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Innovation centre backs new student businesses
Three entrepreneurial Sussex students have won an office with access to a business mentor for six months at the award-winning Sussex Innovation Centre.
The winning students in the annual Startup Sussex contest also each receive a bursary worth £2,000 to help them get their business ideas off the ground.
The successful students this year are:
- Damian Holland (Product Design) whose idea was the 'Compaject Auto-Injector'; a small and easy-to-use device for those with serious allergies to nuts, bee stings and so on. The prize money may be able to help with user and clinical trials.
- Amira Aleem (Anthropology & International Development) had a western take on the Indian tiffin system, providing students with affordable, nutritious hot packed lunches delivered to campuses across the UK. The lunches are freshly prepared every day using locally sourced ingredients and sustainable packaging. Amira could use her prize money to fund prototypes, and for market research and web design.
- Serena Patel (Economics & Management) created a board game named EconoFun which aims to cover most of the theory required for A-level economics and provide a basic understanding for the first year of an economics degree at university. The unique 3D game provides a fun and interesting way for students to learn and stay focused in class. Serena could use the prize money to help to manufacture the product.
Mike Herd, Executive Director of the Sussex Innovation Centre, said: “We are delighted to support student entrepreneurs, whose energy and ideas are becoming vital in delivering economic growth.”
Linda Buckham, Head of the Careers and Employability Centre at the University said: “We are proud to support our students and graduates in developing their ideas into commercial opportunities. It is our hope that many of these winners will build sustainable businesses employing not only themselves but others in the region.”
From nearly 40 applicants, the judges made a shortlist of finalists who presented to them on 16 July.
The scheme is managed by the Sussex Innovation Centre and the Careers and Employability Centre.
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