Entrepreneurial students have scooped two £5,000 prizes in a Dragon’s Den-style competition to help launch their new businesses.
Students who took part in the BOSS competition (front row) with the judges and University of Worcester staff.
Below: Winning student Janka Chovancova (right) with student Andrej Nagy who assisted her in her pitch; Winning student Will Essex
Will Essex and Janka Chovancova, who are both studying at the University of Worcester’s Business School, were among the University students to pitch their business ideas to a panel of distinguished business leaders.
The WBS (Worcester Business School) BOSS competition was sponsored by Milford Research & Consultancy Limited. The prize money was eventually divided between the two winning students, £5,000 each, but every team got constructive feedback.
Will is the founder of clothing company Helico, aimed at people who wear a mix of fashion and sportswear items. He has been working on the idea for the last four years and plans to use the money to help him launch the business in a few months’ time. “It’s a testament to the hard work I have put in, not just over the last year, but the last four years,” said the 21-year-old, of Hallow.
He said, following the contest, many people in business who attended had reached out offering advice and potential contacts. For Will, a third year Business Management degree student, speaking to a room of business professionals did not daunt him. “I enjoyed it, I like standing up in front of big groups of people and talking,” he said. “I know Helico and the idea inside out because I’ve planned it for so long. It’s been a good experience. The BOSS programme taught me a lot, it gave me more insight into the business, different opinions from business professionals, and a lot of things to think about that I wouldn’t have thought about before, so it was really valuable in that sense.”
He said his studies had proved very useful for his business, particularly in getting input of lecturers who have business experience and researching other businesses.
Janka’s business is Green Grow, but she has been persuaded by the judges to change the name to Smart Grow. This is a gardening app she is developing to help students and urban dwellers grow plants easily.
Janka, who is doing a Master’s in International Management following her undergraduate degree in Business Management at Worcester, was supported by recent student Andrej Nagy in her pitch to the judges.
“It was really exciting to present, I wasn’t even nervous,” she said. “Even though they asked me difficult questions, I felt confident in my idea. The questions helped my business because I have now looked at things from different angles, it gave me a lot to think on and move forward.”
“To win, I was genuinely happy because of the recognition of my ideas, but also because of the funding, which can help me turn my idea into reality. It has boosted my confidence and motivation to get this idea going.”
This is the third year the WBS BOSS Competition has run and organisers are hoping it continues to grow next year.
Dr Abdulmaten Taroun, Head of Department of Management and Finance in the University’s Business School, said: “This is a truly great example of how the Business School is partnering with businesses to enrich the learning experience of our students and to have a positive impact on the local community and economy. All entrants were encouraged to pursue their dreams and offers were made to put them in touch with business contacts who could help them turn their ideas into thriving business ventures.
“I do believe that the experience our students had through the BOSS programme and the feedback they received from the judges, together with the financial support the winners have secured will be instrumental in helping them realise their business dreams. I would like to thank Milford Research & Consultancy and the Institute of Leadership for their continuous support of this initiative.”