Startup Sussex: Win up to £5,000 to Develop Your Business or Social Enterprise Idea
Posted on behalf of: Careers and Entrepreneurship
Last updated: Monday, 2 February 2026
Previous Startup Sussex winners
Startup Sussex is the University’s annual entrepreneurship competition, an opportunity for students and recent graduates to win up to £5,000 to fund your business or social enterprise idea, as well as access to business support.
Startup Sussex prioritises innovative ideas and viable business plans, and rewards those who want to create a better world, with additional prizes on offer for social impact and startups that address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Previous winners include Darren Tenkorang, founder of TRIM-IT, Lucy Hughes of MarinaTex, and Plastic4Change founder, Gladys Mwamba.
It isn’t just a funding competition - it’s also a community of entrepreneurial students and graduates, and a chance to learn and practise key entrepreneurial skills that can benefit you in Startup Sussex and beyond.
What can you win?
Startup Sussex prizes are designed to support the development of innovative ideas and solutions to real-world challenges. The main prize is £5,000 plus business support, with an additional social impact prize for ideas that demonstrate a clear focus on solving any of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, and several runner-up and bonus prizes. See the full list of prizes here.
Competition winners will also be awarded a place on the Momentum Incubator, a year-long business launch programme offered in collaboration with Sussex Innovation Centre.
Launch event
Come to the launch event on Tuesday 10 February 2026, 5-6.30PM, in the Student Centre to find out more about becoming an entrepreneur, entering the competition, and bringing your ideas to life. Book your place on CareerHub.
Support and guidance
Students intending to enter the competition (as well as those simply interested in learning entrepreneurial skills!) are encouraged to attend a series of five workshops, designed to support you with developing your ideas.
Startup Sussex Workshop 1: A Valuable Idea
Tuesday 17 February, 5-6.45PM, Woodland 2-3, Student Centre
Startup Sussex Workshop 2: Customers & Competitors
Tuesday 24 February, 5-6.45PM, Woodland 2-3, Student Centre
Startup Sussex Workshop 3: My Business Model
Tuesday 3 March, 5-6.45PM, Woodland 2-3, Student Centre
Startup Sussex Workshop 4: Preparing a Pitch
Tuesday 10 March, 5-6.45PM, Woodland 2-3, Student Centre
Startup Sussex Workshop 5: Pitch Practice Spotlight Session
Tuesday 17 March, 5-7PM, Woodland 2-3, Student Centre
About Entrepreneurship at Sussex
Got a big idea for a better world? Or curious about learning new skills and exploring venture creation? We can help you get started with one-to-one support, startup workshops, and funding opportunities.
We can support you from the early stages of developing an idea for a business or social enterprise, all the way through to launching and scaling your venture.
We also provide workshops and services for those who simply want to gain skills that employers look for, like problem-solving, team-work, creative thinking and pitching ideas.
You can book a one-to-one appointment with a member of the Entrepreneurship team to meet online or face-to-face.
Further information: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/careers/entrepreneurship/funding/start-up-sussex