea for a
socially responsible, high-quality catering company through the June 2013
Tectona Business Challenge.
Since winning a cash starter prize and Formation Zone support in the
Challenge, Munch Movement has been launched offering fresh pizzas made using
local, natural ingredients and cooked on an eco-friendly woodburning cooker –
called Magnus!
Geoff also teamed up with the charity Mary’s Meals to create an initiative called Buy One, Feed Another (BOFA). All Munch Movement pizzas sold come with the promise of a donation to the charity equal to a week’s worth of school meals for a child in Malawi.
"The expert days were fantastic, the chance to meet with legal, financial and marketing professionals provided the opportunity to fine tune ideas and have potential issues highlighted. The entire process of Tectona is supportive and guides you through the writing of a business plan from start to submission. The appraisal of the business plans are priceless, gaining many an experts feedback; further strengthening the proposal.
Munch Movement would not have progressed in the way that it has without the help of the University of Plymouth, the Formation Zone and the Tectona business Challenge. We’re excited to say, from the early beginnings of Mobile Catering, we are now transitioning and expanding into the retail sector with a range of Munch Movement pizzas."
Andrew Jinman
Tectona Business Challenge Award Winners June 2014
Andrew used his startup package to develop his social enterprise, South
West Fish, a business with the aim of changing the fishing industry 'one fish at
a time.' Since receiving his award Andrew has increased the company's
attendance at various markets and food festivals across Devon and Cornwall,
encouraging people to sample fresh local seafood, raising awareness of the
marine environment and market supply chains and thereby helping to protect the
livelihoods of fishing communities.
Andrew has also launched a new product called the 'Fish Off Challenge' in
partnership with Igniting Enterprise at University of Plymouth, raising awareness
of fish and the fishing industry amongst students.
"Winning the Tectona Business Challenge was an immense achievement. The funding received from UnLtd and Formation Zone has laid the foundations for future growth of the business."