Entrepreneurial Award 2024
Read about the Westminster Alumni Award finalists in this category and vote for who you think deserves to win.
Finalists
Divyashakti Vardhan Singh
Business Management (Entrepreneurship) BA, 2021
Divyashakti Vardhan Singh is an entrepreneurial force reshaping India's business landscape. While studying, he launched an edtech startup in 2019, empowering students for competitive exams. Within ten months, it hit a million-dollar revenue, attracting buyout offers he declined. Divyashakti opted for an initial public offering (IPO), valuing it at $20m, before launching in July 2024.
Singh's second venture, Peeyo, introduced India's first ready-to-drink canned mocktail, cocktail and mixers. Peeyo swiftly gained market traction with $100,000 monthly revenue and 100,000 cans sold monthly, and an ambitious target of reaching $5m in revenue by the year's end. His journey underscores the impact of education and perseverance in achieving entrepreneurial success.
George James
Commercial Music BA, 2010
George is the CEO and founder of Be-Hookd Digital, an award-winning social media agency for the stars of entertainment and music. Since 2014, he has been leading a team of talented creators and digital strategists across London and New York, delivering innovative and engaging digital campaigns for clients such as Alicia Keys, Robbie Williams, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, LVMH, Activision and Disney Music Group.
Be-Hookd's mission is to grow its clients into international superstars and hook them up with some of the biggest global brands. Be-Hookd is also home to several other Westminster graduates working for the company. George has guest lectured at Westminster and has given out internships during these lectures.
George is also the co-founder of Be-Games, a content-first gaming publisher that operates at the intersection of gaming, NFTs, and blockchain tech. Launched in 2022, Be-Games has already achieved its first number one global App Store game and is working with some of the most influential names in gaming, music, entertainment and lifestyle.
Maria Sheherlis
Contemporary Media Practice BA, 2014
After graduating, Maria dove into a film and television career, which formed her and led her to establish a successful talent agent agency. Active since 2021, the agency has represented dozens of clients and has secured collaborations with some of the most popular and influential production companies in the UK and beyond.
Maria built her industry knowledge at Virtual Studios, initially as a TV runner, then as an assistant and successfully as a producer. Her journey developed into casting, working as a co-coordinator/director and refining her placement skills for hundreds of supporting artists.
Later, as Senior Talent Agent at DBA, she gained one-to-one experience in dealing with actors, which completed her development so she could then found her own boutique agency, Pilot Poet Talent Agent.
Maria’s agency has achieved placements for HBO, Sky, Warner Bros. and ITV productions, as well as musicals and theatre like the New Vic.
Raj Sharma
Computing BSc, 1999
Raj is a Co-founder, lead investor and was a Director, board member and CEO of Codikoat Limited (now Klura Labs) since 2020. He is a named co-inventor of the certified patented Codikoat technology, which is the fastest-acting antimicrobial and antiviral coating technology in the world. It uses surface-functionalised nanostructures to inactivate viruses, bacteria and fungi within seconds of contact.
Raj was instrumental in applying for and winning a record-breaking nine Innovate UK grants with a 100% success rate, totalling approximately $4.5m. They have also raised circa $6.5m in two rounds of funding with a current valuation of circa $50m.
Raj is also the Co-founder and lead investor in HiyaCar and remains the Co-founder, Director and CEO of Recup, Football Billionaire, Haze tools and Vision Three!
Raj was a winner of the Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year 2023/24 at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.