Broadcast: News items

Students from the winning team, FITLINK, with their trophies

With July’s graduation ceremonies just around the corner, 140 final-year University of Sussex Business School students on the New Venture Creation and Business Planning module were given an opportunity to refine their entrepreneurial skills at a 'Dragons’ Den'-style event.

Running over two days in May, the event challenged the budding entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of business and academic experts, including:

• Maya Cara, Lecturer in Strategy, University of Sussex Business School
• Sam Knowles, Managing Director, Insight Agents
• Monica Masucci, Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, University of Sussex Business School
• René Moolenaar, Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Sussex Business School
• Lucy Paine, Catalyst Programme Manager, Sussex Innovation Centre
• Maria Restuccia, Lecturer in Marketing, University of Sussex Business School
• Carlos Saba, Co-Founder, The Happy Startup School
• John Tate, CEO, Tate Technology Ltd
• Shova Thapa Karki, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, University of Sussex Business School
• Claire Tingsager, Teaching Fellow, University of Sussex Business School
• Lydia Wakefield, Education and Training Manager, IPSE

The winning pitch was FITLINK, a platform application connecting self-employed health professionals and the public, and aimed at acting as a welfare brokerage.

The six innovative students behind FITLINK were:

• Giles Crisp
• Stewart Dickens
• Matthew Dunn
• Jason Forson
• Guillaume Hearn
• Mwenya Lumbwe

Each member of the winning team received a trophy and £25 Amazon voucher, with runner-up trophies presented to members of the second- and third-placed teams.

The event was organised by Dr Monica Masucci, module convenor for N1508 New Venture Creation and Business Planning, and the School’s Student Experience team.

Dr Masucci commented: “I was delighted that all the students took the opportunity of pitching their new venture ideas before a team of experienced professionals very seriously. They showed a level of commitment, passion and entrepreneurial drive that will serve them well as they prepare to leave Sussex.”