This December, Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork), the University of Westminster’s entrepreneurial network, hosted the Start-Up 101 x Freelance Essential Pitcher Mixer event, and gave away a total of £9,000 in prize funding to aspiring entrepreneurs.
WeNetwork brings together Westminster students and recent graduates with industry, to develop their entrepreneurial skills, engage in self-employment work and create businesses.
The Mixer event was a great opportunity for aspiring freelancers and founders to connect with each other, share their experiences, learn from one another, and pitch their ideas.
There are two funding opportunities available: the Start-Up 101 or Freelance Essentials in-programme funding which is open to all students on an enterprise programme, or the Pioneer Bursary which helps students develop their skills, grow their network, build confidence, and launch or test a project, side hustle or business idea that they are passionate about.
Professor Paul Dwyer, Director of Student Enterprise at WeNetwork said: “Many entrepreneurs start their businesses with money from family and friends. It’s fantastic that the Pioneer Bursaries help level the playing field just a little.”
Rebecca Veliu, Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours student and Founder of Sonica Digital, said: “I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received from the University's Start-Up 101 programme and the Pioneer Bursary, which have been invaluable to the success of my business venture. I am planning to use the £500 bursary to purchase AI software that will automate many of my outreach and social media tasks, freeing up more time for me to focus on other aspects of my business and help it grow even faster.”
Abdul Sare, a Business Management (Marketing) BA Honours student, said: “The Start-Up 101 programme offered by WeNetwork has been instrumental in the development of my sustainable fashion business model. The funding I received from WeNetwork has allowed me to invest more time and resources into researching sustainable materials. I can say without hesitation that this programme has greatly expanded my knowledge of business and improved my networking skills.”
WeNetwork is committed to supporting the next generation of founders and freelancers. Applications for the next cohort of Start-Up 101 and Freelance Essentials are now open.
The University is proud to support these talented students and graduates and looks forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future.
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